Chapter 5: Management

Noise
Skateparks, especially concrete ones, are surprisingly quiet. The urethane wheels roll quietly on the smooth surfaces while the terrain deflects most of the sharper sounds. Sound studies conducted by the City of Portland, Oregon equated skatepark sounds at 50 feet to be comparable to the sound generated by a moderate conversation between two adults. Skateboarding looks noisy, but it’s not. Regardless, noise continues to be one of the top concerns for residents near proposed skateparks.

Wooden and steel above-ground skateparks tend to be louder than in-ground concrete parks, as the chambers within the structures can act as drums and actually amplify the sound.

Any type of skatepark, large or small, can benefit from basic sound mitigation techniques that may involve landscaping and site furnishings. The skatepark design can also serve to project whatever sound occurs, mostly people cheering their friends on, away from nearby users or residents that may be sensitive to this chatter.