Oct Nov Newsletter

SOUTHPORT-SKATEPARK-PROJECT

OCT/NOV 2007 NEWSLETTER

SOUTHPORTSKATEPARK - PROJECT ‘skateboarding BY skateboarders FOR skateboarders’ E-MAIL: [email protected] ONLINE: WWW.MYSPACE.COM/SOUTHPORTSKATEPARKPROJECT SSP would like to apologise for the IT problems that resulted in the October Newsletter being sent out in the wrong format and subsequent e mails to try and rectify the problem. Although our IT problems are continuing and may mean a reduction in the quality of this current newsletter we hope to have the problems sorted out shortly and be back to normal service. Thanks. Welcome to the latest SSP Newsletter!

The Newsletter aims to inform the skatepark users of Southport of skateboard related issues in the town and in other towns/cities across the UK.

We also aim to provide an information resource for councillors and other interested parties in the town who are involved with skateboarding and skateparks.

Please contact us at the e mail address with any comments on articles or requests for further information. Next issue out December 1st.

Inside this issue you will find: ‘Wicked Weekend’ winners!

2

‘Skateboarding, Space and the City’

2

Interview with an architect!

3

Crawley Skatepark

46

Skateboarding as art in Liverpool

7

£300,000 skatepark for Norwich

8

Middle-AgeShred!

8

KR8ER SKATEPARK TO BE EXTENDED AS PART OF £6 MILLION PROJECT? Southport-Skatepark-Project has been invited onto the steering group for the proposed £6 million renovation of Kings Gardens and Marine Gardens. If the project gains the funds required to go ahead, among the considerations is the possible extension of the Kr8er skatepark in its current location next to the pier. This is potentially fantastic news for local skaters and SSP is very happy to be able to represent the views of experienced skaters in these discussion with the steering group, in the hope that the best possible skatepark can be achieved for local skaters in a context which is supported by the rest of the community. SSP’s involvement with this project came as a result of contact with Sefton Council’s Planning and Regeneration Team, Northwest Regional Development Agency and all local Councillors, with suggestions as to how old stone blocks/flags etc being replaced in the current Lord Street Renovation Project could be re-used to help create a genuine ‘street’ section in Southport’s new concrete skatepark. An important part of any plans for a new, professionally designed and constructed concrete skatepark in Southport is keeping costs down. To help with this SSP has already been offered the FREE-OF-CHARGE services of an experienced skatepark designer. Amongst ideas also being considered is the above suggestion, of re-using of some of the worn materials being replaced in the re-development of Lord Street, and to this end an e mail was recently sent to the Project manager of the Lord Street re-development project When designing ‘street’ sections for modern skateparks the aim has to be to make them as good as, if not better than actual ‘street spots’, so as to try and avoid situations where skaters use areas where they are not welcome. By utilising genuine 'street furniture' in the planned new skatepark we can both keep costs down for the skatepark and provide genuine street challenges for skaters within a safe skatepark environment. News of the Kings Gardens/Marine Gardens Project means that there is now a real possibility that Southport may finally get the sort of concrete skatepark constructed at Clitheroe in the last 2 years; Something which the vast majority of local skaters would welcome with widely open arms! Working together with local agencies is surely the way forward for projects such as Southport-Skatepark-Project. We hope our project will become an integral part of redeveloping the leisure infrastructure of Southport for the benefit of the whole community, not just the young. SSP hopes that our approach/involvement may help reduce controversy over skateboarders in the town centre. Watch future newsletters for further updates on this and all other skatepark related matters in Southport.

skateboarding BY skateboarders FOR skateboarders

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PAGE 2

WICKED WEEKEND WINNERS!

RESULTS SKATEBOARDING

The ‘Wicked Weekend’ youth event took place on the August Bank Holiday weekend and now the event organizers, Merseyside Police, Sefton Tourism, Sefton Youth Services, Champion Newspapers and Arcade Sports are looking into whether the event will take place again next year and become an annual event in the town’s calendar? The event included the Team Extreme mobile skatepark, and ran open sessions, coaching for the younger skaters and Team Extreme displays on the Saturday and competitions for local skaters/riders on the Sunday. Results of the comps can be seen in the panel (right). Winners were given their prizes by Pro skateboarder &Team Extreme General Manager Neil Danns, and PC Joanne Shakeshaft and PCSO Chris Ward, who were the driving force behind the event’s organization. Prizes were donated by Arcade Sports and other local businesses.

