Matt Johnston just broke the news at his West Seattle-based (but covering skating issues citywide) site seattleskateparks.org: Now it looks like Delridge will be the site for a West Seattle skatepark. Read Matt’s story here.
I don’t understand. I’ve been reading about a potential skatepark at other sites, and it sounded like the city had multiple meetings and commentary from neighborhood residents. According to the skatepark website, the neighborhood opinions affected their decisions for those locations. Now, they are moving ahead with the Delridge skatepark without any meetings or input from the neighborhood? Does anyone know why the city sought input from the other neighborhoods, but not Delridge? Was anyone on the DNDA informed and allowed to comment?
the kids need a skate park! last week, when I was at the bank drive thru, there were kids skating all over. the bank manager came out and asked them to leave. as I was leaving, I suggested they skate down at Huling Brothers. Now there would be a good site for a skate park!
They tried to put a skate park in this park several years ago, and the neighborhood strongly opposed it! What very little park space we have in that area now can be another concrete park? What a waste and shame that we lose another park spot.
PG:
The Myrtle meetings were just for Myrtle.
There were two meetings during the City-Wide Skatepark planning process last year that were both held at Delridge community Center. These meetings produced a list of community-suggested sites that included all of the WS sites listed in the CityWide Plan, including Myrtle, High Point, Roxhill, Hiawatha, Alki, and Delridge. Delridge rated very high when the sites were evaluated using the objective criteria developed by the task force. You can read more about all of this here:
http://www.seattle.gov/parks/Projects/Skatepark.htm
Both Delridge meetings were well attended by the community.
There were also several previous meetings approximately three years ago, at the Delridge Community Center, regarding a skatepark at the site. These meetings were actually 100% community driven, without Parks involvement. Many community members attended those meetings.
That said, I am planning to attend a future Delridge Community Council meeting to see if I can help answer questions as a skateboarder and a volutneer advocate, but it will be up to Parks to do their outreach.
The design process will also include three public meetings, which is usually meant for gathering input on design and finding ways to mitigate community concerns, but with skateparks people tend to want to talk about putting it somewhere else.
There will be objectors as with any skatepark site, but hopefully this time around enough of the community will rally around providing a positive and healthy place for skateboarders to enjoy this popular sport.
There are so many things that are tied to this type of decision that I really can’t imagine that a skate park at Delridge is a done deal (even if it was identified as a site in the skate park plan).
That said something needs to happen down there on that gigantic expanse of sand. It is a ridiculously underutilized space because nobody likes to play there. Turning it into a space where a variety of people can use it for active recreation purposes would be great.
My only real concern with the Delridge-first decision is that, if you look at the location on a map of West Seattle, Delridge is about as far from most of the residents as one could be and still be “in” West Seattle. It’s difficult to get to from the west side, there are no cross-West Seattle buses so the bus crowd will be mainly the 120 riders, which serves Delridge Way. That’s good for the Burien, White Center, Highland Park and Delridge Neighborhoods folks, but there’s still two-thirds of West Seattle with no skate park and not much access to this one. The Myrtle and High Point locations had the major advantage of being centrally located and on an easy-to-access thoroughfare.
We should be pushing for two simultaneous skate park developments – West Seattle has over 100,000 residents and a median age of 39, suggesting tens of thousands of potential skaters. One skate park?
I hope this goes through for the kids. We need more than one of them in west seattle IMO.
This is one of the potential locations that has been mentioned for a skate park for a number of years in a number of different forums. This hoepfully will not be the only skatepark on the peninsula but the first of several. Once it is built Chas and I will learn how to do a few skate board tricks and charge admission so folks can wathc us old guys break a bone or two on our new boards.
I say great! Lets get at least one park set in stone!It is a huge patch of unused land- there is never anything more then weeds having a party in that section! If we can get the city to agree on one park we will have our foot in the door for others – they will see the NEED for more- I am very excited about it! We need to show West Seattle that Skateboarders are not trouble makers, they don’t rob the neighbors, or assult them nor do they do drugs and defacte in the bushes!
hallelujiah! finally the city will make good on its long-standing, oft-broken promise to provide a place for TEENAGERS to do something other than loiter, litter, get into trouble, and be bored. for any of you new to this conversation, please be aware that matt has been working FOR YEARS on this issue, and it’s a wonder he has any hair left on his head for the number of times he’s had to defend his cause from ridiculous attacks and stereotypes leveled by people who know nothing at all about skateboarders, skateboard parks and – presumably – teenagers. it is time for the city of seattle to stop treating this segment of our population as outcasts and criminals, and provide them with a place to pursue a sport that is physically challenging, creative and exciting. why should parks be reserved for the 10 and under crowd? bravo, matt, for this promising development in your long fight. may it be the first of many – not just here on the westside, but throughout the city. on behalf of my son and skateboarders everywhere, THANK YOU!
