Skatepark Statistics, Lists and Tips

Some information herein is referenced from the Public Skatepark Development Guide, a book by Peter Whitley and Skaters for Public Skateparks (SPS).

Statistics

1. In 2007 there are over 13 million skateboarders in the U.S. 93.7% are younger than 24. When one considers that there are about 80 million people in the United States between the ages of 5 and 24, it suggests that 1 out of every 7 youth in the nation, or 12,997,000, are skateboarders.

2. In any given community, roughly 4.6% will be casual skateboarders and half of those will be weekly skaters.

28 Reasons for Skateparks

1. Skateboarders need safe places to recreate.
2. Skateparks, if designed and constructed correctly, are fiscally conservative and require very little maintenance
3. Compared to other sports, skateboarding is underserved in the area.
4. Skateboarding has millions of participants nationally and it's still growing while more traditional sports are in decline. There are currently abundant facilities for these other sports.
5. Skateboarding is a multi-million dollar industry.
6. Skateboarders represent a vital part of an urban community.
7. A skatepark can attract skateboarding tourists if designed to do so.
8. With national health issues loomin for today's youth, it's time to offer a greater number of healthy, athletic choices.
9. The cost to participate is accessible to every economic class.
10. Thousands of other communities have come to understand the value of skateparks.
11. Skating in a park is much safer than skating in the streets.
12. The community already has hundreds, and maybe thousands of skateboarders.
13. In the future there are going to be many legitimate places to skate in the city. The time to embark on that positive future is now.
14. A skatepark is a place where skateboarders and other people who might not cross paths in the street can come together.
15. Skateparks can displace other less desirable activities in the area.
16. The skatepark can be an attraction for family vacations.
17. Skateboarding is "cool," and a skatepark will enhance the community's reputation.
18. Good skateparks often have volunteer teams to help maintain the facility.
19. Skateparks can draw skateboarders away from less appropriate areas.
20. Young and old people use skateparks.
21. Skateparks support vibrant, healthy communities, just like many other athletic facilities.
22. Skateboarding is a popular spectator
23. Skateparks are flexible in design and can work in many different size plots.
24. The skatepark can be a place to go after school.
25. Neighborhood skateparks allow younger skaters to recreate safely close to home.
26. Skateboarding is happening with or without a skatepark.
27. Ther are experts who can help the community plan out their next skatepark.
28. The best time to start the new skatepark is today.
 

10 Skatepark Tips

1. Include places where people can sit and observe the action. A skatepark is a place that everyone can enjoy.
2. Put trash cans where people rest or store their drinks. Cans should be secured in place so they aren't used as ad-hoc obstacles.
3. Include areas near the park entrances for people to drop their backpacks, jackets and water bottles. Somewhere central to the action and visible from all parts of the park is best.
4. Provide a water fountain and, if possible, shade. Be careful using trees for shade as they can sometimes deposit dangerous debris in the skating area. Without a water fountain the park will need more trash cans.
5. Invite other users. A playground, comfortable benches or picnic tables, BBQ pits, maintainted restrooms, and lights will attract a broader range of skaters and park users. The more activity occurring around the park, the better.
6. Don't hide your park. Locate your facility such that it allows passive observation by the community and law enforcement. Poor or remote skatepark sites make it clear to the skaters that they aren't wanted in the community.
7. Don't landscape using pea gravel, beauty bark, or any other material that can creep into the park. Take precautions to draw nearby water away from the skating areas.
8. Don't wrap the facility with a chain link fence if possible. Instead, consider smaller ornamental fences or short ledges that can be skated and sat on. The fewer barriers between the community and its skatepark, the better.
9. Don't presume that because it's a skatepark it shouldn't look gorgeous. Skateparks can relect local history, incorporate natural materials, and even be distributed across a broad, decentralized area.
10. Don't assume that the skaters won't take pride and ownership in the new facility. Give them the opportunity to help shape policy, maintenance, and other ongoing concerns.

Building a Skatepark. Modular or Concrete?
http://www.skatepark.org/general-editorial/design-&-construction/modular-or-concrete.html

Which is best? Concrete, Wood, Steel or Composites
http://www.skatepark.org/faqs/sps-positions/which-is-best-concrete-wood-steel-or-composites.html

Proposal for an all-Concrete Skateboard Park
http://www.skatepark.org/general-editorial/design-&-construction/concrete-proposal.html

Economic Development §4B Sales Tax

Note: The §4B sales tax info below applies only to cities within the State of Texas. Contact your city's officials if see if there's a tax in your state comparable to the Economic Development §4B sales tax.

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

What is §4B sales tax?
If a city so elects, up to a 2% increase in sales tax may be imposed for the purpose of quality of life improvement projects. Skateparks fit into this type of project. §4B sales tax revenues may be used as a source of skatepark funding. Skatepark advocates, city officials and board of directors should check with your to see if your city has an Economic Development §4B sales tax in place.   

Eligibility
All cities are eligible to adopt the §4B tax if the combined local sales tax rate would not exceed 2 percent.

Development Corporations
The Development Corporation Act requires cities to establish a corporation to administer the sales and use tax funds.

Board of Directors
The city’s governing body must appoint seven directors. Three of the seven directors cannot be employees, officers or members of the city’s governing body. The other four directors may be—but are not required to be—members of the governing body or city employees. All directors are appointed to a two-year term under §4B.

How can revenues be used?
The tax provides cities with a wider range of uses for the tax revenues because it is intended to give communities an opportunity to undertake a project for quality of life improvements.
Professional and amateur sports (including children’s sports) and athletic facilities; tourism and entertainment facilities; convention and public park purposes and events, (including stadiums, ballparks, auditoriums, amphitheaters, concert halls, parks and open space improvements, museums, exhibition facilities)

How do you impose the tax?
the governing body may call an election on its own; or the city must call for the election if petitioned by at least 20 percent of the number of voters who cast ballots in the most recent regular municipal election.

Need more information on the economic development sales tax?
Texas Comptroller representatives can provide presentations on matters related to the local sales tax, including §4B sales tax. For more information about the sales tax, or to request a speaker to present information about the sales tax to your community, call toll free 1-800-531-5441, ext. 3-4679. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) also has an Economic Development Handbook (2004) containing more detailed information as well as citations to the various statutes, which can be viewed on the OAG website at: http://www.oag.state.tx.us/newspubs/publications.shtml, by clicking on “Handbooks and Special Reports.”

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Copyright © 2009 SPA Skateparks, Transcend Inc. All Rights Reserved.