Random DIY Skate Park of the Week

Random DIY Skate Park of the Week

The official city of Memphis skate park won't be open for another month or two, but for those who can't stand the wait, there's Al Town.

Al Town, Memphis, Tenn.

Al Town is located in a secluded spot on the edge of Cooper-Young, in the hollow space where some building basement used to be. To get in, you climb down a ladder made of a propped-up shipping pallet and some cinder blocks.

Skaters in Al Town, Memphis, Tenn.

Mind you, Al Town is a work in progress being created by the community that loves it. The skaters who use the park are also the ones building it one ramp at a time, and the neighbors across the street keep an eye on the place.

No Lurkin at Al Town

And while the park has had visitors come from all over the country, it's mostly used by neighborhood kids who spend evenings hanging out, honing their skills.

Al Town, Memphis, Tenn.

I love it because it's an example of people taking something empty and making something awesome. We're lucky to live in a city full of those people.

 

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Christian Westphal
Thanks for the post, we need coverage to show this city that skateboarders are not bad people. since everyone started building (im not including myself in that group for i was there for only 1 work day and don't deserve any credit), we'll have people from the neighborhood come out and watch and thank those who built it, for now the area is cleaned up and being put to use where as before it was pretty much a giant garbage can. thanks for the support, the skateboard community sure can use it.
October 6, 2011 3:28pm
wrexican
Christian, you maybe put in an honest hour of the work that has gone on there. The downfall of this project has been stalled due to the fact everyone wants to claim it, but don't want to dedicate the time, teamwork, and effort that it takes to make these structures. The drama and "claiming" has started pitting workers against lurkers and all around disfunction, while local skateboard companies claim on the efforts to acheive "localism" respect to acheive board sells. This dream has in reallity, become a night mare. Since the motivators have moved out, the lurkers have occupied it, and apparently the neighbors are having issues. We've spoken with the owner of the land while trying to acheive our non-profit status, and he wishes to turn the lot into a public park and has asked to only construct in certain locations, so as not to block access to be able to renovated... At this point it's up to the skaters to stop fighting each other over status, and get together to figure out a way to keep all this hard work in tact that so many have busted their ass over...    
November 27, 2011 4:36pm
Nathan Smith
So what basically is the reason to shut down Memphis skate park? anyway if you needed a longboardstry this one <a href="http://www.boardemporium.com">www.boardemporium.com</a>
February 19, 2015 8:25am
Randy Price
This is fantastic.
February 12, 2018 7:25pm