Message to Parks and Recreation - City Departments
SPAUSA
is a national non profit organization that provides information
to individuals and cities that are considering building a skatepark.
Most information gets sent out to young skaters, free of charge,
across the USA . Information is also supplied, free of charge,
to cities and private individuals.
It is important
to work with professionals in the skatepark industry. There are
no current building and safety codes available in the USA. SPAUSA
is working with the best builders to develop some but until they
are finished you have no controls. That means if you put it out
to bid no one can check the work. Here are a couple of examples
of what can go wrong:
1) The city
of Barnstable Ma. (near Hyannis Port) just built 2 concrete bowls,
valued at over $100,000, that are unskateable. After going through
the whole process they contracted the job to an inexperienced
crew, who ³brushed² the finish of the bowls. At this point it
does not look like anything can be done to correct it.
2) Concrete
bowls were built in Colorado and drains were not installed. This
could cause a drowning if someone were to fall in and the bowls
will float if the water level rises. They are using pumps to drain
them.
3) Many concrete
parks have trouble with the transitions. This will cause a higher
rate of injury. You will have spent the money and not solved the
problem.
Why should
you build a skatepark anyway? Why not? The truth is I have never
heard a valid reason for not building a skatepark. Everyone talks
about providing services for older youth but most of the time
it is just that, talk. Anytime kids want to do something that
does not involve drugs, gangs or criminal activity, we should
support them. They are our future.
The passage
of BILL # AB 2487 has allowed local public agencies to build unsupervised
skateparks and post signs requiring safety equipment to be worn
while skating. Unsupervised skateparks are are very popular with
skaters but care has to be taken to build them in safe locations.
If you do not have an ideal location you may want to consider
a supervised park or partnering with a private skatepark or other
youth group such as a Church, Boys & Girls Club or YMCA.
You may need
help with fund raising and there are some good sources available
right now. Both Pepsi and Coke have been putting money into skateparks
in exchange for the placement of vending machines. According to
Andy Spencer (Pepsi) the program has been ³wildly successful².
Local lumber yards and construction companies have been known
to donate the building supplies and some of the labor. Other successful
ideas include skate demos, concerts and donations.
You may not
understand this sport or the way that these kids dress but make
no mistake, they are athletes and they are passionate about their
sport. They will keep skating. It behooves you to provide safe
places for them to practice their sport.
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