El Paso’s Hidden Skate Park Is Getting A Cleanup By The Sun City Pickers

Hidden in Central El Paso is a gem of a skate park complete with stairs, ramped pillars, a bowl to drop in on and one of the most unique views in Central. For a long time, this hidden gem was simply known as 'the ditch' and most people didn't think much of it. Whether you call it a ditch, the Green Bowl, or its actual name, The Van Buren Dam -- you have one association to thank for turning it from a rough drain to a dual purpose skatepark. Thanks to the El Paso Skatepark Association, The Green Bowl and several other dangerous drainage ditches in El Paso have been renovated with help from the city to become dual purpose community spots. Not just skateparks that give locals an outlet for connection and practice, but also vital infrastructure that serves the city during heavy rainfall.

Courtesy of EPSA

This is the kind of creative design that you see in much bigger cities so its crazy to me that we don't give more recognition to cool spots like The Van Buren Dam. The EPSA worked to get multiple drainage ditches renovated into dual purpose community skate spots and some have unfortunately been neglected. To combat this, The Borderland Real Property Network and some other volunteer groups like The Sun City Pickers are teaming up to clean the Green Bowl!

The Borderland Real Property Network is an organization seeking to provide homeowners with reliable local contractors. The group also wants to prove to the city they're here for the community so they're working with El Paso Water and trying to make the Van Buren Dam a safer, more usable space for the community.

The founder of BRPN grew up in the area and wants to see the space be something people can feel proud of the way he does.

READ MORE: SUN CITY PICKERS AND OTHER GROUPS CLEAN UP EL PASO

The Sun City Pickers have had huge crowds of volunteers out all over El Paso to help beautify the city. They are setting their sites on a really unique community skatepark alongside Borderland Real Property Network and they're calling for any local El Pasoans to come out and be part of the cause! Join up at the Green Bowl to be part of the clean up crew September 26th at 9AM! 3921 N. Piedras!