Tony Hawk hooks up $10K for new SOMA skate park

Duuude! The Birdman is totally hooking up the sick new skate park that’ll be behind Zeitgeist next year! Hella stoked!

Seriously though, The City’s Department of Recreation and Parks announced Thursday that the Tony Hawk Foundation is giving $10,000 to help build the new SOMA West Skate Park at the corner of Mission Street and Duboce – right under the Central Freeway. Officials also say that the money will also help to improve other skate parks around the city.

The plan promises to combine the work of local artists and park features inspired by local skate spots such as Channel Street, 3 up 3 down (the smooth granite steps outside of the Armory building), and of course, Justin Herman Plaza. The result will be a world-class urban skate destination with a feel that is purely San Francisco.

SOMA West is scheduled to break ground next spring and open in the fall, at a total cost of $3 million. It is the culmination of over two years of planning between the local skate community, government agencies, and consultants at New Line Skateparks Inc.

To date, the Tony Hawk Foundation has given away more than $3.4 million to help build well over 400 skateparks around the country. Hawk, 43, started skating when he was nine, after his older brother gave him a chipped-up blue fiberglass skateboard. Since then he’s competed in 103 pro contests, winning 73 of them and placing second in 19. The now retired skateboarding legend was crowned vertical skating’s world champion 12 years in a row.

A celebratory event marking the $10,000 donation will be held at 3 p.m. today at the corner of Stanyan and Waller streets. Come out and catch a sweet performance by local pro skateboarding legend Steve Caballero and the kids from the city’s winter skateboarding camp.