The next phase of the LaSalle Skate Plaza is complete. The second phase is a continuation/expansion of the East Coast style plaza skating (designed by New Line). The park mimics many of the features that can be found in urban commercial districts, such as benches, stairs and railings, while providing plenty of room for skaters to get around without colliding. This is important, because (when it’s not raining), the plaza becomes a very popular place to skate for a wide range of riders.
I recently learned that the old school skaters tend to get to the plaza early in the morning, when they have the place to themselves. Then, as the day gets going, the younger thrashers arrive en masse.
“The City has now completed 2 phases of construction implementation (both of which were designed by New Line Skateparks),” said Bill Gurney, Landscape Architect and Senior Design Manager at New Line. “This is the first full season of phase 2 complete and open for action. Phase one was built by a company called Evergreen Skateparks (Milhurst Construction General Contractor). Phase two was built by a company called Who Skates (Pinto Construction General Contractor).”
In a previous post, I pointed out that there were many who never thought that the second phase of the skate plaza would come to fruition. Well, here it is. Now, let’s see if the use of the plaza warrants the construction of the third and final phase – the transition park.