SHREDDING WITH STREET ART

In the course of conversation, Taylor Leonard, Project Manager at the Charles River Conservancy, spoke the word “necessary” quite a few times. At first look, this sentiment could be confusing, off-putting even. It’s only a skatepark; what could possibly be so necessary about it in the first place… right? Wrong.

The Lynch Family Skatepark is owned and maintained by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). The park is open from dawn until 9:00 PM. Lights were installed during late-2018 to allow for park operations past dusk through a partnership between the City of Cambridge and the DCR. At this “wheel-friendly” park, safety gear is strongly encouraged.

The park is not only spacious, but is a hotspot for community clinics, events, and world-class competitions alike. The park is meant to be a one-of-a-kind facility that has incorporated design input from over four hundred local skaters. Renowned artist, Nancy Schön, made famous for her Tortoise and Hare and Make Way For Ducklings sculptures, conceptualized the space. Ms. Schön was made aware that her Tortoise and Hare sculpture was being used by skateboarders to do tricks. She arrived to discover that they were good, well-meaning kids – although they didn’t have anywhere to skateboard legally in the area. From there, Schön, with the help of founder Renata Von Tscharner, began the creative process for a world-class skateboard park.

After the initial concept was born, the Charles River Conservancy hired Stantec Inc. to design the park. Stantec Inc. is an international professional services company in the design and consulting industry. From the design, this new community space was constructed by ValleyCrest Landscape Development, with specialty work completed by California Skateparks. Upon completion of the construction, the park was turned over to the Massachusetts Department of Conservation. These partnerships don’t begin to speak to the number of donors who effectively turned this dream into reality.

The park’s fundraising began in 2003, with a seed grant from the Tony Hawk Foundation for $500,000. Four years later, the Lynch Foundation accelerated the process by matching the preceding sum total. In 2014, the Conservancy signed a partnership agreement with none other than Vans, for an extremity $1.5M, for the construction of the park with additional funds for maintenance. Additionally, $25,000 was to be given to MassDCR for maintenance of the park. Apart from those contributions, there were hundreds of individual donations, ranging from a single dollar to upwards of half a million. Among them: the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Boston Bruins Foundation, the Boston Red Sox Foundation, and New England Development, just to name a few. In addition, there was the generosity of at least a hundred community members.

It’s almost reductive to call the facility simply a skatepark. On their most primal level, skateparks are merely an area designated and equipped for skateboarding, oftentimes made of wood, steel, and concrete. Simply put, they’re a safe haven for skateboarders. It fosters a greater community for people of all ages to stay safe and have a great time. It’s all-inclusive, in all senses of the word.

On the day of the park’s opening, professional skateboarder, Andy MacDonald, had the following to say, “It’s not often that you see a nonprofit build a public skatepark. You’ll notice there’s something for all levels of riding…,” He then turned his attention to what can only be described as a volcano made of brick, one meant to resemble a structural feature in front of the Boston City Hospital, previously used by skaters throughout the Boston area. This further adds to the idea that skaters are present in the community but oftentimes, there aren’t adequate facilities for them to showcase these skills. The following can even be found on the Lynch Family Skatepark’s website, “[The skatepark] includes replica features of unique skate areas throughout greater Boston acknowledge local lore and pay homage to Boston’s skating community.” (www. lynchfamilyskatepark.org)

Andy Macdonald is an American professional skateboarder, one who’s received praise for his perennial consistency. As of September 2013, he holds the record for the most X Games’ medals in vert skateboarding, (a skateboarder riding a very large vert ramp,) and won the World Cup Skateboarding competition eight times. Read that again. Eight times. That’s the sort of talent that’s backing this park. This is the kind of talent this park is capable of attracting. Macdonald’s attendance, and repertoire, are emblematic of what this park ultimately means to the community. This sentiment seems to be held by the surrounding community as well.

In addition to MacDonald, former Boston mayor Marty Walsh, and David P. Maher, mayor of Cambridge, were present. Clearly, they recognized the significance of the moment.

Can you remember the last time you went skateboarding? I’m not just talking about cruising casually around town; I mean being at a skatepark with other skaters with features for days. That’s precisely what you’re getting here. Obviously, there’s what it is at first glance: hunkering, protruding concrete features, then there’s a more abstract interpretation. It’s a safe space, one that encourages free, non-conforming exercise as well as one that promotes a plentitude of different street styles. It’s a safe space that encourages content creation as well. It’s a space that’s inviting to young adults, middle-aged adults, and elderly adults; not to mention the kids, little boys, and girls who, for all we know, will be the next big thing.

If you are looking to switch things up from the mundane, and perhaps spend an afternoon riding, the park is located in East Cambridge, underneath the access ramp to the I-93 Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge. It is also adjacent to the North Bank Bridge, a brandnew pedestrian bridge that connects North Point Park in Cambridge to Paul Revere Park in Charlestown.

The park is proudly “wheel-friendly,” meaning skateboarders, BMX riders, and inline skaters are welcome. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to dust off my old board and check out Lynch’s breathtaking facilities for myself. I can’t do an ollie to save my life, but cruising? Absolutely.

@lynchfamilyskatepark; thecharles.org

Spencer Villinski