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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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