Thrasher Magazine

It’s been seven years since the park had to close for freeway repairs but the city of Los Angeles has finally given the land to the San Pedro Skatepark Association once and for all. That means this landmark DIY is officially a full-fledged skatepark! Andy Harris and the crew have put in decades making Channel Street what it is today, so to celebrate the park’s new legal status, Andy, Ronnie, Robbie and more came to cut the ribbon and break in the newly-liberated bridge park. —Ben Karpinski

Showed up a little early to meet Andy Harris and make sure everything was good to go

Lawrence just finished painting the tiles around the entire park, so he earned the first test ride

Cali Mucho was on hand printing SPSA shirts for the scene

Decisions, decisions….

Heavy lineup in the parking lot

The press had a field day!

Big Nick’s brought over some free pizzas from next door

Shirt line was going off all day

Koki taking advantage of the empty bowl with a back Smith through the corner

Now for the big event. Sorry, press-pass posse, but April gets first dibs

A beautiful day for the town of San Pedro

Andy had a long list of thank yous, as well as a powerful retelling of Channel Street’s journey from obscure DIY to city-sanctioned skatepark

Then it was a quick speech from City Councilman Joe Buscaino

He even pulled Daewon onstage

Yes, there was an actual ribbon to cut

Channel street skatepark is now officially open!

Congrats, guys

“Let’s get one for Thrasher”

No more red tape

Boards, pads, helmets and shoes were given out to the kids care of Vans, Pro-Tec, Antihero, Krooked and Thank You via the local Boys and Girls Club

Tough call to make on what board to choose…

Then it was time to skate! Daewon and DJ Runaway double up on the new mini

Hometown hero Robbie Russo gets mic’d up

Then tosses a casual air over the door in the OG bowl

Jordan Toledo was blasting Madonnas in the big bowl

Koki screeching a bluntslide through the corner

Robbie literally can and will skate this place with his eyes closed

Great to see Oliver Grosso flying around all day

Channel loc Josh Wilkerson grinding a few blocks

Jeremy Ponce works down in the port, and as part of his Union benefits he gets to know every line in the park

FSA at his second home

Oscar Navarro and son

Torey and Haslam came by

When you think of Torey, does DIY ripper come to mind? It should—kickflip pivot

Adrian Newman, I think I heard a scratch

Mark Ostrom, crail on the new outside wall

Loo getting upside down in the big bowl

All in all it was an epic day. Thanks again for everything you two have done and congrats on the park’s new legal status. Thanks to Vans, Dickies, Deluxe, Thank You, Cali Mucho and, most importantly, anyone who has ever brought a bag of cement down to the park.