[Newsletter] Skatepark News

Fri May 16 10:16:49 MST 2008

Hi Everyone,
Insurance news:
If you need skatepark insurance most of the insurance pools will cover a  
skatepark, if it is un staffed, for free or minimal charge.
If your park is staffed or you need to run and event and need coverage  
please contact me
_sk8pks at aol.com_ (mailto:sk8pks at aol.com) 

Private parks average $2500 a year, non profits $1000. When I first started  
SPAUSA rates for skateparks were averaging $40,000 a year and some were 
getting  quotes as high as $125,000 per year!!!
There is strength to an association and one of the main benefits is risk  
management.

NASSA - North American Surf & Skateboard  Association
serving Canada and USA
This is a shared policy for all members standard $2 million liability, $1  
million per occurrence
Year runs Dec thru Dec - sorry no pro-rating
$50 to register your Chapter
$25 per participant
Ideal for leagues, schools, camps, demo teams, instruction, youth  groups etc.
Coverage includes travel to and from  events if travel is as a team /  
organization.
Instructor certification!
for more info
_nassainfo at gmail.com_ (mailto:nassainfo at gmail.com) 

***************************************
BMX

Lots of good news these days! Park districts are reporting that their  
skateparks (when built right) are the busiest parks in their district with few  if 
any problems.
BMX is still an issue - every other country allows BMX in the same park at  
the same time with no problems. Here in USA almost all of the builders are  
skateboarders and most tend to discourage cities from allowing BMX for 2  reasons:
They are skateboarders and don't want to share
They are trying to build below skatepark standards 
If you city has concerns talk to other cities that allow BMX - check out  the 
facts as far as damage and compatibility.
The Cove - City of Santa Monica (separate sessions)
City of Las Vegas (22 parks all allow BMX at the same time)
City of Long Beach (joint usage same times)
Flagstaff (separate parks but skaters are in the BMX park and vice  versa)
Tempe (separate parks but skaters ride the BMX park)
Contact me if you need contact info for these parks.
*********************************************
X Games
X Games coming up in Aug. in Los Angeles!!!!!
I think they are literally the biggest show there is. Come out and skate or  
visit S California skateparks and catch some of the top talent in the world  
doing what they do best!
Nate Wessel is now in charge of the skate / bmx courses.  he is a very 
talented designer / builder that I have worked with for years. Nate  rides BMX and 
skateboards and you can't fool him on any issue. He has helped us  develop 
skatepark standards and policy.
If anyone is interested in a skatepark workshop in Aug let me know. It  would 
be fun to host it at the X Games and tour the grounds.

**********************************
New Posting Service:
Post your jobs for camps, skateparks and instructors and for RFP's on  SPAUSA.
Job postings are free
RFP's are $75 

Hazardous Recreational Activity
If you have added skateboarding to the list of HRA's in your state  then it 
is safe to go under Aassumption of Risk.
It is a strong defense!!!!
Whatever you do DO NOT copy the California Bill that IASC  (International 
Association of Skateboard Companies) co-wrote and pushed  through.
It is a dangerous bill endorsed by the trial attorneys and it  is full of 
loopholes.
Assumption of Risk is a much better defense.
California cities , for the most part, are operating because there are no  
lawsuits on record and many cities ignore this bill entirely.
It was falsely presented as adding skateboarding to the list of  HRA's . It 
requires CA cities to arrest and ticket skaters who are not  wearing helmets 
and pads and that compliments their 
"Arrest me, I'm a skateboarder" campaigns.

Skatepark Trends

Street Plazas!!!!
Check out this link for what is exciting and also a beautification project  
for your city!

_http://www.sitedesigngroup.com/photos/97_small3round0018.jpg_ 
(http://www.sitedesigngroup.com/photos/97_small3round0018.jpg) 

School Skateparks!!!

At last school skateparks are starting to take off. There are  popular after 
school programs with many grants available. We opened the first  ever school 
skatepark program in 2000 at Berendo Middle School. Prior to that  there was a 
very small (1200 sq feet nothing over 18 inches) at Huntington Beach  High 
School. The programs work and many school s are including  skateboarding in the 
curriculum.

