Dahl Skatespot (North Seattle)

[Scott Shinn]

Nope. Bids are in and that's the next step though.

[gr8noise]

Can you post the address so I don't get lost

[Scott Shinn]

7700 25th Ave. NE
http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?id=499

We'll be meeting by the basketball court. Thanks!

[Scott Shinn]

It was great getting to know the neighbors tonight at this well-attended outdoor meeting at the close of a beautiful sunny day. In my opinion, a very small minority of them actually fit the definition of a "NIMBY" although the classic "maybe this skatepark should be built at another site" argument was asserted a few times, along with the standard "framing of the youthful skater as discursive proxy" as described in Dr. Carr's dissertation (link below). Several were involved with the original 2005-06 process and were extremely reasonable, friendly people. I enjoyed meeting them. Some had even read this thread, and might be reading this too, so I just want to take a moment to personally thank them for being involved with this process in a truly civilized, good faith kind of way. They already care about this skatespot and would like to help make it a great place for skaters to skate, especially beginning skaters, which I think is wonderful. A few attendees were angry, and I understand where they are coming from too, because I have also been angry at this process in the past. I know what it's like to be mad at the system, to let that anger fester into rage, and to let it make me disillusioned and bitter. But I think the system is actually working correctly here, and am sorry that anyone has to be angry about this process. That said, I will post the official minutes and next steps from Parks when they become available.

In terms of the details, this campaign has been unusual in that the original design process was conducted by a true grassroots community effort that involved Boarders for Parks and the Department of Neighborhoods, with Seattle Parks honoring that public process as it would normally honor its own 3-meeting public design process. Parents for Skateparks was not involved, as our approach was too militant to be effective in this campaign, and we don't live in the neighborhood. The Citywide Skatepark Plan also did not exist at that time, so there was no model to follow for siting issues, and no standard process for building skateparks. Everyone involved did a great job, but at the end of the day, the effort was shelved until funding became available last year. At that point, there was a successful conceptual design that cost $10K for the community to develop, and $205K from the City to finish the job. Since the original designer was no longer available to make construction documents, and the original advocacy group had moved on, Parks hired Newline to redesign the skatespot with a similar square footage and a similar feature set, and to provide construction docs and oversight. I also worked on this effort on behalf of the SPAC (next meeting: July 13th). In my opinion, the pros did their jobs here and this will be an excellent skatespot, provided that a qualified builder can be hired with the existing budget. It has better integration into the existing park landscape, better lines of flow through the features, and is better from a professional skater/builder perspective than the original design. I do agree that it would be better to locate it next to the basketball court if geotech and budget issues permit, since this would not require design changes, would improve line-of-sight, would encroach less on adjacent open space, would better serve the needs of the adjacent neighbors (who are not NIMBYs, btw), and would be consistent with the intent of the original public process. Since the construction docs are now 100% reviewed and the skatepark is ready to build, I don't think there's any reason why, on balance, it should not proceed full steam. Ultimately of course, it is not my decision.

Update: Minutes attached in PDF for forum members, and also copied below. Have a great 4th of July weekend!

[quote]Dahl Playfield Skatepark
Public Meeting
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Dahl Field
Attendees:
Kelly Davidson, Seattle Parks and Recreation
Karen O’Connor, Seattle Parks and Recreation
34 Community Members
Notes and summary
Kelly Davidson introduced the project and the current status.
Q. How did you decide to move forward and how did we get here today?
A. Parks explained that this was a Neighborhood Matching Fund Grant and that a public process was held in 2006. During the process there was community support for a skatespot at this location, and the project is listed in the Citywide Skate Park Plan published in January 2007. After the public process and design there was no funding for the project so it was put on hold until funding was available. A neighborhood group worked to get another Neighborhood Matching Fund Grant, but the match was not met.
Scott Shinn from Parent 4 Skateparks and the Skate Park Advisory Council (SPAC) provided additional information on the public process and let people know the steps SPAC had taken to keep this project moving forward. In 2008 Skatepark Implementation Funds became available and SPAC advocated to Parks and Councilmember Rasmussen to dedicate funds to Dahl Skatepark. Because there was already a public process initiated and a schematic design in place this spot was designated to move forward.
Parks explained that the design change based on information about the lack of safety of the previous design. All the features were kept in this park and it is a safer layout based on the direction of traffic and space between features. This design is an excellent design for beginners.
Comments and Questions
Comment: The community voiced a different opinion and said that there was a public process, however, it was for a smaller site in a different location. The neighborhood had agreed on the location after vetting it through the community. The Friends of Dahl Playfield agreed that this design would be good and supported the building of a skatepark. They wanted a beginner site and want parks to remember that “this is for the
kids.â€Â

[Scott Shinn]

FYI. Construction is currently slated for Oct 1.

The notes from the July 21st public meeting on the Dahl Skatespot have been completed and are posted to the project web page at: http://seattle.gov/parks/projects/skateboard/dahl.htm

Parks has reviewed the comments collected at both meetings and is now planning to move forward with construction with the following changes:
1) Design revisions (location and layout)
2) Square footage will be reduced by approximately 100 square feet
3) sensor light to be installed and directed at site
4) addition of a grass bridge over the drainage berm for pedestrian access from ball fields
5) Parks commitment to maintaining vegetation for line of sight from 25th to skatespot

Parks would like to thank all of the community members who have participated in this project at many levels over the past several years and we appreciate your commitment to making this a successful project. We look forward to working with you as we move forward with the project and continue to follow up addressing your maintenance concerns about the site.

[Scott Shinn]

FYI. Construction is now slated for September 10 – December 24. The builder will be Hardcore Shotcrete.

[carjack]

You realize that's ARC, right?

Just sayin'.

[Scott Shinn]

Yep. I made much effort to discourage hiring them and have absolutely no faith in their ability to successfully build this skatespot, but they were the low bidder, their references were deemed to be credible by Seattle Parks following a detailed review, and they got hired. I am very familiar with the ARC backstory, which is described elsewhere on SPS.

Hopefully, Newline's oversight will help ensure that the skatespot is built according to the construction documents. If there is anyone in the skate community who would like to help observe construction, now would be a good time to get involved.

[Scott Shinn]

[Dan Hughes]

That's good news.

From the drawing it looks more like a street park, than a "beginner" park.

[Scott Shinn]

Yes indeed.

I disagree that it's not a "beginner" park.

[Carter Dennis]

Any progress?

[Scott Shinn]

Formwork inspection tomorrow. Concrete Wed thru Friday, with cooperative weather in the forecast!

[Scott Shinn]

Crete started arriving yesterday. Three pics from Parks below:

[Scott Shinn]

FYI, more shotcrete work in progress as weather permits. City regulations do not allow pours below 45 degrees, so it might be a little while.