• • •  see our skateparks  • • •

• • •  how to get a skatepark in your town  • • •

• • •  contact us  • • •
how to get a skatepark in your town

View a printer-friendly version of this page

Click a topic to jump to a location in the outline below.

If you see our symbol (parkitects inc.) we're expressing an opinion. The rest of the outline is the facts as we see them.


  • Noncompetitve, progression-oriented (NCPO) sports are rapidly emerging
    • Types of NCPO sports
      • Skateboarding - At Syracuse's Onondaga Lake Park in 2003, 57% of skatepark users were skateboarders
      • BMX biking - At Syracuse's Onondaga Lake Park in 2003, 22% of skatepark users were BMX bikers
      • Inline skating - At Syracuse's Onondaga Lake Park in 2003, 21% of skatepark users were inline skaters
      • Scooter riding, trials biking, unicycle riding, etc.
    • Goals of NCPO sports
      • NCPO sports are similar to computer games in that both demand persistence in spite of repeated failed attempts until a goal is reached
      • Noncompetitive - Even in competitions, each competitor cheers for all the others
      • Progression-oriented - Primary goal is to learn new tricks, not to win competitions
      • Consistency - Mastering tricks which have been learned
      • Fun
      • Companionship
        • NCPO sports are a healthy activity to do with friends
        • Skateparks are just as much a safe place to hang out as a safe place to skate; this should be planned for, not discouraged
      • Videos - From homemade videos all the way to big budget productions, getting tricks on videotape or film is part of the fun
      • Competitions - Even noncompetitive people enjoy winning, and many participants enjoy entering competitions just to get a few moments to show off their skills
      • Sponsorship - It is possible to get free clothing and equipment from companies, if you are good enough
      • Going pro - Getting paid to skate for a living; many kids dream of it
    • NCPO sports culture
      • Fears of NCPO sports culture are quelled by understanding
      • NCPO sports are more than sports, they are lifestyles
      • For unknown reasons, a majority of NCPO sports participants are male, but there is no reason to assume this trend will continue indefinitely
      • Stereotypes of NCPO sports participants are often false; the people who live this lifestyle are not homogeneous
        • Many are female - At Syracuse's Onondaga Lake Park in 2003, 5.7% of skatepark users were female
        • Many are over 25 - At Syracuse's Onondaga Lake Park in 2003, 5% of skatepark users were over 25
        • Many choose to dress conventionally
        • Many are straightedge (no drinking, smoking, or drugs ever)
        • Most are nonviolent, not "extreme" or "aggressive"
    • Benefits of skateparks
      • "Skatepark" is the general term for a place where some or all NCPO sports are allowed
      • Get some or most NCPO sports participants off the streets
      • Bring these people back into the community after years of ostracism
      • Provide a new way to have fun
        • After a skatepark is built, many people will take up these sports again after years away
        • Many new participants will appear
        • If the skatepark is good enough, visitors will sometimes travel hundreds of miles to visit your community
  • Things to consider when planning a skatepark
    • Form a committee
      • Meet at the same time and same place every week or every month
      • This will keep the project alive and allow members to occasionally miss meetings without having to drop out of the project entirely
    • Gain allies and raise awareness
      • City, town, and village boards are usually the ones who will provide the most funds for municipal skateparks, so find an ally on one of these boards to head a committee
      • If your town and village board members are not helpful, then contact local media and stage demonstrations - Demonstrations do not have to be long, just long enough for newspaper and television crews to get pictures
    • Liability
      • Good injury and lawsuit statistics for skateparks are not yet available, but most of the studies done so far indicate that risks and lawsuits associated with NCPO sports are similar to the risks and lawsuits associated with other sports
      • Take political action to get legislation passed which declare NCPO sports to be known "hazardous activities" and which limit liability of skatepark owners
      • Risk-reduction rules should be negotiated with the insurance company; if possible shop around for an insurer who is willing to insure you with as few rules as possible - NYMIR and The St. Paul are insurers of municipalities in upstate NY with good policies regarding skateparks
      • Professional design by an experienced skater/designer will prevent hazardous design flaws
      • Make sure vendor has a good warranty and product-liability insurance
      • Put up signs - for real-world examples of sign wording, go to our directory page and click on some skateparks, then click on some picture links; many have pictures of signs on their pages
        • State what activities are permitted
        • Warn that these activities are inherently dangerous
        • Warn that owners assume no liability
