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Wednesday, 19 September 2007 |
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Page 10 of 22
1. Skateboarding and skateboarder requirements
The designer must possess intimate understanding of skateboarding activity, skateboarder desires, and skateboarding culture. This knowledge will manifest in how the space is treated cosmetically and functionally.
The standards required by the skateboard are easy to discern. Small wheels require a very smooth surface to function as desired. The exact specifications for concrete skatepark surfaces are cited in Publication F2480-06 from the American Society For Testing and Materials (ASTM), which sets construction guidelines for in-ground concrete skateparks. Undulations in the concrete or slight, unexpected deviations in the plane can create tripping hazards. Debris and moisture deter skateboarding like nothing else. Conditions that allow for skateboarding activity are not difficult to imagine.
MODULAR OR CONCRETE?
Carol Newman from Landscape Architecture magazine takes on this important decision every skatepark planning group must face.
Skateboarder desires are a bit more elusive. The facility must present compelling lines of travel throughout the area with complimentary obstacles positioned in a pattern that anticipates the user’s speed and direction. The distance between or surrounding an obstacle will have tremendous impact on its functionality. While the lines of travel are being explored and defined, the user’s safety is also considered so that the facility or specific area may or may not support simultaneous use. Similarly, an understanding of how the design will influence use will direct how many simultaneous users there may be.
In concert with the desires of the average skater are the desires of the exceptional skaters. The bell curve of skateboarding ability starts with the absolute beginner who may simply need a smooth, open area to push around in. At the other end is the very experienced skateboarder who can perform the most difficult tricks and may have the most demanding needs from his or her terrain. A sustainable skateboarding facility must engage skaters at every point on this range. Every experienced and worthwhile skatepark designer understands this implicitly.
Finally, comfort with skateboarding culture (as it pertains to skateboarding activity) is valuable in that it will help shape what is too challenging and what is not challenging enough. Being comfortable with and around skaters will allow more meaningful dialog when it comes to site furnishings, for example. For many skaters, the skatepark becomes a home away from home or a “third place”—the go-to spot to meet friends, hang out, and recreate. For many users it’s much more than a facility designed for skateboarding activity, but a place that reflects who and what they are as a group.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 13 February 2008 )
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