Santa Cruz, California * — Construction has reportedly begun on the Mike Fox Skatepark *, a new 15,000 square foot facility along the San Lorenzo River.

"This is huge. We're so excited," said Dannettee Shoemaker, Director of Santa Cruz's Parks and Recreation department. "Our No. 1 priority now is to get the contractor going."

Reportedly the new skatepark has been in planning for 10 years by the city's Parks and Recreation Department, including overcoming higher than anticipated bids for the project. Apparently the park will be more expensive than expected both because of the increasing costs of construction materials, and because plans call for the importing of landfill to help mediate against the site's "extremely high seasonal groundwater levels".

According to Zach Wormhoudt, founder of Wormhoudt Inc, the skatepark is being built on a complicated site. When complete, the park will sport a full pipe, a peanut shaped pool with pool coping and tile, and a "solid street course".

Wormhoudt says that construction has already begun and the site should be operational in August. The project was designed and is being managed by Wormhoudt's firm, and is being constructed by Vasconi General Engineering.

The total cost of the project is reported to be about $1.3 million and is being funded by $700,000 earmarked for the project, a $324,000 low-interest loan from the city's public trust fund, and $200,000 from other Parks and Recreation projects that were postponed.

Reports indicate that the Santa Cruz City Council unanimously agreed to load the money from its public trust fund — a pool of money from the sales of city-owned property that is apparently not usually spent on operations — with very little discussion.

The skatepark was designed by local skatepark architect Zach Wormhoudt, who has designed dozens of skateparks * all over the globe *, including a 40,000 square foot facility in Louisville, Kentucky * and a new project in Tel Aviv, Israel *. Another of the firm's projects can be found nearby to Santa Cruz in Scotts Valley, California.

Wormhoudt says that the Santa Cruz skatepark will be one of only two in Northern California * with a full pipe (the other being in Sacramento).

The Mike Fox Skatepark is set to replace the previous temporary Fun Spot skatepark, which sits across from the wharf.

Currently, the only other permanent Santa Cruz skatepark is in Derby Park * on the Westside of Santa Cruz, which also has the distinction of being what many think is the oldest currently operating skatepark in the world. That park was designed by Wormhoudt's dad, Ken Wormhoudt, 25 years ago with input from Ken Wormhoudt and other local youth.

This article was based on information researched by the author, and found in the article "New Santa Cruz skatepark catches air" by Shanna McCord, at http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ archive/2006/March/ 29/local/stories/ 07local.htm

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