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Recent Articles
- “Underexposed” in the Public Eye: Amelia Brodka Interview
- 2012 Skateboarding Fatalities
- Replacing Modular Parks with Concrete
- The Skatepark Bid Process
- Sample RFP for a Skatepark Bid (Replacing a Modular Skatepark)
- Stand Up For Skateparks
- Just Say NO To Modular Skateparks
- An Interview with Ty Smith: Drop Into Skateboarding
- Putting Wenatchee on the Map!
- Skateparks $100K and Under
- Art of Board and I Ride I Recycle – The Bruce Boul Interview
- 2011 Skateboarding Fatalities
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Design Archive
Replacing Modular Parks with Concrete
In the early 2000′s, when the public skatepark boom started to hit the country many cities went with the option of building modular skateparks to tests the waters. At the time, public skateparks were few and far between and cities were unsure whether a public skatepark would work for their community. As a result, they opted for a modular solution to see how the kids would...
Sample RFP for a Skatepark Bid (Replacing a Modular Skatepark)
(In the last few years, SPS has worked with a lot of cities in replacing out dated modular skateparks. The following RFP was used by one of the many cities we work with in replacing a modular skatepark. If your city is planning a skatepark hiring an experienced skatepark contractor is one of the most important steps. This RFP covers the scope and qualifications used in...
Building a Concrete Skatepark on an Old Tennis Court
When it comes to building a public skatepark a lot of park managers begin to look at underutilized park space around the city. An old tennis court or an old basketball court can sometimes make a perfect spot to place a skatepark. The great thing about finding a location like this is the park usually has lighting, parking, restrooms, a water fountain, etc. Typically, when a...
Types of Skateparks
A group of types is known as a typology. This skatepark typology outlines different types of skateparks in the same language that park planners use to define ordinary city parks. Each type of skatepark can work alone or across a region to establish a skatepark system. Advocates will find it useful to describe skateparks according to their type more useful than simply calling any skate space...
Sample RFP for Skatepark Bids
There is no excuse for this kind of quality. The single largest barrier to creating a quality skatepark is in relying on a weak Request For Proposal (RFP) specification. It’s an easy problem to fix but too many Parks Planners and city officials simply go with what they mistakenly believe will provide the least expensive facility that will meet the minimum requirements of the skateboarding community....
Wired Magazine on Skateparks
Skaters have always been more sensitive to architectural form than your average city-dweller. Finally it appears that architects are picking up on skaters’ desires and creating forms that are intentionally interactive. It has been no secret to urban planners that successful public spaces require public participation, and few groups are more participatory than skateboarders. Architects are learning that by creating forms that attract skaters they can...
Top 10 Design Mistakes
If we had our way there would never be any design mistakes. With a little planning and some luck you will never face any of these problems. We asked SPS contributors for the most common design mistakes. Here they are! 1. Not employing expert design assistance and relying on “turn-key” skatepark providers. The results are unimaginative, cookie-cutter facilities that don’t meet the community’s sophisticated needs. 2....
Concrete Proposal
Proposal For An All-Concrete Skatepark It is usually desirable to be a leader rather than a follower, but in the case of skate park construction we have the luxury of learning from the many communities that have built before us. There are approximately 78 skate parks in Washington State* and more are being constructed or planned. According to a survey conducted by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers...