Urban Splash Presentation
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www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject
Skateboarding BY skateboarders FOR skateboarders
“We've learned that a professionally designed and professionally constructed facility, developed with extensive input from the people who will be using the park, is light-years ahead of even the best "pre-fabricated" skate elements that can be purchased from manufacturers.”
JASON A.C. CISSELL Public Information Officer, Metro Parks Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.A.
Contact us at: [email protected]
www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject Dear Mr. Sheridan, Please allow us to introduce Southport Skatepark Project (SSP). SSP is led by a panel of experienced skatepark users all ages and disciplines who currently skate/ride in Southport, and who use the current Kr8er skatepark in Southport, amongst others across the UK, and in particular in the North West of England.The panel consists of skatepark users between 12 and 44 years of age. SSP has been formed in order to ensure that any plans for skatepark provision in Southport utilise the full range of knowledge and experience on offer of the various user groups of the facilities. The aims of SSP are as follows: •
To lobby Sefton Council for a high quality concrete skatepark, designed by professionals with a background in skatepark design in conjunction with local skaters/riders, and constructed by engineers with proven experience of high quality skatepark construction. View the online petition here: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/SOUTHPORTskatepark/
•
To provide a one-stop resource of information on skateboarding/inline skating/BMX and, more importantly, the process of planning/designing/constructing skateparks of the highest quality.
•
To work with Sefton Council, Leisure Services and Youth Services, Merseyside Police, and other partner organisations to solve issues surrounding skateboarding and skatepark users in Southport.
•
To promote understanding between skateboarders/skatepark users and other social groups within the community.
•
To promote “skateboarding BY skateboarders FOR skateboarders” whilst also catering for the needs of other skatepark users.
SSP supports the Council with regard to the anti-skating bye-law in the 4 current designated areas in the town and actively encourages skaters to comply in hope that compliance with the bye-law will be seen positively.
Contact us at: [email protected]
www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject The SSP Vision Our vision is of a professionally designed and constructed concrete skatepark, designed with the wants and needs of all user groups in mind and designed in keeping with the Council’s vision of Southport’s ‘Classic Resort’ status. We wish to show the Council how this:
Can go through a re-design and planning process like this:
Contact us at: [email protected]
www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject And become this:
A far cry from the general perception when the word ‘skatepark’ is mentioned. Mr. Sheridan, we at SSP are very much aware that URBAN SPLASH is not a skatepark construction company. It is not our intention to try and talk you into such activity. We are however very pleased that a company with acknowledged success in regeneration is going to be involved in the Marine Gardens Project here in Southport. Our aim in this presentation is to show you how a professionally designed and constructed skatepark such as the one above and in the opening photograph, constructed by a specialist skatepark design/construction company, could be fully in keeping with the Marine Gardens Project. Such a facility would provide not only a high quality facility for local skatepark users but would also become a ‘destination skatepark’ encouraging national and international events involving professional skaters and sponsorship from the likes of NIKE, VANS, QUIKSILVER, RED BULL etc. Please take some time to look through the rest of this presentation and should you require any further information please contact us at the e mail address below.
Contact us at: [email protected]
www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject PAST – Solid Surf Skatepark A concrete skatepark existed on the Pleasureland site from 1978 – 1999! Solid Surf Skatepark opened in June 1978. It was a concrete skatepark with some additional fibreglass ramps, situated on the site of the current Go-Kart track. The photos below show it at its peak, including showing Californian pro skater Tony Alva, from his tour of the UK in 1978.
Contact us at: [email protected]
www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject Note the ‘Swiss Chalet’ in the background of the photo above. That was still located in the same position until recently, when Blackpool Pleasure Beach closed Pleasureland. Over the years, when skateboarding ebbed and flowed in it’s popularity, the skatepark became used as a slide park by the owners, although skateboarders still used the park as well, only in smaller numbers through the 80’s and 90’s. The skatepark was finally demolished in 1999 and replaced by the present Go-Kart track. For more information, photographs and press articles about the Solid Surf Skatepark please visit www.solidsurf.co.uk PRESENT The ‘KR8ER’ wooden skatepark was opened in Southport in 2004. It is located in a hollow between Southport Pier and the Marine Way Bridge; a location currently covered by the KINGS GARDENS PROJECT.