1ST— DANNY HOLMES 2ND—PETE ROGERS 3RD—STU SINCLAIR (Joint) 3RD—STEVEN BATES (Joint)

IN-LINE 1ST— LEWIS DEBRETT 2ND—PETER JACKSON 3RD—DANIEL WILSON

BMX

‘Wicked Weekend’ was aimed at all the youth of Southport and the surrounding area, not just skatepark users. The event was more well attended on the Sunday than the Saturday partly because of the competitions and also because the Sunday hosted the Southport Football Club 5-A-Side tournament.

1ST— DEAN JONES 2ND—CRAIG BROWN 3RD—CURTIS McKENNA

When asked about the success of the event PCSO Chris Ward of the organizing Committee said, “ It’s the first time we’ve attempted to organize anything on this scale for the young people of Southport. We never thought we would get everything right first time, but most people seemed to enjoy it. We’ve learnt some lessons from this years event, so if the event goes ahead again next year I’m sure we’ll learn from them, and try and get more young people involved in the early stages of the planning process.”

‘SKATEBOARDING, SPACE AND THE CITY’ This is the title of a book written by Professor Iain Borden, Head of the Bartlett School of Architecture and who is interviewed elsewhere in this newsletter. Here is how he himself introduces the book, which SSP recommends: “Skateboarders are an increasingly common feature of the urban environment—recent estimates total 40 million world-wide. We are all aware of their often extraordinary talent and manoeuvres on the city streets. This book is the first detailed study of the urban phenomenon of skateboarding. It looks at skateboarding history from the surf-beaches of California in the 1950’s, through the purpose-built skateparks of the 1970’s, to the streetskating of the present day and shows how skateboarders experience and understand the city through their sport. Dismissive of authority and convention, skateboarders suggest that the city is not just a place for working and shopping but a true pleasure-ground, a place where the human body, emotions and energy can be expressed to the full. The huge skateboarding subculture that revolves around graphicallydesigned clothes and boards, music, slang and moves provides a rich resource for exploring issues of gender, race, class, sexuality and the family. As the author demonstrates, street-style skateboarding, especially characteristic of recent decades, conducts a performative critique of architecture, the city and capitalism. Anyone interested in the history and sociology of sport, urban geography or architecture will find this book riveting.” Iain Borden, University College London.

“Serves a fine model for future environment-behaviour research.. It provides a fascinating, open-ended and ultimately optimistic vision of urban life, for designers, researchers and citizens” ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING “Borden describes the emergence of not so much a sport as a way of life...it’s relation to architecture is kept beautifully clear...a good read” BUILDING DESIGN “Skateboarders help us to think about buildings and their use...Borden argues that they draw our attention to the city as the site of perpetual change”. THE INDEPENDENT “A fine book that I recommend to any skateboarder who can read at college level”. BIG BROTHER