Thanks for the informed response, MLJ. Those meetings were probably before I moved to the neighborhood, but I look forward to hearing more about it. I think it could work there, if it is done right and with thought to the park aesthetics. As far as the writer concerned about the sand area, I see soccer and baseball/softball there almost daily during the spring/summer/fall, so I think it is used quite a bit. I can’t comment on how people like the sand v. grass, but they should keep an area for those activities as well.
With childhood obeisity on the rise at such a rapid rate lets get kids and teens any possible fun way to exercise!!!!!!!!Please if no one else wants it Highland Park would take it over a jail any time !!!
I guess I’ll say it “nicer”
I don’t want skateboarders anywhere in Delridge. Period. I simply don’t understand how a parent can let their kid be part of that community. The adreline challenged risk taking behavior of the skateboarders I see is inexcusable. I’m sure someone will say that this is why there needs to be a park. My opinion is that, the kind of person who would skateboard where there ISN’T a park is not the kind of person I want in my neighborhood.
cm
Which community are you referring to, the skateboarding one or the Delridge one?
“adreline challenged risk taking ”
youth need models and outlets for healthy risk taking. sports that allow them to do this are HEALTHY. there are many examples of other sports that serve this outlet. i have been a climbing guide for many years and worked with youth in that setting and there was a time where i heard this same complaint.
i wonder when all of society will get the fact thet youth need healthy outlets for this risk taking and adrenaline- if we do not provide these outlets for them-they will find thier own that trust me, could be far less healthy. i focus on youth but i also know many adults that skate and have formed a great, healthy community.
i am also wondering why it feels like locations for skate parks keep getting pushed into areas that have lower income base. while i feel a skatepark is an asset and would welcome one in my park of seattle- 35th and roxbury- i feel like the plans for these parks gets pushed around like plans for a city dump- which is unfortunate. skate parks and the people that utilize them deserve our respect and support.
i imagine that just as many youth get injured playing soccer or football but you dont see anyone making a stink about those sports.
i have been watching this debate float around seattle for years now and i am apalled at the close mindedness that i see in such opposition to these parks. it makes me sad to watch ignorance hold up such a valuable community asset. healthy kids, outside, doing a healthy sport benefits the whole community. i support seeking out the best, safest accessable site- but this is getting rediculous-residents in such strong opposition- get over yourselves and wake up!
cm how much more stereotypical could you be. it seems you are saying that all kids who want to ride a skateboard are bad? there are much worse activities these kids could be doing than skating shall I name a few for you 1. grafiti 2. vandalism 3.drugs 4. sitting at home in front of the tv. just for starters. Delridge has drunks and druggies, and vandals do you like them better than skateboarders?
I love the idea of a skate park at the DCC and was disappointed when
it seemed like the proposal had been canceled. So, I’m delighted if
it’s back on the table.
I realize this is contentious issue, and am willing to hear why people
oppose it.
I am for it because in my limited experience skate parks bring kids
together as peers, as competitors and supporters, allowing them to
work out their own ground rules and relationships. Important skills,
IMO.
I also support it because it’s exciting to watch the amazing
athleticism and daring of the art. I’m entranced by the skill. I
respect the trying/failing/trying/succeeding persistence the kids show
while learning a new trick.
I also want kids to have places to do things they want to do, instead
of them having to be furtive or made to feel like outlaws.
JMO
I should have added that I support a skate park at the Delridge Community Center, and I am a neighbor to the park.
CC – I believe the drunks, druggies and vandals are all over, not just hanging out in Delridge. I found that ending to your post interesting after your post started off asking how “stereotypical” a person could be.
