Delridge Skatepark: Another sign that groundbreaking is near

| Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(Fence photo added 12:55 pm)
With a few speed bumps along the way, it’s a day some wondered if they’d ever see – but it’s truly almost here. No formal groundbreaking ceremony is planned, but Delridge Skatepark construction is about to begin. Stu Hennessey from Alki Bike and Board just shared the news that the fence is up. (We’re heading out for a photo.) We had checked a few days ago with Seattle Parks project manager Kelly Davidson, who told us that since the official “notice to proceed” kicked in last week, preparations were in motion – including “utility locates,” as well as an on-site meeting with Parks’ arborist. “It just takes a few steps before they really start tearing things up out there,” Davidson told us. The park will be built by West Seattle-based Grindline, the skatepark specialists who also designed it:

Their winning bid was $483,000. Construction is expected to last about four months, with the skatepark opening in late summer.

DF April 18, 2011 (11:23 am)

Having skateboarded in my youth here in West Side ,and still to a greater or lesser degree, this is good news. Beats having to use Holy Rosaries concrete play field or having the security guards from Jefferson Square run you off the property. Wonderful News!

foy boy April 18, 2011 (11:33 am)

Does the half million dollars for this park also include the money to take care of this park? Or will this become another park the city can’t afford to take care of? I see it coming in the future the city telling us how bad the conditions our parks are in and we need some high price tax levy so we can maintain our parks.[for the children] When are they going to quiet buying new toys when they can’t take care of there old ones. It looks alot better being seen opening a new park then maintaing an exsiting one.

Mike April 18, 2011 (11:59 am)

Nice! Looks like a great place and will hopefully give some kids a good location to enjoy and stay out of trouble. Good stuff!

jay April 18, 2011 (12:24 pm)

It was exciting to see fences going up around the park this morning!

Been There April 18, 2011 (12:44 pm)

More great stuff coming to North Delridge:)

Pete April 18, 2011 (4:18 pm)

@foy boy….the money to pay for this skatepark is from the Pro-Parks levy funds (levy that proceede the one in place now). This skatepark was in the planning stage long before the current economic crisis hit home. This is a facility that is long overdue in our Delirdge neighborhood. You sometimes have to take the long view of these projects and remember that at some point our economy will start recovering and there will be maintenance dollars available. A number of the projects that Parks is presently building will not have major maintenance needs for several years.

Sybil April 18, 2011 (9:21 pm)

When I saw the fence today I almost cried. I am really, really hoping that this project isn’t going to make the park and wading pool pretty much unusable this summer with the construction noise and mess. We have two small kids and live 1/2 a block away and use this park constantly. Crossing my fingers it turns out better than I am expecting.

High Point April 19, 2011 (5:57 am)

@Sybil… shouldnt be too bad, once the digging is done is mostly done by hand. They are GREAT guys who live/work in Delridge, if you think its bad go ask to talk to their foreman, and they will help anyway they can. I think you will be surprised at the maturity and class of these young hard working guys. Good Luck

MLJ April 19, 2011 (4:48 pm)

It’s true. This skatepark is being built by people who live in the community. This is a huge win for Delridge.
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As for maintenance, concrete skateparks require very little. In fact, they are one of the lowest maintenance risks in any park system. Maintaining grass is exponentially more expensive than maintaining a skatepark.
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Congrats to the North Delridge community, Seattle skateboarders, and all of the families who will enjoy the skating and spectating that’s going to happen here for many years.

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