ONLINE AT: www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject

SOUTHPORT-SKATEPARK-PROJECT PAGE 3

INTERVIEW WITH AN ARCHITECT! Professor Iain Borden is Head of the Bartlett School of Architecture, Professor of Architecture and Urban Culture and Director of Architecural History and Theory. He is also author of ‘Skateboarding, Space & the City—Architecture and the Body’. Here he speaks exclusively to Southport Skatepark Project. SSP: Skateboarding is far from a traditional subject for academic study. What drew you to it? IB: Two things. Firstly a personal interest as someone who first began skating in the 1970s, and then again when I lived in Los Angeles for a couple of years in the late 1980s. And secondly some rather complex ideas about the nature of urban space, derived from a French philosopher called Henri Lefebvre. Somewhere in my head these two things just dovetailed neatly together. SSP: The depth of detail in the book suggests you have personal knowledge of the subject. So when did you last skate and are you still tempted? IB: I skated from 1976-1980, 1988-1990, and most recently 2001 until now. But I have to say I haven't been on board much in the last 6 months, and when I do it is for some gentle bank riding at Meanwhile Gardens in London or somewhere like that. No more vert for me, I am getting too fragile . .. SSP: What has been the reaction to the book from your academic peers? IB: Generally pretty good. Some academics think that only life-saving medicine or similar "important" subjects are worth studying, but luckily most academics keep a very open mind about our society and what is worth looking at. SSP: OK, so what defines a ‘skateboarder’? IB: Someone who has a different kind of eye and view of cities - who likes concrete, and new ways of experiencing it. SSP: The Dogtown spirit still runs through skateboarding and always will, but in 2008 how useful to skaters is a 1980’s slogan like ‘Skate & Destroy’? IB: I think the "Skate & Destroy" slogan was always operated more of at a conceptual level than as a physical description. Skateboarding very rarely actually physically "destroys" the terrain on which it operates - but what it does do is to rethink what we might understand to be public space, how we might use a bus bench or a ledge or a wall. Skateboarding suggests cities are more than about just working, commuting and shopping, and are places for pleasure and excitement - and this is where "skate and destroy" resonates just as much today at it did 30 odd years ago. SSP: Southport now has an ‘anti-skating’ bye-law. What is your opinion regarding anti-skating legislation now in 2008, some 7 years after the first publication of SSAC? IB: I think some anti-skating bye-laws are understandable, when they try and control skateboarding in "dangerous" situations, like train station platforms or alongside very busy streets . . . but too often they are just used to control what urban managers see as "disorder" or "nuisance", and I find that kind of censorship very hard to accept. SSP: ‘Is skateboarding a crime’ now? IB: Well some people think so . . . but generally not. Skateboarding has, is and will always thrive wherever and whenever people actually want to skate. SSP: Will the general public ever ‘accept’ skateboarding? How important is it that they should? IB: I think the public does accept skateboarding - especially those who have ever skated and/or whose kids have skated. Its a bit like any kind of popular music - some hate it (and say so, loudly), but many many others really like it. SSP: How important do you think skateparks are? IB: Very - they do provide places of focus for skaters to meet, places for people to really practice and try out new things. They won't, and shouldn't, replace street skating and other kinds of city skating, but skateparks are essential for the future of skateboarding. I would like to see many more skateparks of all different shapes and sizes - not all very elaborate or expensive, and some that are quite small but accessible. Just as every local park seems to have a tennis court and/or kiddies playground, so it should some kind of skate facility. SSP: UK Skaters such as Jeremy Donaldson are now gaining architecture qualifications and utilising their in-depth knowledge for the benefit of skaters. How do you see this differing from the more ‘home-made’ Burnside experience in the US. IB: Burnside is really great, and a fantastic example of someone just building a skatepark for themselves. But in the end, I think Jeremy's approach - working with local authorities and using his design expertise – is more likely to succeed in more places. I would very much like to see someone like Jeremy Donaldson put something together to rival Dreamland and the like. skateboarding BY skateboarders FOR skateboarders

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SOUTHPORT- SKATEPARK - PROJECT

FOCUS ON: CRAWLEY SKATEPARK! The recently opened Crawley (West Sussex) skatepark is being hailed as one of the best new concrete skateparks in the UK. The park is located at Southgate Playing Fields on Southgate Avenue. Here, Dave Downey, the dedicated Extreme Sports Officer for Crawley District Council, gives some firsthand insight to this successful project.

SSP: What kind of issues were there in Crawley with skateboarders/skateboarding prior to the new skatepark being built? DD: A lot of skaters were skating in the town centre, causing issues for pedestrians/shoppers and Police. Also travel issues as there was nowhere to go skating other than Horsham, Brighton, Skaterham etc. SSP:What is public opinion on the skatepark now? Have the previous issues been resolved? DD: Public opinion is generally good. The skatepark is in a good central location, near to bus/rail stops, andnot on top of a residential area. It’s free to use, and has regular marshalling via Community Wardens/Rangers, PCSO's, Sports Development Team, youth workers. Police and shoppers are happy now as there are no Town Centre issues. Also, Anti-social behaviour issues have reduced around the Town. SSP: What was the budget for the skatepark and did this include groundworks, construction and elements such as floodlighting, CCTV etc? DD:£480,000 (£250k council, remainder from Sport England and Crawley Responsible Authority Partnership). This included all the above plus a 3 year revenue budget to fund Extreme Sports officer (me!) SSP: Did it come in under budget or not? DD: Slightly over, due to poor weather in June/July meaning longer construction period. SSP: Was their opposition from within the Council towards the project? DD: Generally supportive. Only opposition came in terms of locations and impact on other facilities (this was largely political though, and not exclusive to this project). SSP: How significant to the project was the appointment of a dedicated extreme sports officer within Crawley District Council? DD: Very, as although we have local skate group (Crawley Freestyle Association), they are volunteers and do not have the time to dedicate to development of Extreme Sport (Parkour/BMX/Climbing are also part of role). It has been a very positive role as it has enabled CFA to develop its members, training, coaching activities and improve event management resources. It has also given CFA assistance in obtaining funding for mobile ramp programme in partnership with Council. SSP: How was the skatepark user group formed?