The popularity of the facility is such that the council has realised that the park is becoming far too crowded at peak times and has looked into ways to spread users around the area. (These photos were taken early morning.) Following a report highlighting that the intended plans would most likely prove unsuccessful and a poor investment, these plans ground to a halt.
Contact us at: [email protected]
www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject
Move forwards to 2008 and the wooden park is now rapidly becoming an eyesore and has suffered weather damage. Having been constructed from wood the ramps need re-surfacing every 12 months however, some years there isn’t the available budget for this to be done and the ramps have, at times, become quite dangerous. As the skatepark is not secure and has full 24 hour open access, it has now become a haven for anti-social behaviour, predominantly from non-skatepark users with acts of violence targeting the skatepark user group. At the same time the Council have introduced an antiskateboarding bye-law to the town. Following publication of SSP newsletters and distributing them to Councillors and other relevant parties SSP was invited to be part of the KINGS GARDENS PROJECT STEEERING GROUP. The group is involved in the planning of a £6m project to regenerate the Kings Gardens area, which stretches from the Promenade to the Marine Lake and Princes Park. The current location of the skatepark has been included in this area for the purposes of the project. SSP is very pleased to have been invited onto the Kings Gardens Steering Group to be able to provide relevant knowledge and experience and will continue to do so, as both Kings Gardens and Marine Gardens Projects need to be co-ordinated. Among the options been considered are extending the skatepark in its current location or re-locating it elsewhere. Whilst there may be advantages to keeping the skatepark in its current location there is also opposition from some to it being there. And, as the location is impossible to secure, the option of relocating the skatepark is looking more favourable in both improving the size and quality of the skatepark and tackling the anti-social behaviour problems that have become an issue.
Contact us at: [email protected]
www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject
FUTURE Within the area of the Pleasureland site there is an area of land approximately 200 yards away from the location of the original Solid Surf Skatepark, which has been empty since the Ocean Plaza site was developed. At present it is used occasionally to provide additional car parking at certain times. The location of this site is incredibly similar to the photograph of the skatepark in Cairns, Australia which is at the front of this presentation. Turning clockwise here are some views of the site: Looking out towards the sea, with the pier visible in the background.
Contact us at: [email protected]
www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject
Turning to the right: Ocean Plaza Retail Park
Turning 180 degrees – Backing onto Princes Park
Contact us at: [email protected]
www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject
Continuing to the right: The old skatepark was located behind the structure visible.
The size and shape of the area is ideal for providing a skatepark significantly larger that the present one, which will cater for the demand more sufficiently. The area is also of a size that a wide path could be constructed around it. This would not only provide walking space for pedestrians to watch the attraction of the skaters, but would also form part of the ‘street’ element of the skatepark, with ledges built around the perimeter. Please now compare the photographs above with the photograph at the front of this presentation. Obviously, we can’t arrange for the sea to be quite as blue or to come in quite so close as that in Southport, although it does do at times!
Contact us at: [email protected]
www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject
This final shot shows the site looking from the sea wall:
THE SSP PROPOSAL We believe that a professionally designed and constructed skatepark such as the one shown on page 1 of this presentation would be fully in keeping with the MARINE GARDENS PROJECT, and also in keeping with the Council’s vision of Southport’s ‘Classic Resort’ status. Significantly it would provide a world class facility for local skatepark users to use on a daily basis, whilst also acting as a ‘destination skatepark’, bringing professional athletes and sponsorship into the town for national and International events. Yet another way to fill all those hotel rooms! Funding for such a facility may obtained from several sources and should in essence, be independent from the MARINE GARDENS PROJECT budget, although lighting and landscaping around the skatepark which would benefit the area as a whole could possibly be funded by the project. Grants are available from the Big Lottery Fund for skateparks, some large companies also have funds available for community projects and Southport recently received £2.4M for use on ‘Youth Facilities’. In addition to this SSP will motivate the user group itself to contribute some funding. The estimated cost of providing a high quality concrete skatepark is £400,000. This is based on other recently constructed skateparks in the UK. SSP has received expressions of interest from two experienced concrete skatepark design/construction companies to date: GRAVITY PARKS www.gravityparks.co.uk/
Contact us at: [email protected]
www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject GEOFORM SKATEPARKS www.geoform.co.uk/ Working in conjunction with SPECTRUM SK8PARK DESIGN CREATIONS of Canada www.spectrumsk8.com/index.php The designer of the skatepark at Clitheroe in Lancashire, Laura Powell, has also offered her design services for FREE to SSP and the skatepark users of Southport in designing a new skatepark. For more information on this and on other skatepark projects good and bad across the UK please look through the SSP newsletters that follow this presentation. SSP makes the following reccomendations for the new skatepark: •
The main area of the new skatepark should be fenced off for both safety and security reasons.
