2009 NRPA Expo. 10 Things. All Successful Skateparks Have In Common

Transcription

1 2009 NRPA Expo 10 Things All Successful Skateparks Have In Common skateboardiasc.org skatepark.org tonyhawkfoundation.org

2 Who We Are Volunteer Owned, Operated Sexy Executive Director Hundreds of Contributors Always 100% Free Grants $20-billion A Year Sexy Executive Director Provides Awareness, Legitimacy Community Go-to for Info

3 What s In This For You We know skateparks You are curious Together, we will look at some successful skateparks that appear to be very different We will talk about what they have in common You will leave with an understanding of the key design considerations that lead to a healthy, successful skatepark. Our communities will benefit from our wisdom!

4 What makes skateparks great?

5 1 Aren t Hidden Away Visible: Situated in popular park. Adjacent to paths, sidewalk. Accessible: Near highway On arterial skate

6 1 Aren t Hidden Away Visible: Situated in popular park. Adjacent to grand lawn, beach, picnic facilities. Accessible: Near businesses beach spot walking fishing

7 1 Aren t Hidden Away Active & Social: Lots of social and programmed space next to skatepark restroom peewee field soccer skate bike path playground

8 2 Interpret & Improve Swimming pool (Bowl)

9 2 Interpret & Improve Stairs & Ledge (Hubba)

10 2 Interpret & Improve Funny Curb, Bench

11 3 Led by Users Tom Miller principle advocate, Portland, OR

12 3 Led by Users Ojai Skaters come out for park clean-up day

13 3 Led by Users Jared Ficklin speaks up for skateboarding at a parks bond meeting in Austin, Texas.

14 4 Meet the Need What is the need? Denver, CO

15 4 Meet the Need Denver has: 600,000 people (2008)? Ages 5 9: 34,473 Ages 10 14: 31,315 Ages 15 19: 32,259 Ages 20 24: 45,534 Total Youth Population: 14,581 National average of Youth Population that skate: 16% 16% of Denver s Youth Population: 2,333 Therefore, there are approximately 2,333 skaters in Denver.

16 4 Meet the Need We ll need a bigger skatepark. It would be unrealistic (and unsafe) to expect 2,333 users all to use a single facility.

17 4 Meet the Need 2,333 skaters need 32,000 sq. ft. of skatepark s A distributed system might be: 1 regional park 2 neighborhood parks (which may be plazas) 4 skate spots r p s n s r n p s s

18 5 Embraced by Community The site, design, or policies of the skatepark cannot be dictated by community fears.

19 5 Embraced by Community Professional skater Rob Dyrdek and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa celebrate the opening of their new skatepark.

20 5 Embraced by the Community Integrated Social

21 5 Embraced by the Community The skatepark should be where the community is and have the following qualities: 1. Visibility / Sociability Indicated by the presence of elderly people, young children, healthy evening activity 2. Comfort Suggested by crime statistics, environmental data, sanitary facilities 3. Access Measured by pedestrian activity and traffic data 4. Activity Measured in part by property values, business ownership, retail activity

22 6 Augments Nearby Skateparks 2,333 skaters need 32,000 sq. ft. of skatepark s A distributed system might be: 1 regional park 2 neighborhood parks (which may be plazas) 4 skate spots r p s n s r n p s s

23 6 Augments Nearby Skateparks 2,333 skaters need 32,000 sq. ft. of skatepark street and transition A distributed system w/unique signature elements might be: 1 regional park manual r pad 2 neighborhood parks p (which may be plazas) s micro bowl 4 skate spots n hybrid flow course and bowl s r n street w/unique signature elements s p s s wedge bank opposing quarters

24 6 Augments Nearby Skateparks Each park within the skatepark system shares only the most basic elements, if at all. Each facility should be known for its unique offering. All the skateparks maintain the same degree of excellence in design and construction so that no single facility is carrying the others. This addresses a common community fear of the skatepark being a teen hangout. Only the larger parks (Regional and Neighborhood) feature terrain diversity in terms of street and transition. The Plaza attracts street skaters as a destination skatepark. The Regional attracts skaters from greater distances. The Neighborhood park serves a larger residential area. The Skate Spots provide opportunities for those unable to travel. Each skatepark, regardless of size, plays a unique and important role.

25 7 Effective, Empowered Advocacy The best skateparks are in communities where the advocates are trusted partners in the development process. Conversely, the worst skateparks are generally evidence of the decision-makers appeasing the vocal skaters with a solution based primarily on their own priorities. Lowest bidder, but unqualified.

26 7 Effective, Empowered Advocacy Saved a few bucks with a local contractor. Whoever built this clearly didn t know how it would be used.

27 7 Effective, Empowered Advocacy Empowered advocacy will manifest in a facility that appeals to the entire community. It is our mutual responsibility to ensure that our advocates are heard and involved in key decisions.

28 8 Designed by Professionals How do you know who is qualified to meet your community s needs? Professional skatepark designers have built powerful reputations in the skateboarding world and their parks......appear in magazines and skateboarding websites....attract professional teams on tour....are talked about (in the good way). Listen to your skateboarding community!

29 9 Is Not Modular Lower initial cost but higher maintenance. When that maintenance isn t done, the park can quickly become unsafe to its visitors. Paper-polymer-surfaced structures are the biggest culprit. A commitment to avoid modular ramps is the first important step in creating a sustainable, healthy facility.

30 10 Effective, Empowered Advocacy There is a reason modular ramp companies make no attempt to reach out to the end user. (Though they all claim they do, of course.)

31 p r n s First, let s look at Four Great Skateparks

32 Ed Benedict Plaza p Portland, OR Approx. 12,000 sq. ft. Design: Newline Construction: California Cost: $xxx,xxx (% bond, % grassroots, % local, state, fed grants) Authentic

33 Architectural p Adjacent Adjacencies: Grand lawn Arterial Natural elements & textures Design Features: Street forms Authentic materials Conceptual elements Bioswale Connected

34 Textural Insightful p Noteworthy: One of many intended for Portland s city-wide system of skateparks. Accessible

35 Lake Cunningham Regional r San Jose, CA Approx. 65,000 sq. ft. Design: Wormhoudt Construction: California Cost: $X,xxx,xxx (% bond, % grassroots, % local, state, fed grants) Majestic

36 r Varied Versatile Adjacencies: Vending Pro shop Supervision Design Features: Transition & Street Large structures Accommodating

37 Signatures Replicates r Rare Noteworthy: One of the largest parks on the west coast. Complies with California s strict skatepark constraints.

38 Oceanside Neighborhood n Oceanside, CA Approx. 6,400 sq. ft. Design: Grindline Construction: Grindline Cost: $325,000 (##% grassroots)

39 n Adjacencies: xxx Design Features: Transition Street forms

40 n Noteworthy: One of three planned Oceanside skateparks. No fence.

41 Thea s Park Spot s Tacoma, WA Approx. 5,000 sq. ft. Design: Community Construction: Community Cost: $3,500 (80% local grants, 20% grassroots) Unobtrusive

42 s Inclusive Communal Integrated Adjacencies: Walking Fishing Kayaking Grand lawn Design Features: Granite-edged concrete block

43 Urban Simple s Noteworthy: Re-allowed skateboarding Path of least resistance Liberated

44 Plaza Any size Institutional design Regional 40,000 sq ft + Diverse design Neighborhood 8 14,000 sq ft Conservative design Spot Spot 3 5,000 sq ft Singular

45 3 The rest Celebrate the activity (visual tour of great skatepark images... no narrative?) NO SIMPLE ANSWERS: Helmets, BMX, fees, liability, programming Closing, Q&A