PROPOSAL FOR: Skateparks under
Bridges
Skateboarding is
a high-energy activity, which builds strength of body and mind, as it is an
activity that requires an individual to be self-reliant while sharing space
with other individuals.
One constructive
aspect that makes skateboarding a positive activity is that it allows
individuals to focus on their personal abilities and skills. As a sport,
skateboarding has no prescribed rules, no governing body, and no restrictions
that require a team effort. Kids who are not served by team sports, are
attracted to skateboarding, because it doesn’t require you to join a team
and compete so a winner and a loser is declared, it is an activity where there are no losers, only winners. Anyone can simply grab
their board and skate at anytime to improve their skills.
Skateboarding
has other positive attributes, to which older skaters can attest. It builds
confidence, and often it's this confidence in oneself that allows one to make
the right choices in life. It also teaches kids that they can do things they
never thought possible. For parents and kids this is also an opportunity for
learning and positive role modeling. One only has to look at champion skater
Tony Hawk and see how skateboarding has become a way for him to connect with
his kids.
Ultimately a
well-designed and well-built skatepark will be the facility needed to provide a
challenging activity for young people to participate. By providing this kind of
location, older skaters will also use and enjoy this park and this mix will
give the younger skaters the opportunity to learn and grow not only as a
skater, but as a person as well.
Problems
occur when adequate facilities and/or challenging activities for young people
to participate in are not available. Skateboarding offers a solution, but
skateboarding cannot occur in the rain, or when it’s excessively hot, or
in the dark winter months.
This
proposal puts forth possible sites for skatepark locations to occupy
underutilized spaces under bridges and overpasses. Skateparks can take organic,
asymmetrical forms, i.e. they need not be bound in squares like other sports
fields. This key feature allows for more efficient use of space that otherwise
may be rendered useless (e.g. land under bridges).
Using land under a bridge has two other
advantages compared to other locations. First, it largely eliminates the
’N.I.M.B.Y.’ (Not in my back yard) problem. Because these
neighborhoods are already accommodating a freeway, or a noisy bridge, skatepark
generated noise is no longer an
issue. Second, it discourages illegal activities that often occur under bridges
of this sort. A good example is under the Burnside Bridge in Portland. Before
1990, this location was home to all kinds of criminal activity (drug deals,
prostitution, abandoned cars, etc.) when skaters Mark Scott and company started
building the skatepark there. They literally cleaned up the area and kicked the
criminals out, to the point that the surrounding businesses took notice and
volunteered their time and money toward expanding the skatepark. Even the
Police Chief donated money towards the effort. (This information was taken from
a personal interview with Joanne Ferrero who is owner and operator of Ferrero
Equity Inc., a company right next to the Burnside Skatepark.)
In addition to those advantages, it also provides a place
for skateboarding that is out of the rain in the winter, and excessive heat in
the summer, and with the addition of lights, it can be utilized when it’s
dark as well.
OBJECTIVES
#1 - Give skaters a good
place to skate that is covered, rain or shine, day or night, through out the
year.
#2 - Effectively uses the
space that most wouldn’t think to use as park land. (It not only fulfills
the goals of the City by providing a space for skateboarders, but also serves
the community at large as well, by freeing up more land to be used for other
types of parks.)
#3 - Provide kids with a
healthy and intense activity. Where kids learn how to skateboard and are given a
positive kinesthetic and creative outlet for their energy.
Two Suggested
Locations
1.
Under
I-90 along Royal Brougham. Centrally
located. Bus access, and features a large covered space largely unused.
2.
Under
I-5 between NE 40th Street, and NE 42nd Street. Close to the University District, where there are lots
of kids who go to school, and also skate. Bus access and a very large covered
area, largely unused.
Clientele
There are two different clientele groups for this
project.
·
The first, and primary, clientele are the young
people who live in the area, that frequent the area already.
·
The second clientele group are the skaters of all
ages who live in various parts of the city that would travel to this park
(either by car or bus), due to it being usable even while raining.
Both
clientele groups are important and essential components of this project. It is
expected that significant usage will take place by both clientele groups. This
is concluded from the fact that skateboarding is currently one of the fastest
growing sports, and facilities such as these are used more heavily than
basketball courts or baseball fields in similar locations.
The primary methods for achieving theses objectives:
·
The design/construction and creation of a skatepark using concrete, as its
surface material.
·
The use of skateboarders as designers and contractors, i.e. using experienced
companies comprised of skateboarders.
·
The development of the areas under a bridge as a full-fledged city park,
complete with restrooms, trash cans, and lights.
Potential Objections and
Responses
Seismic safety- Traffic safety engineers design such bridges
specifically to withstand the weight and stress of consistent car travel. If the
bridge is safe for auto travel, one can reasonably assume it is safe for
skateboarders beneath the bridge.
Land is not the property
of the city- Currently there is a
skatepark under I-90, in Spokane, which sets a precedent that other cities can
follow.
A park that attracts
people from surrounding cities doesn’t serve our city- In fact it does. A good example is the Ballard
skatepark. Currently skaters come from all around to skate there. The
surrounding businesses, such as the QFC and Texaco, benefit, as does the city.
The bottom line, skaters spend money when they travel, if they travel to
Seattle, they will spend money in Seattle.
Lights are expensive- First, darkness arrives early in Seattle’s
winter, just after the school day ends. This causes skaters to look elsewhere
to skate (such as the streets or parking garages, both of which are illegal).
It’s far better to have the kids in one place like a skatepark, where the
authorities can keep track of them. If lights can be used at a tennis court,
then in the same way they can be used for a skatepark. Lights need not stay on all night. They
can shut off at a designated time, have a coin-operated switch to turn them on
(to help offset the cost), or a simple button can be used.
Skate-only
and concrete with steel coping, then $0.
Skate-only
with pool coping, about $3000 the first year, then $2000 a year thereafter.
BMX, about
$5000 a year.
(See attached documents for additional locations.
Or click below)
Additional Sites in Seattle:
Under Interstate 5 for a couple of miles in Seattle
along Airport way.
Under the 12th Street Bridge, and Dearborn Ave.
Under 45th street next to University
Village
Under Highway 509 at the intersection of Hwy 99 and 509
and W. Marginal Way.
Under Hwy 99 at South Hanford Street
Under Hwy 99 at South Atlantic Street