SAN DIEGO, CA — Today, Skatepark Systems, the single resource for award-winning skatepark development, announced the launch of Skateparkology, a complimentary informational webinar series for community recreation planners who are looking to build a new skatepark or expand an existing park. The first webinar, which will provide a comprehensive overview of the skatepark development process, will be held on Wednesday, December 16 at 11 a.m. PST/ 2 p.m. EST.

Over the past six years, Skatepark Systems has developed a comprehensive set of educational presentations, which now serve as the basis for the webinar series, detailing the strategic and nuanced components of planning, designing, building and managing a skatepark. Previous seminars have been successfully hosted for several parks and recreation associations, the U.S. Air Force and chapters of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). The webinars will be held once per month over the course of one year.

“Creating a quality skatepark can be a challenging process even for those with experience. Skateparkology helps break down this process and provides community planners with expert insight to make their jobs easier,” said Beau Brown, director of skatepark development for Skatepark Systems. “We work to provide our clients with the best design-build resources and information available to take their park from conception to completion.”

In addition to discussing best practices and overcoming key challenges, the in-depth sessions will include:

–  Information supporting the need for skateparks

–  What a skatepark system is and why it matters

–  Essential planning and design insights

–  Project budgeting – city funding vs. user fees

–  Criteria to determine construction type

–  ASTM skatepark standards and how to apply them

–  Common skatepark problems and solutions

–  Successful skatepark projects case studies

As one of the inaugural webinar speakers and Skatepark Systems’ co-founder, Gregg Witt has 20 years’ experience in public skatepark development and the skateboarding industry. The presentation will also be led by Greg Miller, landscape architect from Morrow Reardon Wilkinson Miller Ltd.; American Society of Landscape Architects trustee, New Mexico chapter; and senior architect for the award-winning Albuquerque-Alamosa Skateboard Park Environment.

Skatepark Systems and its Skateparkology presentations are recognized by the National Recreation and Park Association and ASLA and qualify for many states’ continuing education credit programs.

Skatepark Systems is the single resource for award-winning skatepark development. Based in San Diego and overseeing projects worldwide, Skatepark Systems delivers skatepark solutions that meet community needs, are progressive in form and function, provide the best long-term value available and, most importantly, are fun. From intimate skatepark projects to large master planned systems, the company has completed over 750 designs and developments to date. Key services include consulting, public collaboration, design and build services and construction management. For more information, please call 619-795-7790 or visit http://www.skateparksystems.com.

[ Sun Herald ]

The decision was a blow to local skateboarders, who have been without a park since August 2008, when the previous skatepark was closed to make room for Vista’s new downtown Civic Center.

A Vista teen skateboards behind a shopping center at Bobier and North Santa Fe drives in Vista. (Photo by Bill Wechter - Staff photographer)

“The old skatepark was very popular and very used —- now there’s no place for kids to go,” skateboard enthusiast John Blank told council members.

“Skateboarding is not a crime,” he added. “It’s an accepted alternative to team sports. We need to find the money, find the place and find the understanding to make this happen.”

However, neighbors of the proposed stormwater basin cheered the council’s decision. The previous skatepark was hidden by trees and plagued by vandalism, fights and after-hours use, and residents said those problems would have persisted in the new location.

“This site is going to be hidden, too,” said Alta Vista Drive resident Bruce Shift, who argued against the project. “I agree skaters need a place to go, but it needs to be in one of our public parks.”

Shift said he had gathered about 100 signatures over the weekend from area residents and business owners opposed to a skatepark in or near the proposed detention basin.

The basin is designed to shift the boundaries of the city’s 100-year flood plain and make the downtown corridor more appealing to investors. Combining the projects would have allowed the city to use redevelopment funds to build the skatepark, city staff said.

Now that the idea has been rejected, there’s no money in the general fund to build the park elsewhere, city officials said.

City Manager Rita Geldert said $500,000 that had previously been put aside for the project was used to balance the 2009-10 budget. The skatepark would probably cost between $750,000 and $1 million, she said.

Tuesday’s meeting was attended by a handful of people who live near the planned detention basin and about a dozen skateboarders.

Councilman Frank Lopez opposed building the skatepark in or near the proposed detention basin but said the council made a promise to build a new park when the old one was torn down.

“It’s a promise,” he said. “Now how do we put it in?”

Councilman Bob Campbell said there was “not a promise” made when the old park was torn down. The city said it would consider building a replacement, he said.

Campbell said the users of the old park created thousands of dollars in damage and were verbally abusive to nearby residents and people patrolling the skatepark.

“Unfortunately, there are kids that need (a park) and other kids who ruin it,” Councilwoman Judy Ritter said.

Miki Vuckovich, executive director of the Tony Hawk Foundation, a Vista nonprofit that advocates the creation of public skateparks, said Vista has about 5,000 skateboarders, and it’s in the city’s best interest to provide a place for them.

“There is a great need” in Vista, he said. “Essentially, without the skatepark, your city is the skatepark.”

Like Shift, most residents who spoke against the skatepark being placed in the detention basin were not against the idea of a skatepark elsewhere in the city.

“But the location is not in my backyard,” said Lindy Lane resident Tamara Sarracino.

City staff said they would continue to look into other potential sites for a skatepark in existing or future parks and would bring those ideas to the council when funding is available.

“I hope, because we decided not to continue in that location, that we don’t completely forget about this,” Lopez said.

Contact staff writer Cigi Ross at 760-901-4067.

[ North County Times ]