•
A white concrete path should surround the perimeter of the skatepark. This will have a dual use as providing part of the ‘street’ element of the skatepark with metal rimmed blocks at the edges, but may also be used by pedestrians wanting to view the skaters in the skatepark itself. If wide enough this could be spilt into two sections to avoid accidental injuries.
•
A structure similar to the old ‘Swiss Chalet’ shown in the ‘PAST’ section should act as an entrance to the skatepark from the current direction of Princess Park. This would prevent nonskatepark users from entering the main skatepark itself and therefore reduce incidents of anti-social behaviour as well as providing a café facility for both skatepark users and other visiters.
•
The skatepark will have a strict NO GRAFFITI policy and again, by restricting access, this will be possible to monitor.
•
The skatepark should be marshalled, by a responsible adult with access to the Town Link radio system, should any issues arise. This could be a Youth Worker, volunteer parent or ‘mature’ skater.
•
The fenced off area of the skatepark should be locked at night, and Marine Gardens area as a whole should be monitored by Sefton Security at night and will be patrolled by Police Community Support Officers from Southport Town Centre Neighbourhood on both early and late shifts, as it is now.
•
The wooden ramps of the current skatepark should be removed from the current location, and re-located in a corner of the park and ride car park on Fairways, where there is lighting and CCTV already in place. The ground would need re-surfacing.
Contact us at: [email protected]
www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject •
An extended legal graffiti wall should be located at the Fairways site to provide a designated area for graffiti. This will work in conjunction with the STRICT NO GRAFFITI policy at the new skatepark. This wall will be hidden from the Coast Road by sand banks.
•
This area would remain open with free 24 hour access, so that there is always somewhere available for skatepark users when the new skatepark is locked.
Mr. Sheridan, we at SSP believe the key to the success of the regeneration of MARINE GARDENS area is for you to create an area which is of a high quality to attract tourism to the town, whilst also such that local residents can use on a daily/weekly basis. The area should be one that can be used by people of all sexes, and all ages, young and old alike. An area that will allow the full diversity of the local population to flourish in a quality environment, with that “fantastic bohemian atmosphere” of St. Ives you have spoken of. We have no doubt that URBAN SPLASH will present some fantastic plans to Sefton Council for the project. Our aim with this presentation has been to try and change preconceptions when the word ‘skatepark’ is mentioned; To show you what is possible and to sow the seed of that possibility in your mind for your plans for the MARINE GARDENS PROJECT. In the scheme of things the skatepark would be just one small part of the 42 acre site. We feel sure the photograph on page 1 of this presentation is in keeping with your vision. Please allow us to help you make that become a reality, and bring a little bit of California to Southport! SSP Newsletters and some other articles of interest follow. Please look at the web links of interest and contact us at the email address at anytime. Our My Space page also contains photos of other skatepark projects from around the UK, which can be compared to the present offering in Southport. The differences are quite considerable.
Thank you and good luck with the MARINE GARDENS PROJECT.
Contact us at: [email protected]
www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject
Contact us at: [email protected]
Skateboarding BY skateboarders FOR skateboarders
“We've learned that a professionally designed and professionally constructed facility, developed with extensive input from the people who will be using the park, is light-years ahead of even the best "pre-fabricated" skate elements that can be purchased from manufacturers.”
JASON A.C. CISSELL Public Information Officer, Metro Parks Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.A.