Cathy D I was simply pointing out delridge is no Medina, I did not say that all of delridge is drunks, druggies and vandals but lets be realistic delridge has come a long way from where it was 10 years ago but there is still crime and some less attractive componets to the delridge area and a skate park would be more positive than alot of things that are currently going on in the delridge area, and I was reacting to a comment by cm that I disagreed with. Cm was calling all kids who skate adreniline challenged risk takers. that is what is stereotypical, by stating that delridge has drunks and druggies i was pointing out that its not exactly all rosy there now. I am fully aware there are drunks everywhere not just in delridge. Furthermore cm was judging parents based on what activities their child may be interested in and I find that offensive considering skating is legal and is a sport. I do not have kids who skateboard but my 10 year old daughter has expressed intrest in skating and the only reason i am hesitant to let her get a skate board is my fear of her getting physically injured not because of the other kids who are skating in THAT COMMUNITY. What it seems cm was saying is all kids who skate are bad this is stereotypical and one would think if you live in the delridge area you might want to let go of some of that. Delridge is very diverse, and to live there or anywhere around it like I do we need to embrace diversity,especially when we are talking about children.
I SUPPORT A SKATEPARK IN DELRIDGE! I work daily with the skateboard youth of West Seattle and can vouch for the fact that these kids (in general) are not vandals, drug-addicts, delinquents — they’re just KIDS. Creating a safe place for them to skateboard KEEPS OUR SIDEWALKS AND PARKING LOTS SAFE. Skateboarding is the fastest growing sport in the USA — so we’re only going to see an increase of this activity. If we don’t make a skatepark soon in our area, we will see more conjestion and problems between pedestrians, skaters and cars. Already some of the kids are getting hit by cars. WE MUST BUILD A PARK FOR THEM TO SAFELY SKATE!
A skatepark in Delridge? FABULOUS! I am a long-term resident in the Delridge community (40 yrs) and giving the kids a place to skateboard would only be a positive additition to our area… how, in the world, would someone think that would be “bad”? Get a grip…and give the kids a healthy alternative. It’s time we adults start helping teenagers instead of just putting them down for being kids. Do we forget what it’s like to be a kid? Get in there and be a positive influence to a teen that could use your support…
I SUPPORT A SKATEPARK IN DELRIDGE TOO!! I have been a homeowner in this neighborhood for three years. I have actively supported the city skateboard advisory group as a parent, educator and skateboarder and I must say that it is about time!
Many of the post on this blog (pro and con) talk about skateparks as simply a place for kids. This is a very narrow view of a expensive community resource. Skateparks serve youth and adults and create a space where members of the community can come together to experience the diversity of cultures within their community – youth culture, skate culture and ethnic culture. Having a skatepark as part of a larger park and community center (with a cultural arts center across the street) increases the opportunities for adults to connect with youth on a meaningful level.
In my experience a skatepark creates a scene where older skaters and other adults develop informal mentoring relationships with community youth. Through the skatepark we (adults) come to know the youth in our community and have the opportunity support them as they develop physical skills and a greater sense of stewardship for the space that was provided for them. Every skatepark in Washington that I have visited (which is most) provides a positive and healthy environment for all that visit. The Delridge Skatepark will be an asset to our community and support continued positive development in this area.
a properly managed Skateparks is very healthy for our local west seattle community. As a father and a skateboarder, having a place that both my son and I can go to get excercise and hang out with the local community is essential. There are dozens of success stories as it relates to communities and skateparks thru out the pudget sound. It really seems like a mis-opportunity on the cities part to do amazing community based work like this. Neighbors who claim they don’t want a skatepark in their area really don’t understand what the benefits to the community are.
I support a a good size skatepark (10,000-20,000) at Delridge. (see comments in July 4th WS Blog/Delridge post). It’s long overdue.
CathyD, Don’t be afraid of change. Skateboarders that I know tend to be environmentally minded and community oriented. We don’t want to live in a wasteland either. More concrete doesn’t always mean the worst. Use your passion to fight against the developers who are plopping in “throw away” overpriced housing for two, or huge car dealers who are selling out to the developers.
Chas, I think you are right. We do need more than one skatepark in West Seattle. There is actually some money in the budget for a skatedot (small skate feature, ie: ramp, ledge, slab) and once enthusiasm starts rolling, other money usually flows in. Let’s get Delridge moving and organize to get a skatedot- I’ll be at the July 30th meeting if you want to discuss. Thanks! Kim
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