The Powhatan Springs Skate Park will officially open this weekend, officials say.
Officials are scheduled to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony this Saturday, May 4 to unveil the park’s new bowls and half pipes — marking the completion of a multi-year, $2.2 million overhaul of the park.
The 15,000-square-foot space features a bigger street course section than the old park, which is designed to encourage younger skaters, said Robert Capper of Arlington’s Department of Parks and Recreation.
Capper also said the new park has a “snake run” zone for the skaters who prefer the “carving, surfing style”, a 13-foot “pro bowl” and a smaller, egg-shaped bowl.
“It was starting to deteriorate,” said Capper of the old park, “And when we looked into it it was more cost effective to replace the entire park then fix the concrete.”
The park, which is located at 6020 Wilson Boulevard in the Boulevard Manor neighborhood, began welcoming people back on April 8 as crews put the finishing touches on the renovations, according to the county website on the project.
Skaters and bikers can now use the park every day from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The Arlington County Board approved renovations to the park last year.
“The result will be a safer park that both kids and adults in Arlington who are passionate about skateboarding, inline skating and BMX cycling can enjoy for years to come,” said Board member Katie Cristol before the vote.
The park originally opened in 2004, but a decade later officials said the concrete was “crumbling” and the skating community’s needs had changed. Officials began seeking public input on a new design in 2015.
“In addition to the fact that some of the concrete is beginning to fail, over the past decade the sport of skateboarding has evolved as has the evolution of skate parks,” the county website noted.
The county originally debuted the new design two years ago, sharing a 3D rendering video of what planners hoped the park could look like.
Screenshot via county