ONLINE AT: www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject

SOUTHPORT-SKATEPARK-PROJECT PAGE 5 DD: Already been in existence prior to my appointment, but originally formed from local skaters who wanted to promote the sport and improve facilities in Crawley. BMX reps have been added to this group since my appointment. SSP: What form and how frequently were the design meetings held? DD: DD: I can only speak from October 2006 onwards (when I started) where I held official meetings with design architects and CFA on a monthly basis, becoming fortnightly in the run-up to, and during construction. SSP: Why did you choose to build in concrete? DD:We experienced vandalism at original Skatepark, which was wooden (i.e burnt down). We felt this would be more durable and vandal-proof. We have kept a wooden element to it though as a compromise (jump box which is very popular with the bmx'ers). Aside from this, a recent study in the USA found that concrete actually gives off less sound when used than if wooden - this is an important consideration for when liaising with local residential area. SSP: Blakedown were responsible for a very ill received Bowl in Bootle (Merseyside) in 2004. The reports from Crawley are very good. Why was the decision made to go with them and how ere they to work with on the project? DD: Blakedown were only used for construction. They worked from a Freestyle Skateparks design (Freestyle's original tender amount was increased just before construction so the Council went with alternative provider). Blakedown were fine to work with and completed the job well - considering the weather constraints - project was finished inside the 12 weeks set-aside. SSP: What was the biggest problem the project faced? DD: Weather delaying construction and meaning only a few weeks of good skating weather left before Autumn/Winter! Also, trying to keep keen skaters out of building site! Tendering process and keeping costs on target.

skateboarding BY skateboarders FOR skateboarders

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PAGE 6 SSP: Is the skatepark secure? Meaning, are there likely to problems with antisocial behaviour from 'nonskaters' at the skatepark?

DD: There have been ASB issues as the facility is new and a bit of a "honey-pot". This is nothing unusual though, particularly whilst there is a novelty aspect to the facility/location. CCTV is in place, however, which is linked to Central Police at Haywards Heath (24hrs). There are also regular "patrols" from council rangers, wardens, youth workers and PCSO's. Like all new parks, the majority of users are sensible and responsible and are there to skate/ride. Over time, I think the issues will calm down and we will be left with people who just want to use the park. I am working on a more formal marshalling system to guarantee supervision at specific times (a question often asked by parents of younger users). SSP: Last question then Dave. What single piece of advice would you give to any other Council looking to improve skatepark facilities in their area? DD: Consultation with, and continual involvement from potential Skatepark users from the outset is essential. All too often, it is the wrong people making the decisions on design and construction – leaving a town with a facility that is not an accurate reflection of what young people want. In the case of Crawley Skatepark, our local skate volunteer group (Crawley Freestyle Association) was central to all recommendations and advice on design. They were also in touch on a regular basis with the construction contractors to ensure that designs were reflected accurately during the build. The benefits of this process are two-fold – the town ends up with a facility that will fast gain a great reputation amongst riders, whilst the local volunteer group has actually been listened to and empowered to oversee a significant facility and ultimately take responsibility for its development in partnership with local council. Thanks to Jelly for photos. For more information on Crawley Skatepark go to: www.crawley.gov.uk/skatepark www.freestyleramps.com www.blakedown.co.uk/sportandplay

ONLINE AT: www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject

SOUTHPORT-SKATEPARK-PROJECT PAGE 7

SKATEBOARDING FOR FREE AT LIVERPOOL ART GALLERY! From 19th October 207 until 20th April 2008 the New York ‘artbowl’ and full pipe will be available to skate FOR FREE at Greenland Street Galleries, 67 Greenland Street, Liverpool, L1 0BY. Tel: 0151 706 0600 E Mail: [email protected] Photos courtesy of skaters from www.middle-age-shred.com.

