Tony Hawk and Artist Ryan McGinness Bring a Contemporary Skate Park to Downtown Detroit

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Photograph Courtesy of Bedrock Detroit

Wayfinding, a temporary public skate park designed in part by skateboarder Tony Hawk and artist Ryan McGinness, opens in downtown Detroit today. Presented by Bedrock and the Quicken Loans Family of Companies, the project also features an art installation created by the Library Street Collection with assistance from the Cranbrook Art Museum.

“The Wayfinding skate park truly captures the creative and collaborative spirit of Detroit —we’ve brought together a unique team of artists, professional athletes, architects, and programming experts to bring this project to life,” says Anthony Curis of the Library Street Collective in a release.

McGinness says he drew inspiration from Hawk’s design elements, incorporating architecture and skating into his pieces.

“The term ‘wayfinding’ refers to the discipline applied to guiding people through a physical environment,” says McGinness. “These strategies for helping people navigate space are usually applied by architects and designers. When in the hands of a skateboarder and artist, the traditional guidelines for wayfinding get upended.”

The 4,600-square-foot park built by George Leichtweis, owner of Modern Skate and Surf in Royal Oak, will include six skateable elements inspired by Detroit. Leichtweis is also the designer behind the Fisher Halfpipe, which was built inside the Fisher Building in April.

Wayfinding currently resides on the future site of Bedrock’s Monroe Blocks development, however, the park’s mobile design will allow it to move to another location once the company breaks ground. Currently, the project is expected to begin in Jan. 2018.

For more information visit www.wayfindingdetroit.com