Dowling 2.0

 Dowling 2.0

79 Main St, Dowling

Closer to the public school.

Ollie North SB, the local advocacy group, has been busy and Dowling is the latest park to get an upgrade. 

I find it amusing that the CRC metal parks have perfect coping reveal the their concrete parks never have.

Being a CRC park, it has other issues.

This ledge in any concrete park would have a single piece of coping (or welded sections) running the length of the ledge.

Not this CRC ledge though. Here, it's 3 separate sections of grindable metal.

BUT, the 'coping' here sits just below the top of the ledge.  Grinds along the edge of the painted top surface (non-slip) are sketchier and required more wax.

There's also a sharp edge that decided to take a bite out of my wheel.

VFA and GC built Skateparks

 I'm posting this old presentation from VFA because I reference it a lot & a list I've compiled of General Contractors that have built skateparks.  We've come a long way since 2002 but some of the latest parks from a CeRtian Company have concrete work equal or worse than these 20+year old parks. 

Bullet Points 10 & 11 at the end are interesting, giving the most accurate dates I can find for the construction of Ontarios Classic Skateparks.

VFA no longer designs skateparks (thankfully) but most of their projects still exist.

General Contractor List is below.

Victor Ford and Associates Inc Landscape Architects 

Skateparks – Presentation – Pro Forum, 2002 April, 2002 Presented by Victor Ford

1. Background on Victor Ford and Associates

• We have been an established Landscape Architecture firm for approximately 20 years.

• We design and plan parks, cycling systems, trails, pathway systems and permanent skateparks.

  2. History/BackgroundofSkateboarding

• 1973 - innovation of urethane wheels which roll over cracks smoothly.

• 1970’s - Parks built with ‘gunite’. These gunite parks deteriorated over time and most parks were closed.

• 1980’s - Discovery of ‘street skating’ techniques using street elements as features: stairs, benches, curbs,

  railing, etc.

• 1990’s - Demand for skateparks brings forth a new generation of tough, durable and well constructed all

  concrete parks with metal edging.

• 1990’s - New facilities established skateboarding as a legitimate, long-term sport..

• 2000’s - Approximately 40 free-access, permanent municipal skateparks have been built in Ontario since

  1997.

3. Understanding Skateboarding and Skateboarders

• Skateboarding is a legitimate sport, requiring skill courage, imagination, agility and a high level of physical fitness.

• 80% of skaters are under the age of 18. The average age is about 14. Skaters are predominantly male.

• Skateboarding is an expressive, individual activity much like freestyle skiing (jumps, tricks, combinations)

  or surfing. It is not really competitive, although skaters may inadvertently challenge each other.

• Skateboarding is interwoven with particular aspects of ‘youth culture’. It is often associated with forms

  of visual art (graffiti) and music. This culture values freedom, individuality and independence.

• Skateboarders represent a user group that Parks and Recreation Departments have traditionally not been

  effective in providing facilities or programs for. Skateparks can provide something for a youth group

  that is difficult to entertain and encourage.

• The goal for skatepark facilitators is to provide an environment – a haven, a stage, a practice place, a

  hang out, a place to show off, a place for a group to blow off steam.

  4. Demand

  • High use of existing Ontario Skate Parks.

  • Sports industry participation statistics are high.

  • Sales of skateboards and skateboard paraphernalia (shoes, clothing) and skateboard magazine sales are

    high.

Page 1

• Demand Quotes:
“Skateboarding is the fastest growing sport in the US today”.

- Transworld Market Research, 1999

“Skateboarding has the second greatest growth rate of any participation sport in 2000. Only snowboarding, a related sport, had a greater participation increase than skateboarding”.

- American National Sporting Goods Association

“More Americans rode skateboards last year than played baseball according to a survey by the Sporting Goods Manufactures Association. In the past 2 years alone, more than 600 skateparks – concrete and wood playgrounds with ramps, rails and swimming pool-like bowls for performing skate and bike tricks have opened in the USA. Many of the skateparks have replaced tennis courts and other underused facilities”.

- USA Today, August 17, 2001

“...skateparks are not being built fast enough to meet the demand, Johnson [Harold Johnson, ASLA, Landscape Architect] says: “Skateboarding is growing like crazy; we can’t build skateparks fast enough. There’s a ton of kids out there who need facilities” – both for pent-up demand and the continuing growth of the sport”.

- Landscape Architecture magazine, March 1998

5. Trends and Current Issues

   • The current trend of large scale construction of many skateparks in Canada and the US due incredible growth of the sport.

   • Street Skating – use of street-like elements to perform tricks on.

   • New Trends – hundreds of new rounded skateparks, as well as hundreds of bowl/transition oriented

     parks are being built..

   • Skaters in the future should be provided with variety and have on opportunity to skate more than just

     the street style.

6. Planning and Design Suggestions

   • Consult with skateboarders.

   • Designers should know how to skate.

   • Site selection and context are very important / close to support facilities, yet not too close to

     residential backyards.

   • Challenge – provide for a range of abilities and possibly modes (skateboards, in –line skaters, BMX

     bikers). Provide areas for beginners, intermediate and advanced users to use safely.

