As we reported two weeks ago, money to build the Delridge Skatepark — announced last summer to a chorus of cheers, after controversy over a skatepark proposal at Myrtle Reservoir — was cut out of next year’s city budget. (At left, summertime photo of its future site.) Local skatepark advocates have been pursuing further clarification from the city Parks Department as to what happens now — and they have shared a reply just received from Parks Superintendent Tim Gallagher. Read on for details – and information on a skatepark celebration event planned this Friday night during the Cooper Artist Housing open house at Youngstown Arts Center:

First, Delridge resident Nancy Folsom forwarded us Gallagher’s reply (which also is featured in a new post on Seattleskateparks.org, from an exchange with someone else who wrote to express concern):

Thank you for writing about the Delridge Skatepark, which Parks and Recreation is developing as an element of our Skatepark Plan Implementation capital project. It was our intention to design this project in 2008 and construct it in 2009.

During budget deliberations, the City found that revenues to the City from real estate excise taxes, which had been earmarked to pay for this work, have been drastically reduced due to the huge reduction in real estate activity. Although we are proceeding with the design work this year, the construction funds were not appropriated in the 2009 capital budget.

Parks regards this budget decision as a delay in the Delridge Skatepark project rather than as a cancellation. We understand the importance of providing facilities that our youth can use to engage in healthy recreational activities. We, too, were very disappointed to have to delay this project, and we still anticipate building it as soon as funding becomes available. We will work hard to make that happen.

Nancy asked a followup question (cc’ing WSB) about how/when funding might “become available” – here’s how the superintendent replied to that, in a separate note:

The delay is due to the continue decline in the real estate market which thru sales helps to fund out capital program. The Mayor and Council will continue to evaluate real numbers as they become available and make adjustments as required. Of course that could result in further delays as well as restoration of programs. It all depends on the economy.

As mentioned in the first note above, design work is proceeding – and so is the plan for a skatepark celebration, presentation, and public-art discussion as part of this Friday night’s annual Holiday Open House at Cooper Artist Housing (in Youngstown). Here’s the full announcement for that:

A group of West Seattle neighbors, artists, and skateboarding
enthusiasts have come together to plan public art project to be built
and installed in parallel with the planned Delridge Community Center
skate park. We view the skateboard park and public art as creating a
North Delridge gateway celebrating the character of our community.

The Youngstown Cultural Arts Center and the Delridge Neighborhood
Development Association have a new grant to help this group will reach
out to people interested in the impact of the skate park, and to
explore ideas for a public art project.

Youngstown has provided the advisory group with a venue in conjunction
with the Youngstown and Cooper Artist Housing Open House event
December 5th.

Drop by the dance studio anytime from 6-10 pm Friday night to learn
more about the skate park and public art. Grindline, half of the
design team for the Delridge skate park, will be available to talk
about their work. There will also be artists from the Seattle area
skate park community, including:

• Perri Lynch (SeaSk8 artist)
• Jay Meer (Northwest Skatepark mural pioneer)
• Bryan Busalacchi (Nomadic Skateboards)
• John Wold (Grip Tape Art)
• Brennan Coyle (painted skateboard art)

A skate park presentation will be in the theater from 8-9 pm, and
there will be chances to win fun SWAG, so come for the open house and
great resident art and get info about skateboarding and art in West
Seattle.

If you haven’t been to Youngstown (really worth a visit just about any time – explore its website at youngstownarts.org for a taste of what’s being created in the hallways of this beautifully restored historic school building) – here’s a map. You can get to the main parking lot from a ramp off Delridge on the north side of the building.