Contact us at: [email protected]
www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject Dear Mr. Sheridan, Please allow us to introduce Southport Skatepark Project (SSP). SSP is led by a panel of experienced skatepark users all ages and disciplines who currently skate/ride in Southport, and who use the current Kr8er skatepark in Southport, amongst others across the UK, and in particular in the North West of England.The panel consists of skatepark users between 12 and 44 years of age. SSP has been formed in order to ensure that any plans for skatepark provision in Southport utilise the full range of knowledge and experience on offer of the various user groups of the facilities. The aims of SSP are as follows: •
To lobby Sefton Council for a high quality concrete skatepark, designed by professionals with a background in skatepark design in conjunction with local skaters/riders, and constructed by engineers with proven experience of high quality skatepark construction. View the online petition here: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/SOUTHPORTskatepark/
•
To provide a one-stop resource of information on skateboarding/inline skating/BMX and, more importantly, the process of planning/designing/constructing skateparks of the highest quality.
•
To work with Sefton Council, Leisure Services and Youth Services, Merseyside Police, and other partner organisations to solve issues surrounding skateboarding and skatepark users in Southport.
•
To promote understanding between skateboarders/skatepark users and other social groups within the community.
•
To promote “skateboarding BY skateboarders FOR skateboarders” whilst also catering for the needs of other skatepark users.
SSP supports the Council with regard to the anti-skating bye-law in the 4 current designated areas in the town and actively encourages skaters to comply in hope that compliance with the bye-law will be seen positively.
Contact us at: [email protected]
www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject The SSP Vision Our vision is of a professionally designed and constructed concrete skatepark, designed with the wants and needs of all user groups in mind and designed in keeping with the Council’s vision of Southport’s ‘Classic Resort’ status. We wish to show the Council how this:
Can go through a re-design and planning process like this:
Contact us at: [email protected]
www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject And become this:
A far cry from the general perception when the word ‘skatepark’ is mentioned. Mr. Sheridan, we at SSP are very much aware that URBAN SPLASH is not a skatepark construction company. It is not our intention to try and talk you into such activity. We are however very pleased that a company with acknowledged success in regeneration is going to be involved in the Marine Gardens Project here in Southport. Our aim in this presentation is to show you how a professionally designed and constructed skatepark such as the one above and in the opening photograph, constructed by a specialist skatepark design/construction company, could be fully in keeping with the Marine Gardens Project. Such a facility would provide not only a high quality facility for local skatepark users but would also become a ‘destination skatepark’ encouraging national and international events involving professional skaters and sponsorship from the likes of NIKE, VANS, QUIKSILVER, RED BULL etc. Please take some time to look through the rest of this presentation and should you require any further information please contact us at the e mail address below.
Contact us at: [email protected]
www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject PAST – Solid Surf Skatepark A concrete skatepark existed on the Pleasureland site from 1978 – 1999! Solid Surf Skatepark opened in June 1978. It was a concrete skatepark with some additional fibreglass ramps, situated on the site of the current Go-Kart track. The photos below show it at its peak, including showing Californian pro skater Tony Alva, from his tour of the UK in 1978.
Contact us at: [email protected]
www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject Note the ‘Swiss Chalet’ in the background of the photo above. That was still located in the same position until recently, when Blackpool Pleasure Beach closed Pleasureland. Over the years, when skateboarding ebbed and flowed in it’s popularity, the skatepark became used as a slide park by the owners, although skateboarders still used the park as well, only in smaller numbers through the 80’s and 90’s. The skatepark was finally demolished in 1999 and replaced by the present Go-Kart track. For more information, photographs and press articles about the Solid Surf Skatepark please visit www.solidsurf.co.uk PRESENT The ‘KR8ER’ wooden skatepark was opened in Southport in 2004. It is located in a hollow between Southport Pier and the Marine Way Bridge; a location currently covered by the KINGS GARDENS PROJECT.
The popularity of the facility is such that the council has realised that the park is becoming far too crowded at peak times and has looked into ways to spread users around the area. (These photos were taken early morning.) Following a report highlighting that the intended plans would most likely prove unsuccessful and a poor investment, these plans ground to a halt.
