On most days, the Founder’s Garden on Temple’s main campus is a quiet place where students go to relax or read during their downtime between classes. But for one day last week the square was transformed into a bustling miniature skate park.

Students and staff crossing Polett Walk and 13th Street gathered to watch as dozens of skateboarders took turns performing tricks — sometimes in orchestrated pairs — on the giant “half-pipe” ramp. Whenever a highly technical maneuver was successfully landed, the celebratory sound of boards slapping against the lip of the half-pipe and clapping from on-lookers filled the area. A few inevitable hard landings drew grimaces from the crowd, but the participants always rose to their feet unharmed.

Organized by students Kevin Casey and Hardy Barnabas of the Temple University Snowboarding Club, the event was originally scheduled for Spring Fling, but was postponed due to slick, rainy conditions. The club worked in conjunction with Revival Skate Shop of Lancaster, Pa., which provided and installed the ramps and other equipment. The Office of Student Activities also assisted in communicating with offices such as Student Center Operations, the Grounds Department and Campus Safety to ensure the event ran smoothly.