        • Recommend helmets, elbow pads, knee pads, and wrist guards
        • Hours of operation
      • Put up high fencing
        • Prevents flying skateboards, etc. from hitting bystanders
        • Provides crowd control
        • Lock fence when skatepark is closed
        • Include a wide maintenance gate for installation and removal of equipment, and for emergency access
      • Regular inspections and maintenance are crucial
      • Supervision?
        • Advantages
          • Someone will be present if an injury occurs
        • Disadvantages
          • Someone other than the involved party may be held responsible if an injury occurs
      • Helmets/pads required?
        • Advantages
          • Some injuries may be mitigated or prevented
        • Disadvantages
          • Supervision will now be required
          • Rule must be enforced, otherwise it is worse than having no rule at all
          • Skatepark usage will decline; some participants do not even own helmets or pads
      • Waivers required?
        • Advantages
          • Skatepark users may be made more aware of risks involved
        • Disadvantages
          • Supervision will now be required
          • Rule must be enforced, otherwise it is worse than having no rule at all
          • Skatepark usage will decline
            • Underage participants will have to have a parent available to show up to sign a form
            • Many underage participants from several families might wish to come together with only one parent, making it impossible for all riders to have waivers signed by their parents in person
            • Many participants are under 18 but old enough to drive themselves
    • Rules
      • Fees?
        • Advantages
          • Fees may help recoup costs of installing, maintaining, and operating skatepark
        • Disadvantages
          • Even a small fee will dramatically reduce skatepark usage
      • Inline skates allowed?
        • Advantages
          • Skatepark will invite more NCPO sports participants back into the community, rather than merely those who choose the more common NCPO sports
        • Disadvantages - None
      • Bikes allowed?
        • Advantages
          • Skatepark will invite more NCPO sports participants back into the community, rather than merely those who choose the more common NCPO sports
        • Disadvantages
          • Bikes are heavier and move faster, so they are more dangerous
          • Bikers typically absorb more obstacle riding time by doing several tricks in a row
          • Bikes will put higher amounts of wear and tear on equipment
      • Scooter riding and other activities allowed?
        • Advantages
          • Skatepark will invite more NCPO sports participants back into the community, rather than merely those who choose the more common NCPO sports
        • Disadvantages
          • Scooter riding and other sports are highly disruptive to the traffic patterns of the more common NCPO sports
  • Skatepark designers, vendors, and installers
    • Contact vendors early
      • Good vendors will:
        • Assist in planning, fundraising, design, installation, grand openings, reconfigurations, and maintenance - Most of these services should be available at no charge
        • Have experience getting skateparks built in communities like yours
        • Have no hard feelings if they are not chosen in the end
      • parkitects inc. Contact wwws.sk8parkinfo.com creators Parkitects Inc. - we design and build skateparks
    • Permanently installed or prefabricated modular
    • Materials
      • Slick concrete (not broom-finished concrete)
        • Advantages
          • Best riding surface because it is perfectly smooth, quiet, and does not flex
          • Long lifespan of about 25 years
        • Disadvantages
          • Very high initial cost - Often at least $200,000
          • Skatepark location and design are very long-term commitments, even longer than other types of permanent installations which can be torn down if necessary (such as wooden structures)
          • Cracks, chips, and pits often develop in colder climates
          • Permanent, major mistakes are often made during installation
            • Water flow management is not a simple problem; even skateparks which implement a good plan to handle drainage sometimes continue to have problems
            • Crucial aspects of skatepark design or riding surface preparation are often disregarded if inexperienced, low-bid installers are used
      • Freestanding obstacles - Most skateparks with freestanding obstacles use an asphalt base, but some use concrete
        • Wood - Most grassroots user-built skateparks
          • Advantages
            • Low cost initially
          • Disadvantages
            • Dangerous holes, splinters, screws in surface
            • Low resale value
            • Short lifespan of 1-3 years
            • High maintenance requirements open up possibility of negligence
        • Indoor composites - Example: Masonite®
          • Advantages
            • Low cost initially
          • Disadvantages
            • Not weatherproof
            • Slippery
            • Dusty
            • Screws in surface
            • Low resale value
            • Short lifespan of about 1-3 years
