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Freshly announced from the freshly re-branded Events D.C.: Maloof Money Cup, which is a big skateboarding competition with lots of money up for grabs, will be building a 15,000-square-foot skate park on the huge parking lot at RFK Festival Grounds for its use this year and in the future. But instead of tearing it down when the whole thing is over, the park will stay, becoming the city’s biggest playground for skater dudes and ladies. And there’s more! The park’s design will be “inspired by Freedom Plaza and the buildings up and down Pennsylvania Avenue.” (I’m not sure Freedom Plaza itself is particularly inspirational, but anything’s better than a parking lot).
I don’t yet know what the financial arrangement is, but in New York City, Joe Maloof—-owner of the Sacramento Kings and the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas—-funded a $1.15 million park and even kicked in money to maintain it over three years. There’s another in South Africa designed to reflect the historic Kimberley Diamond Mine.
D.C.’s competition is set for September 3rd and 4th, so I imagine they’ll have to start construction soon; I’ll get renderings when they’re available.
UPDATE, 1:30 p.m. – I added a rendering. Also, as for funding, Events D.C. will be paying for grounds preparation, while Maloof will take care of park construction.