A state-by-state summary of skatepark news.
California (southwest)
Some folks have an idea about turning one of the bunkers at Angel’s Gate Park in San Pedro into a skateable space. There was a public Parks meeting a few months ago but we haven’t heard yet how that went.
The town of Tulare should be under construction by now. Anyone who has any news should post up in the Southwest forum.
The 40,000 square foot Lake Cunningham skatepark in San Jose
opened up in April. This incredible park features too many weird and
awesome structures to fairly describe. Most importantly, this park
demonstrates the utter collapse of the 5-6’ rule that California seemed
to be applying to skatepark design.
Things around San Francisco are coming along nicely with Potrero Del Sol opening very soon. Treasure Island is getting legitimate recognition from the Parks Department (and maybe some fresh construction). Caltrans/Duboce is bouncing along a rough track but request for design qualifications should be going out soon. The Golden Gate site is in its earliest stages but public meetings for Hunter’s Point are just starting which means it’s time for skaters to arrange carpools. Mission Bay is looking at an “official” under-bridge skatepark. They’re looking for some guidance and leadership from the local skateboarding community.
Things aren’t going so well in Los Gatos. The long-standing effort to create their first and only skatepark has been defeated somehow. We're unsure if the effort will continue
Huntington Beach is starting to organize their official advocacy group. Now is a perfect time to get involved. You can find them online at www.myspace.com/hbskateparkassociation.
Connecticut (northeast)
Parks around Millford have installed webcams in an effort to move away from paid supervision at the skatepark.
Fairfield is investigating the idea of a new skatepark. They currently have a parks bond being voted on but no news about its passage.
Oyster Bay is just beginning to receive public input on a new park development. Skaters in that area would be advised to get those meetings if they would like to see skateparks included in the larger park designs.
Bristol should currently be reviewing bids for this neat 17,000 square foot design-build project.
Georgia (southeast)
Kennesaw, a suburb of Atlanta, is in the middle of their fundraising effort. So far they’ve engaged in some very exciting (and lucrative…their deck auction netted about $22,000) programs. Design meetings happening now. For more information check out www.swiftcantrellskatepark.com or contact
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Tybee Island’s city council voted down further development for their skatepark project. The money accumulated up to that point was placed in the general fund (or earmarked for other purposes). Even the interest accumulated on the account went to “overhead for managing the account.” Shame on Tybee Island’s “public” officials!
Illinois (midwest)
The prefab skatepark at Veeck Park in Hinsdale closed due to the poor condition of the equipment. Repair costs for the poor conditions of the ramps were assessed at $19,000. The equipment was five years old.
Streator has some progress with the design and construction of a few single structures proving again that successes come in all sizes. Some new civic leadership in town is providing new energy and interest in skateboarding facilities.
Bloomington opened their new skatepark in January. Congratulations to all of those who were involved!
Maryland (mid-atlantic)
Appears that the Baltimore skatepark advocacy group is still plugging away in spite of (or perhaps fuelled by) national news coverage of a young, polite skater being harassed by an overzealous cop (which led to the cop’s suspension).
Mississippi (southeast)
Batesville formed their advocacy group in early 2007 and are now deeply into their fundraising effort. It looks like the site is final.
Construction should begin on the new Petal skatepark any week now.
Montana (northwest)
My Newfoundland puppy absolutely pulverized my first-edition Big Sky Country by Ivan Doig. Other than that I don’t think much has happened yet this year in Montana.
New York (northeast)
Lower Manhattan has a final design for their new park. Construction should start this spring and be done just in time for the weather to turn nasty. Still, congratulations!
Queens is looking at a terrific site under a bridge and seeking funding. It looks like the park will be modeled after the Vancouver street plaza.
North Carolina (mid-atlantic)
A new effort is launched for a skatepark in Surfcity. While the fledgling group is still facing some superficial concerns, it looks like they’re off to a strong start.
Design for Raleigh is finished and the construction docs are being finalized now. Construction RFQs should be coming up shortly.
The new skatepark in Washington opened up just a short bit ago. Congratulations!
Ohio (mid-atlantic)
Bellfontaine has been collecting money for a while now and should be breaking ground sometime early this year.
Oregon (northwest)
Mill City is in the middle of a grassroots fundraising effort for their new skatepark. Pitch in and help out by contacting
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Bend has a DIY project going on at Division Street. It looks like they have an dreamteam of volunteers including some professional skatepark builders. Want to learn how to play in the mud from the best the industry has to offer? If you’re in or around Bend, here’s your chance! (divisionstreetskatepark.blogspot.com)
Interest is heating up in the Winston/Salem area for a new skatepark. Appears there is no strong coalition of advocates formed yet but they’re getting there. This is where every skatepark starts so if you’re in the area and want to get in on the ground floor, this is it.