            • High maintenance requirements open up possibility of negligence
        • Outdoor composites - Examples: RampX™, Skatelite™
        • Uncoated steel
          • Advantages
            • Lifespan of about 15 years with regular repainting
          • Disadvantages
            • Sustains cosmetic and structural damage over time if not repainted regularly
            • Steel riding surfaces are loud unless properly enclosed and dampened
        • Coated steel - Example: TekTrak™
          • parkitects inc. Advantages - At Parkitects Inc. we build skateparks with optional TekTrak™ textured powdercoated steel riding surfaces on enclosed and dampened PVC-coated steel structures
            • Lifespan of about 15 years - Textured powdercoating lasts longer than cheaper paints, so maintenance consists more of touch-up than repainting
            • PVC-coated steel structure has a lifespan of about 15 years
          • Disadvantages
            • Sustains cosmetic and structural damage over time if not maintained
            • Higher initial cost than other freestanding obstacle options
        • Hybrid - The aforementioned building options can be combined in many different ways
  • Skatepark design
    • Site selection
      • Choose a very public place so it can be a safe hangout
      • Choose a place which will be easy to reach on foot, as many NCPO sports participants are not old enough to drive
      • Parking lots can be repurposed, if freestanding obstacles are used
      • Tennis courts can be repurposed, if freestanding obstacles are used
      • Ice rinks can be skateparks in the summer, if modular equipment is used
      • Town hall parking lots, community centers, parks
      • A new pad could be installed
      • The bigger the better - suggested sizes for municipal skateparks
        • 80'x50' - Small; this space could fit a half pipe and a couple low-speed street obstacles
        • 120'x80' - Average; this space could fit quarter pipes on the edges of the park with a pyramid in between, and a few medium-speed street obstacles
        • 200'x100' - Large; this space could fit multiple half pipes with spines and hips, and several high-speed street obstacles
        • Most privately-owned skateparks, and some municipal ones, are built even larger
    • Amenities which might be included
      • Refreshments - Water fountains, vending machines
      • Restrooms
      • Trash cans - Must be designed so that they cannot be moved, jumped over, or ridden on
      • Shade
      • Lighting
      • Spectator/hangout area
      • Roof - Municipal skateparks are almost never covered or indoors due to the vast expense involved, but covered skateparks will get year-round use, even without heat
    • Types of obstacles
    • Principles of skatepark design
      • Include separate sections for different skill levels
      • Account for all sports which are to be allowed
        • Bikers and inline skaters will not get as much use out of the skatepark if obstacles are too small
        • Skateboarders will not get as much use out of the skatepark if obstacles are too big
      • Correct obstacle heights, widths, lengths, and distaces apart
        • If obstacles are too low, too high, too short, or not wide enough, they will be difficult or impossible to use for tricks
        • Distances between obstacles and sizes of obstacles themselves must be sufficient to allow time to set up for tricks
        • Obstacles facing each other must complement each other
          • If a quarter pipe faces another quarter pipe, they should be equal in height or differ by only 1'
          • If a bank faces another bank, they should be equal in height or differ by only 1'
          • If a quarter pipe faces a bank, they must be equal in height, or the bank can be 1' taller
          • Exception: much lower funboxes, flyboxes, or pyramids can be placed between the complementary obstacles described above
            • High speed is desirable when hitting a funbox/flybox/pyramid
            • Approach ramps to a funbox/flybox/pyramid must be at least 3-4 feet higher than the funbox/pyramid, otherwise the approach ramps will just be in the way
      • Avoid allowing normal paths of travel to cross
      • Avoid novelty obstacles which will only be interesting for a short time
      • Avoid obstacles which are not worth the cost relative to other obstacles
      • Avoid obstacles which are unnecessarily complex
      • Avoid overcrowding the skatepark with obstacles - If the skatepark is full, and there are still funds available, make existing obstacles higher or make the skatepark bigger
    • Designing within the budget
      1. Start with a street course, such as some small "kicker" jump ramps and some grinding obstacles like a picnic table, highway barrier, and grind box
        • These obstacles are cheap and a lot of fun
        • If possible, do not bolt these obstacles down - If they are reconfigurable they will get a lot more use
      2. If budget allows, put a half pipe in every skatepark
        • 3' half pipes are good for beginning riders and for intermediate and advanced riders to learn new tricks
        • 4' half pipes are good for beginner, intermediate and advanced riders