   • Size – 1,000 to 1,300 sq. m average size. 1,300 sq. m plus, now recommended to accommodate a

     reasonable numbers of users safely.

   • Safety – anticipate potential hazards, ensure good drainage, and smooth edges and avoid trip hazards.

     Provide clear landing zones and circulation that reduces risks of skater collisions.

   • Auxiliary Faculties – spectator accommodation; signage for rules of operation, safety guidelines,

     emergency numbers; site furniture – benches, picnic tables, drinking fountains; shade trees; berms;

     lighting (if required on timers); Graffiti spaces– can be a positive attribute.

   • Creation of a sense of place.

Page 2

7. Approximate Costs

• $200 - $400 / sq. m. Current estimated costs in Toronto are at least $310 / sq. m. 8. Liability

• Design - acceptable, well thought out design by experienced designers.

• Location - close to adult help.

• Fencing – do not enclose site, implies risk.

• Supervision – do not provide, implies risk.

• Signage – to explain required safe practices, standards and limits.

• Facility – monitoring, document, and regularly maintain site.

9. Key Lessons

• Encourage meaningful input from local skateboarders. Each new facility can and should be unique. The curvature, height, spacing and sequence of both conceptual and built features are quite subjective. Although there are no definite standards for facility design, there are a number of fundamental guiding principals that should be followed.

• The youthful desire for a physically challenging experience must be moderated by the risk management realities of the Municipality.

• Facilities representing a range of difficulty and a variety of structures for skateboard manoeuvres and tricks should be provided. A separate and identifiable “beginners” area is recommended. Design for the majority of skaters, not just the vocal, more advanced minority.

• Skateboarders are in need of more than a bare bones facility, they are looking for a place that is comfortable and legitimizes their sport. They need shade, drinking water, places to rest, spectate and socialize, etc.

• The best facilities are tailored to their particular sites.

• Foundation design must be based on site-specific geotechnical information. Borehole tests should be

  taken at the preferred site as soon as possible to verify subgrade conditions.

• Night lighting, if provided must be implemented to a very high performance standard. Multi-point-

  source lighting is required to eliminate shadows.

• Skateboarding is part of popular youth culture. It is also a spectator sport. Anticipate crowds of people,

  graffiti and incidental litter. We have found that in some skateparks, skateboarders will maintain the facilities themselves if given proper direction.

  3 Rules for Landscape Architecture Magazine Article “A Good Thrashing”

  • Involve the kids throughout the design process.

  • When searching for design ideas do not assume that existing skateboard parks will give you the answers.

    Check out the places where they are skating.

  • Site skateparks in centralized places where they are highly visible and accessible.

Page 3

10. Examples of VFA Projects
What follows is a list of the skateparks that Victor Ford and Associates have been involved with...

􏰀 Markham Skatepark Feasibility Study Town of Markham, 2002, with Spectrum Skatepark Creations

􏰀 Cummer Park Skatepark, Toronto City of Toronto, 2001

􏰀 Grimsby Skatepark, Grimsby Town of Grimsby, 2001

􏰀 Walter Baker Park Skatepark, Kanata City of Kanata, 2001

􏰀MunicipalSkateboardFacility,PortPerry Township of Scugog, Unbuilt

􏰀 Iroquois Park Skateboard Facility, Whitby Town of Whitby, 2000

􏰀 Design input for Forest Glade Park, Windsor Skatepark City of Windsor, 2000

􏰀 Alcott Arena Skateboard Facility, Georgetown Town of Halton Hills, 1998

􏰀 Diana, Princess of Wales Park Skateboard Facility, Pickering City of Pickering, 1998

􏰀BeasleyParkSkateboardFacility City of Hamilton, 1993

 

General Contractor List

A List of General Contractor Construction companies who have worked on skatepark projects.

List list is based on internet searches and compiled to the best of my ability to be accurate but I make no guarantees. GS's will sometimes sub to skatepark specialists which shows respect for this specialized construction niche. When they don't the results can be great or they can be Bad 'Crete. I mention Pro-Pour a few times. They are Skatepark Specializing GC's, doing foundations and driveways as well as skateparks.

39 Seven Inc

-Albert McCormick Skate Spot, Waterloo - https://39seven.com/skateparks

Gateman-Milloy 

- Silvercreek Skatepark, Guelph

- Norton, Burlington - https://shotcrete.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2013Win_HM-Youkhana.pdf

- Markham Centennial

- Doon Pioneer Park, Kitchener

Melfer Construction

- Sherwood Skate Spot, Milton & Mt Albert Skatepark but likely subbed to Propour.

- Oshawa BMX Park

- Skateparks listed on website but none shown. I had to dig deep into their IG to find Sherwood, which I know was subbed to Pro-pour.

Newman Bros. Limited

-Beasley Park (2018?) Reconstruction - https://www.newman-bros.com/gallery 

Patterned Concrete

- Caledon Skatepark, Bolton, ON - phase 2 bowl

- King City

- Woodstock

- 8th Street Skatepark, Toronto

- Lock 8 skatepark, Port Colborne

- Stouffville Skatepark

Pine Valley Corp - They may have folded. I can't find their website anymore.

-ABB aka Ashbridges Bay Skatepark

Worked on site in Hamilton (Valley Skatepark) & Newmarket. Sources say PVC oversold their qualifications. Several elements of Newmarket were subcontracted to Pro-Pour Concrete Services.

Rutherford Contracting

- Lake Wilcox

- Union Park, 10th & Aquitaine in Mississauga (nothing to be proud of )

UCC Group

- Cummer (A VFA design - these are not great recommendations)

- Audley Rec Centre ( not their best but they have improved at blending transition)

- Waterloo skatepark (Better)

- Turner, Hamilton

- Bracebridge

- Stanley Greene (Much, Much Better. I was involved with the design so I'm very happy with how this project came together.)

RIM Pump Track

 RIM Pump Track

2001 University Ave E

Waterloo, ON

RIM Pump Track Tour

I usually don't think too much of pump tracks but this is the best one I've ever rode. The big track has a couple different routes and a few kickers and tabletops. I got a Manny across on my first run.

The Jr. Loop is smaller and easier but also has a kicker. 

The place rocks and there will be a small skate spot across the street at the Community Centre in the near-ish future.

Jr Track.

Stork Family YMCA

 Stork Family YMCA

500 Fischer-Hallman Rd N

Waterloo, ON

2 amazing bowls that can be utilized as one unit.

Bismark Park Skatepark

 Bismark Park Skatepark

Cambridge has another skatepark in a new community on the southwest side of town. In addition to the skatepark, which is split (more on that later), there's sport courts, disk golf, splash pad and shaded picnic areas. 

375 Bismark Dr, Cambridge

The park is divided into 2 sections, both of which would make a great spot/dot.  I found it perfect. When one side became overrun with kids, I would go skate the other side.

The large section has a QP, Bank to Ledge, Flat Ledge, Flat Bar & Manny Pad feature with a Bank to Bank.  There's also a nice curved ledge. 

The way the Manny pad is flush with the bank added a bit of challenge to doing ride-on grinds but the other side is clear.

The small section has another ride-on feature. 

Simplicity rules. Hubbas, rail & stairs.

City of Belleville

 City of Belleville

Belleville has 2 spots now and isn't far from a bunch of other parks.

Riverside Skatepark.

My 99th skatepark just got a Phase 2 mini-bowl and learners section. There's also a good sized pump track.

Riverside Park on Moira St.

Clifford 'Sonny' Belch Skate Dot

New Skate Dot has a bunch of construction issues.

Centre St.

Sonny Belch Skate Dot

 Sonny Belch Skate Dot

Formerly Hillcrest Park

Parking lot on Centre St.  Skate Feature is in the centre of the park.

Beware

I need to put this update in here.  The central obstacle, the barrier hubba/stair set, has been rebuilt with straight stairs and a wide hubba.  There's a horrendous seam before the top stair.  

The new obstacle is a much more standard version of the previous design. Banks, rail, steps and a block hubba. 

It's the Half Inch unsealed foam gap at both the top and bottom that blow my mind. 

A gap this large, right before the takeoff and in the landing, would be Bondo'd in the streets.

& now...the OG post

This one's gonna take a lot of explaining.  I can't remember how I found out about this project (someone either told me and I forget who OR I discovered it while lurking info on Tamworth) but I didn't like what I saw so I stuck my nose where it belongs but wasn't invited.

I'm gonna focus on this skate dot but everything here applies to the 'Skills Development' park addition at Riverside Skatepark, Belleville.

I Found the design online and thought it was terrible.

So here's the OG design. If you find it hard to decipher, you're not alone.  1. There's a volcano in front of the stairs. 2. A myriad of other issues. 3. It was created by a firm with no skatepark design background.

I reached out to the town and spoke with someone at parks.  He informed me the design was based on feedback of a skatepark users working group.  I still pointed out the issues as I saw them. 

Next thing I know, the design has changed and CRC is attached to build. After their last 5 projects, I was less than enthused.

They moved the ledge in.  One good move.

Huge Puddle. Way to finish guys.

This design looks cute. I'm not mad at it but it's the quality of the construction that sucks.

Pivot, Please come north and give your Canadian counterparts some help.

IDK why the side of the QP is spackled. 

Uneven seam at the bottom of the stairs.

Another dip leading to puddles

The design didn't call for the blending of the stairs into the barrier.  I believe this was an on-site decision that made for more work by the crew and made the spot worse.  It messes with your perspective.  The edge of the stairs creates an imaginary line you pop before but the blending actually puts that pop point further back.  Basically, my front wheels were starting down the 'waterfall' when I felt like I should be popping an ollie so I had to start popping earlier.

The edge of some stairs are already crumbling & the face of the steps appears to be treated with spackle as well.

(in fact, I've just heard reports that the spot has been closed for repairs after only a few months of use. Update - the feature has been rebuilt, see above)

This scratchy concrete finish is well below industry standard in 2024. I've been to DIY's that have better Crete work.

How do you like your quarterpipes? Lumpy?

Lumpy with coping reveal?

Or with no coping reveal?

Belch is right.