Pennsylvania (northeast)
The Reid Menzer Memorial Park in York is still under construction after a delay for awful weather. It should be open sometime this spring. This is the region’s most premium park and will hopefully provide an excellent local model for other nearby communities.
Waynesboro finished their new precast park. If it’s not open now it should be within a week or two. Congratulations!
Tennessee (southeast)
Manchester is under construction. Congratulations!
The new skatepark in Knoxville opened up about a month ago. Congratulations!
Texas (southwest)
The prefab skatepark at Seguin was constructed incorrectly with OSB, a low-grade particle-board, was used as a sublayer on the ramps which quickly deteriorated. The ramp company responsible for the product could not honor the warranty as they are now out of business.
Interest is heating up for a new skatepark in Longview. Everything is bigger in Texas including the drive to the nearest public skatepark. No solid news just yet but it looks like something is starting up.
One of the longest running advocacy efforts ever is finally being built! Galveston is now under construction and should be finished up by May.
Things in San Antonio continue to roll forward nicely. Official interest in exploring a skatepark in Martinez Park is happening now…as in, right now. If you’re in this area you’ll want to definitely get in touch with the crew at www.sk8sa.org to get the details. Voelcker Park in San Antonio is still undergoing public design
input. It doesn’t sound like the inclusion of a skatepark is final.
Check out www.sanantonio.gov/sapar/ for more news.
Austin appears to be looking at designs for the new House Park skatepark. The new concrete skatepark will replace a couple of unused tennis courts. Construction will start later this summer.
Design concepts for Victoria are currently getting public review. Congratulations to Victoria for their first skatepark!
Things never seem to settle down in Round Rock. A few months ago local skaters were fielding claims of an enormous number 911 calls to their current skatepark (which proved to be exaggerated and actions were taken to correct the claims). This month they're talking about a second public skatepark!
After a bumpy road it looks like Henderson is starting to come together. They’re currently applying for a grant. It looks like Henderson could benefit from a little more public support from the skateboarding community so if you are in the area, this is one place where your involvement could really make a difference.
Cedar Park is still in fundraising. Unclear right now when they might be ready for design RFQs. This is not their first skatepark.
Virginia (mid-atlantic)
There’s some interest in skateboarding and skateparks due largely to some recent urban development conferences in the Norfolk area. Skaters in the vicinity should keep their eyes open for advocacy opportunities. Richmond now has a design!
The effort for a skatepark to be included in the large Orange recreation center development is still active and in the thick of things.
Washington (northwest)
The skatepark committee in Seattle reports that the Seattle Center skatepark will involve more public visibility than the usual process due to the large number of stakeholders. At issue is how to accommodate the mixed-use requirements common to public space at the Center.
Also in Seattle, Lower Woodland is scheduled to open on May 1st. This park was controversial from day one so it’s a great victory for area skaters to finally see the result of so much effort. Congratulations to those responsible! The SkatePark Action Committee (SPAC) is now focusing their attention on new skatepark and skate spot sites in Seattle like Myrtle Edwards Park, Dahl Playfield, and Northgate.
The new skatepark in Bellevue (behind the Highland Community Center) is coming along nicely and scheduled to be open on May 16. This one’s a plaza and will provide a nice counterpart to Crossroad’s bowl which opened in 2006. The local paper also reports that the new street park will have lights.
The venerable skatepark in Wenatchee is seriously considering ways to improve the facility. Including BMX and/or a renovation are both being discussed. The park was built 10 years ago and was one of the state’s earliest skateparks when skateboarding was added to the state’s HRA list.
Skaters in Tacoma will be happy to know that two new parks are underway this year. Design is just finalizing for Stewart Heights (South 56th) which will replace the dilapidated prefab structures with a new street design in concrete. Construction will be starting soon on the skate path and micro plaza at McKinley park. Both parks will feature the footprint for a bowl expansion if interest is there.
What started as small talk in 2005 became reality this year when the skatepark at Renton (just off 405) got lights.
Port Orchard is firmly underway with a new skatepark effort. Now is a great time for Kitsap skaters to get involved. Just go to www.skskatepark.com.
West Virginia (mid-atlantic)
The town of Huntington is probably done reviewing designers and/or builders by now for their small skatepark.
Wisconsin (midwest)
There’s an effort by city leaders in Eau Claire to establish a skateboarding ban throughout downtown. Skaters are getting together right now to meet with the City and business leaders to discuss their options. If you live in the area and you’re interested in the discussion you may contact Anthony at the Underloud Boardshop (715-559-1290 or www.underloud.com).
I think that’s about it for this year so far! If you hear anything worth sharing, please visit our regional forums!
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