        • 5' half pipes (and higher) are good for advanced riders, inline skaters, and bikers
        • Half pipes should always be at least three times as wide as they are tall, to allow for sideways motion while grinding, sliding, etc.
      3. If budget allows, put a pyramid in every skatepark
        • Use 3-sided pyramids; 4-sided pyramids are redundant - Any trick which can be done on a four-sided pyramid can be done on a three-sided pyramid
        • As a general rule, pyramids and funboxes should be made of all banks, not quarter pipes, but exceptions are warranted if the skatepark will be used by a large number of inline skaters or bikers - Inline skaters and bikers like flyboxes
        • Pyramids and funboxes can have ledges or rails from 12" to 24" high
      4. If budget allows, put quarter pipes and banks around edges of skatepark, to allow riders to get speed for obstacles in center of skatepark
        • If pyramid and street obstacles have less than 50' or so of runway, this design element becomes much more important
        • Quarter pipes around edges of skatepark must be at least 5' tall, banks even taller
        • It is better to have no ramps around the edges of the skatepark than to have ramps which are too short
      5. After these standard obstacles have been included, designer may add more complex structures like spines and hips, if budget allows
  • Making it happen
    • Fundraising
      • This is usually the most difficult step, and it is different for every community
      • Request grants from city, town, and village boards - They all have at least some money available, but you must convince them that the skatepark project is a high enough priority
      • Local businesses may donate materials
      • Big national corporations sometimes sponsor skateparks - Skaters are a hard market to reach, so sell your skatepark project to them as being the best way to reach you
      • Funds will often be provided by government grants in large chunks, but grassroots fundraising must be done as well
        • Grassroots fundraising raises awareness and demonstrates the importance of the project
        • Do not get discouraged if your car washes, etc. only raise a small amount of money, because the event itself can be more important than the money raised if it attracts attention to your efforts
        • Sell engraved signs, bricks, etc. which will be installed at the skatepark - The equipment itself could even be engraved
        • "Skatepark for a day": have your vendor of choice bring a couple ramps, invite some local bands to play, and charge admission - These can be very successful
    • Completion
      • Bids - Most municipal skatepark projects must be opened up for multiple vendors to bid upon
        • Contact your vendor of choice for bid specifications which describe their equipment and their design
          • Specifications cannot include patented or propreitary elements
          • Most vendors occupy a unique market niche - This means that even without patented or propreitary elements, a tight specification will usually ensure that no competing vendors will choose to meet your chosen vendor's specifications completely
          • Competing vendors who do not meet specifications will often bid on the project anyway, often bidding lower than the specified vendor
          • Municipalities have the option of throwing out lower bids which do not meet specifications
            • Competing bids from vendors with equipment of competing quality prevent tax money from being wasted
            • Even so, there will usually be at least one bid to build cheaper equipment of inferior quality
            • Usually, municipalities just accept the lowest bid, which can ruin the skatepark
            • Ask your vendor of choice to draw up a document explaining the ways in which the other vendors have failed to meet the specifications, and use it to persuade the municipality to discard the bids which do not meet specifications
        • Some small projects do not require a formal open bid process, but instead require only that several quotes be obtained which show that the equipment is being purchased for the best possible price - Your vendor of choice may be able to help you with these types of quotes by putting you in contact with other vendors of the same equipment
      • Installation - Depending on building method and size of skatepark, may take anywhere from a day to several months
        • Community builds - Bolt-together equipment can often be built by a large team of volunteers over the course of a few days
        • Professional installation - If necessary, ask your vendor of choice if professional installation services are available
        • parkitects inc. Skateparks by Parkitects Inc. can be either community-built or professionally installed
      • Grand opening celebration
        • About a month after installation, to allow for contingencies
        • Ask your local skateshop to set up a demo
 
View a printer-friendly version of this page

parkitects inc. are the upstate ny designers and distributors of skatewave™ modular skatepark systems. copyright ©2008 parkitects inc. all company and product names may be trademarks of their respective companies.

Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!