Other News

_ONARCHITECTURE-  Family feud: Skaters rejoice, supes kvetch_ 
(http://www.readthehook.com/stories/2008/05/15/ONARCH-refeed-0720.aspx) 
The Hook - Charlottesville,VA,USA
... resurfacing  as well as top-of-the-line features from Spohn Ranch, a 
California company that  has built over 400 skateparks across the country.  ...
_Behavior is  problem at skatepark_ 
(http://www.wdnweb.com/articles/2008/05/15/news/news02.txt) 
Washington Daily  News - Washington,NC,USA
The mayor hopes the state will make it easier  in the future for cities like 
Washington to have skateparks by addressing  liability concerns that may keep 
...
_Kids  cry out for skatepark_ 
(http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/sundaystartimes/auckland/4525281a22395.html) 
Auckland  stuff.co.nz - Auckland,New Zealand
Ignatious says the Lloyd Elsmore  skatepark wasn’t designed properly, so they 
don’t use it and the other  skateparks are too far away.  ...

_Off the Rails_ (http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=578156&hp) 
TheStranger.com - Seattle,WA,USA
But, as it often goes  with skateparks, the Seattle parks department's plan 
to build a  10000-square-foot skate spot in West Seattle came off the rails 
last  ...

_Skatepark bid approved_ 
(http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080513/NEWS01/805130310/1002) 
Hattiesburg American - Hattiesburg,MS,USA
California  Skateparks Inc., which has built skateparks around the nation,  
submitted the winning bid of $300000. The company had earlier submitted a bid 
of  ...

_Deadline looms for Essex cash_ 
(http://www.harlowherald.co.uk/content/hlwherald/news/story.aspx?brand=HLHOnline&category=NewsHarlow&tBrand=HertsCambsOnline
&tCategory=newslatestHLH&itemid=WEED09%20May%202008%2016:23:01:560) 
Harlow Herald 24 - Stevenage,England,UK
The scheme  supports exciting initiatives ranging from public open spaces and 
refurbished  community centres to skateparks and play buses. ...

_Grand opening for skatepark_ 
(http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/nelsonmail/4520805a6510.html) 
The Nelson Mail - Nelson,New Zealand
New Zealand Civil  Construction foreman Russell Zittersteijn, who has built 
other skateparks  throughout the country, said the Nelson project was 
particularly  ...

_St Kilda's devil of a triangle_ 
(http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/st-kildas-devil-of-a-triangle/2008/05/09/1210131265792.html) 
The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
What could be  more in keeping with the "gritty" spirit of St Kilda than 
boarding houses or  skateparks? Only streetwalkers come to mind.  ...

_Skating toward construction_ 
(http://www.steamboatpilot.com/news/2008/may/07/skating_toward_construction/) 
Steamboat Pilot - Steamboat  Springs,CO,USA
He said the park is only about 5000 square feet;  typical Colorado skateparks 
are 10000 to 15000 square feet. As a result,  Casson said beginners and 
experts ... 
_New park's skaters flying high_ 
(http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/may/07/new-parks-skaters-flying-high/) 
Knoxville News Sentinel - Knoxville,TN,USA
The current  park was designed and built by California Skateparks, which has 
developed  more than 130 such parks around the country. ...
_Let's take a vote on a new parks levy_ 
(http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2004393998_proparks06.html) 
Seattle Times - United States
...  pedestrian and bike paths connecting neighborhoods to light-rail 
stations in the  Rainier Valley; and more skateparks, ballfields and trails.  ...

Thank you for  contacting 
Heidi Lemmon
executive director
SKATEPARK ASSOCIATION est.  1996

_www.spausa.org_ (http://www.spausa.org/)   _www.myspace.com/spausa_ 
(http://www.myspace.com/spausa) 
310 495  7112 cell 310 261 2816
Risk Management . Construction Guidelines . Events .  Certification
It is a great day to build a  skatepark!

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