Emerson Skate Park in Grand Junction is expected to close in February to accommodate the construction of a new facility.

“We are thrilled to work with such a nationally renowned design firm to create this new state-of-the-art skate park in Grand Junction,” said Ken Sherbenou, director of Grand Junction Parks and Recreation.

The park is scheduled to close Feb. 26. Following tree trimming and fencing erected around the park, contractors will begin park renovations that are anticipated to continue through the summer.

Team Pain Skate Parks joined with engineers and a landscape artist to lead a community engagement process that included virtual and public meetings about the project. The park was redesigned as a destination skate and wheel park that will include a street course, intermediate bowl and advanced bowl.

“With Team Pain’s expertise in building destination-level skate parks, it is expected that the new park will experience a high-level of participation, drawing not only from communities in the surrounding area but even enticing skaters to travel here from Denver and Salt Lake City,” Sherbenou said.

The Grand Junction City Council approved the project as a part of the 2024 budget. The council subsequently approved a contract to complete the design and construction of the renovated park. The project cost will not exceed the guaranteed maximum price of $2,906,875.

The council approved a design-build contract with Ford Construction. The contract includes Team Pain as the skate park builder, the Austin Civil Group for civil engineering and Kaart Planning for landscape architecture.

Team Pain Skate Parks is a national design-build firm with more than 30 years of experience in the industry. The firm specializes in custom skate structures, concrete skate park facilities, indoor facilities and high-profile specialty structures. The firm has designed and constructed 26 concrete skate park facilities throughout Colorado and more than 350 skate structures and skate parks worldwide.

The reactivation of Emerson Park is among the priorities included in a 2021 master plan for the parks and recreation system.