Letter: New skatepark for kids or adults?
It will be interesting to see if the new skateboard park [Hook March 7, 2013, article, "Pop-shove-it! Charlottesville skate park re-opens in McIntire] will be designed for the benefit of children or the ease of adults.
Across the nation and the world, municipalities who built low-cost concrete parks for the efficiency of parks departments' maintenance budgets and personnel, found that they were swiftly abandoned to become cement jungles. Will there be a concrete eye-sore abandoned in the middle of McIntire Park? Will it be a street park or a ramp park? Do city officials know the difference?
Here are the comparisons, through the eyes of children, between wood and concrete construction:
Injury- What child (or parent) would prefer skating on a surface with the knowledge that they could acquire severe lacerations, scrapes, bruises and even concussions or breaks from contacting such a brutal, unforgiving surface as concrete? By contrast, specially treated wood ramps and recycled plastic flooring mats allow for children’s mishaps–and there are multitudes while learning to skateboard–with pliable, giving surfaces.
Cost per child- Wheels last much longer on softer wood surfaces, allowing more diverse socioeconomic groups to partake in the sport. Then there is the cost of personal injury…..
Maintenance- Yes, it would cost less in the short run to pour concrete instead of replacing wood as it decays or chips over the years. In the long run, it is the children who will be suffering from the misguided decisions of adults and the city risks the abandonment issues sustained by other concrete facilities.
Performance- Anyone who skateboards, bikes or inline skates knows that the softer the surface, the more acceleration, the more enjoyable the sport.
Liability- Would there be an increase in injuries sustained by youths that would find the city in constant litigation or paying higher insurance premiums? You be the judge.
Open hours- Why are playgrounds open to the public without supervision and skateparks closed because of the need for constant paid personnel? It is a waste of taxpayer funds to build such a park and not have it be utilized when children are on school vacations, days off or during the hours that children normally partake of the sport.
Hopefully, the city will take into consideration all of these points with children’s health and well-being as well as the personal funds spent on equipment before designing the new park.
Daria Brezinski
Charlottesville
11 comments
The smoother the concrete park, the better. No supervisers. No attendants to check in with. Virginia blanket covers all of their parks & rec facilites for insurance liabilities, cliams, etc. They do not need an employee there to watch over the participants.
In fact, having such an employee ACTUALLY INCREASES THE RISK FOR THE MUNICIPALITY THAT HOSTS IT. No employees there, no risk.
The key is to have the park not end up being built TOO BIG AND TOO GNARLY for most of the participants own good. I can skate anything, but I prefer to localize a good, smooth, medium gnarliness factor park. VENICE BEACH CALIFORNIA's oceanfront park is great size. So perfect for all ages and styles, from pros to groms (kids).
WHAT MATTERS THE MOST IF HAVING A TOP-LEVEL CREW BUILD AND DESIGN THE PLACE PERFECTLY, ADD PLENTY OF SHADING FROM THE HOT SUMMER SUNSHINE, ADD A GREAT SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT, SOME PRIVACY FROM THE ROAD NOISE AND BUSINESS...... AND LOTS OF NICE PEOPLE TO SKATE WITH. THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.
The smoother the concrete park, the better. No supervisers. No attendants to check in with. Virginia blanket covers all of their parks & rec facilites for insurance liabilities, claims, etc. They do not need an employee there to watch over the participants.
In fact, having such an employee ACTUALLY INCREASES THE RISK FOR THE MUNICIPALITY THAT HOSTS IT. No employees there, no risk.
The key is to have the park not end up being built TOO BIG AND TOO GNARLY for most of the participants own good. I can skate anything, but I prefer to localize a good, smooth, medium gnarliness factor park. VENICE BEACH CALIFORNIA's oceanfront park is great size. So perfect for all ages and styles, from pros to groms (kids).
WHAT MATTERS THE MOST IF HAVING A TOP-LEVEL CREW BUILD AND DESIGN THE PLACE PERFECTLY, ADD PLENTY OF SHADING FROM THE HOT SUMMER SUNSHINE, ADD A GREAT SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT, SOME PRIVACY FROM THE ROAD NOISE AND BUSINESS...... AND LOTS OF NICE PEOPLE TO SKATE WITH. THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.
Hey blurry, if you yell a lot it will obviously help your cause.
Along with opinions about property owners planting trees that obstruct the mountain view, we are fast assembling a compendium of articles that illustrate the residents of this area have too much time on their hands.
R.I.P.: Buddy Ebsen
for some real fun make sure it's a totally accessible skateboard playground
there's ramps and there's ramps if you know what i mean
break a bone, no problem, keep skating, you'll never age out
@liberalace - and the hook comments section is fast assembling a compendium of comments that illustrate that some of the residents of this area have too much time on their hands!
and yes, i recognize the irony in my pointing out that you also seem to have too much time on your hands means that i have too much time on my hands.
pot meet kettle.
"Performance- Anyone who skateboards, bikes or inline skates knows that the softer the surface, the more acceleration, the more enjoyable the sport. "
To the contrary, anyone who skateboards knows that a hard smooth surface coupled with firm wheels is the key to speed. Anyone who doesn't skate but has had high school physics knows the same. This lady has obviously never been on a skateboard in her life and doesn't know what she's going on about.
Concrete is free form. Ramps and bowls made of sheet goods are always full of formal compromises and awkward transitions. No skater in his/her right mind would pick plywood over well done concrete. The key is hiring a good contractor that knows skate parks and doing it right from the beginning.
This letter is absolutely incorrect in almost every claim.
INJURY: Wood and steel skateboarding structures increase the risk of injury by requiring more frequent and thorough inspections. Concrete skateparks remain consistent over time. Skateboarders prefer concrete so they are more likely to use the facility than skate in the street, where they are at risk of being hit by cars. Wood and steel parks are FAR less popular with skaters.
COST: Wheels are not a major expense for skateboarders. In my years of experience in skatepark development, I have never heard this concern voiced by anyone. It's a strange and bewildering point of view.
MAINTENANCE: Concrete skateparks are created at about the same price as steel or wood, but concrete will see enormous savings for tax-payers over time. The ROI on concrete is terrific. Your skatepark will be one of your Parks Department's most popular and least expensive facilities.
PERFORMANCE: The opposite is true. The softer the surface, the SLOWER the travel. If Daria's logic were accurate, skating on mattresses would be the fastest surface!
LIABILITY: A quick survey of skateboaridng-related lawsuits will reveal that injury litigation from accidents at skateparks is practically unheard of. A little bit of homework BEFORE making these legal declarations would be wise.
SUPERVISION: There should be little reason to supervise the skatepark. It is a public park just like any other. A vast majority of skateparks in the United States are not supervised, and they operate just fine.
Please, before continuing to rely on this flawed thinking and propagating misinformation while your area youth continue recreating in the streets, check your information.
You may, at your discretion, contact us with any questions about skateparks that you may have.
Peter Whitley
Tony Hawk Foundation
I'm gonna trust this Peter Whitley fella over someone who may have zero real knowledge of the subject.
Downtown, your cuz Duane is the man locally. Glad to know he's still involved in the project.