Interesting to see the art of skateboarding being portrayed within an art context.

skateboarding BY skateboarders FOR skateboarders

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER AT: [email protected]

NEW £300,000 SKATEPARK FOR NORWICH! Norwich City Council has agreed to spend £300,000 on a nationally recognised skatepark in Eaton Park in Norwich. Local skateboarders, who have fought a five-year campaign to have their sport recognised and a proper facility to be built are celebrating at the news. Together with the council, the skaters, BMXers and inline skaters will have their say on the design of the park. Chris Sturgess, (29) owner of local skater owned shop, Revolutionz, said, “To say we’re pleased is an understatement. This is exactly what we wanted and to have the freedom to design it is great – all the other small sites like the one in Heathgate or Fiddlewood were bult by companies who design playground equipment— and that’s what they are. This will bring Norwich into line with other cities, which are far beyond us with the parks they have.” T he c o unc i l h as m ad e t he s k a ter s p r o m ise they will no longer use areas of the city such as the war memorial, once it is rebuilt, as areas to practice. Steve Morphew, leader of the council, said: “Keeping our promise here shows that it is possible to spend money on positive projects.”

ABOUT SOUTHPORT-SKATEPARKPROJECT... SOUTHPORT-SKATEPARK-PROJECT is an all inclusive project, with a primary aim of lobbying Sefton Council for a world class concrete skatepark, designed by professionals with a background in skatepark design, with input from local skaters/riders, and constructed by engineers with proven experience of high quality skatepark construction. We believe that all available sources of funding should be utilised towards ensuring that this facility is provided for ALL skatepark users in the area, irrespective of age/sex/skateboarder/BMXer/Inline skater. SSP is ready and willing to work with the Council and other agencies to assist in achieving our goal, for the benefit of the whole community of Southport and the surrounding area.

MIDDLE-AGE-SHRED! A group of North West based ‘middleaged-shredders’ were recently interviewed by Radio 4 for a program on the increasingly high number of more ‘mature’ skaters that can now be seen skateboarding. Skateboarding originated in California in the 1950’s and has a 30 year history in Southport alone. So, whilst the majority of skateboarders fit into the 15-24 age bracket, it should come as no surprise that a few skaters have either stuck with it or returned to skateboarding in later years. The internet has made it easier for individuals and groups to find out that they are not alone in their love of skateboarding. www.oldskaters.com has been in existence for some years now but it’s the www.middleage-shred.com site that seems to be the most popular site for older skaters in the UK. www.oldmanarmy.com is amongst those filling the gap in the USA. Mature skaters can offer experience and knowledge that compliments the energy and enthusiasm of younger skaters. They can also improve skatepark safety. Where Projects such as Southport-Skatepark-Project are concerned this means that all ages can work as a team to ensure that the best possible result is achieved. The United Kingdom Skateboard Association supports this view. The program was broadcast on Radio 4 on 19th Oct. at 11.00am and can be heard by using the ‘listen again’ function. To find out more, or if you secretly want to dig your old board out but are too scared to admit it, go online to: www.middle-age-shred.com

Sign the online petition here: www .ipetitions.com/petition/SOUTHPORTskatepark/ index.html

THE LAST BIT! We hope you have found something of interest in this newsletter. The next newsletter will be issued on 1st December (ish!) Please contact us at the email address or via the My Space page with any comments or requests for further information. Finally here is a list of additional useful internet links. Check them out... United Kingdom Skateboarding Association: www.ukskate.org.uk/ Spectrum Skate Designs: www.geoform.co.uk Concrete Disciples: www.concretedisciples.com

This article was of course intended to have been published ahead of the programme, but was delayed due to technical difficulties with the October issue! Sorry!

ONLINE AT: www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject