Spott Dreams of Skate Parks: VFA Parks

I'm posting this old presentation from VFA because I reference it a lot. 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.

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.

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• 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

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.
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.

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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.