Contact us at: [email protected]
www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject
Move forwards to 2008 and the wooden park is now rapidly becoming an eyesore and has suffered weather damage. Having been constructed from wood the ramps need re-surfacing every 12 months however, some years there isn’t the available budget for this to be done and the ramps have, at times, become quite dangerous. As the skatepark is not secure and has full 24 hour open access, it has now become a haven for anti-social behaviour, predominantly from non-skatepark users with acts of violence targeting the skatepark user group. At the same time the Council have introduced an antiskateboarding bye-law to the town. Following publication of SSP newsletters and distributing them to Councillors and other relevant parties SSP was invited to be part of the KINGS GARDENS PROJECT STEEERING GROUP. The group is involved in the planning of a £6m project to regenerate the Kings Gardens area, which stretches from the Promenade to the Marine Lake and Princes Park. The current location of the skatepark has been included in this area for the purposes of the project. SSP is very pleased to have been invited onto the Kings Gardens Steering Group to be able to provide relevant knowledge and experience and will continue to do so, as both Kings Gardens and Marine Gardens Projects need to be co-ordinated. Among the options been considered are extending the skatepark in its current location or re-locating it elsewhere. Whilst there may be advantages to keeping the skatepark in its current location there is also opposition from some to it being there. And, as the location is impossible to secure, the option of relocating the skatepark is looking more favourable in both improving the size and quality of the skatepark and tackling the anti-social behaviour problems that have become an issue.
Contact us at: [email protected]
www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject
FUTURE Within the area of the Pleasureland site there is an area of land approximately 200 yards away from the location of the original Solid Surf Skatepark, which has been empty since the Ocean Plaza site was developed. At present it is used occasionally to provide additional car parking at certain times. The location of this site is incredibly similar to the photograph of the skatepark in Cairns, Australia which is at the front of this presentation. Turning clockwise here are some views of the site: Looking out towards the sea, with the pier visible in the background.
Contact us at: [email protected]
www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject
Turning to the right: Ocean Plaza Retail Park
Turning 180 degrees – Backing onto Princes Park
Contact us at: [email protected]
www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject
Continuing to the right: The old skatepark was located behind the structure visible.
The size and shape of the area is ideal for providing a skatepark significantly larger that the present one, which will cater for the demand more sufficiently. The area is also of a size that a wide path could be constructed around it. This would not only provide walking space for pedestrians to watch the attraction of the skaters, but would also form part of the ‘street’ element of the skatepark, with ledges built around the perimeter. Please now compare the photographs above with the photograph at the front of this presentation. Obviously, we can’t arrange for the sea to be quite as blue or to come in quite so close as that in Southport, although it does do at times!
Contact us at: [email protected]
www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject
This final shot shows the site looking from the sea wall:
THE SSP PROPOSAL We believe that a professionally designed and constructed skatepark such as the one shown on page 1 of this presentation would be fully in keeping with the MARINE GARDENS PROJECT, and also in keeping with the Council’s vision of Southport’s ‘Classic Resort’ status. Significantly it would provide a world class facility for local skatepark users to use on a daily basis, whilst also acting as a ‘destination skatepark’, bringing professional athletes and sponsorship into the town for national and International events. Yet another way to fill all those hotel rooms! Funding for such a facility may obtained from several sources and should in essence, be independent from the MARINE GARDENS PROJECT budget, although lighting and landscaping around the skatepark which would benefit the area as a whole could possibly be funded by the project. Grants are available from the Big Lottery Fund for skateparks, some large companies also have funds available for community projects and Southport recently received £2.4M for use on ‘Youth Facilities’. In addition to this SSP will motivate the user group itself to contribute some funding. The estimated cost of providing a high quality concrete skatepark is £400,000. This is based on other recently constructed skateparks in the UK. SSP has received expressions of interest from two experienced concrete skatepark design/construction companies to date: GRAVITY PARKS www.gravityparks.co.uk/
Contact us at: [email protected]
www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject GEOFORM SKATEPARKS www.geoform.co.uk/ Working in conjunction with SPECTRUM SK8PARK DESIGN CREATIONS of Canada www.spectrumsk8.com/index.php The designer of the skatepark at Clitheroe in Lancashire, Laura Powell, has also offered her design services for FREE to SSP and the skatepark users of Southport in designing a new skatepark. For more information on this and on other skatepark projects good and bad across the UK please look through the SSP newsletters that follow this presentation. SSP makes the following reccomendations for the new skatepark: •
The main area of the new skatepark should be fenced off for both safety and security reasons.
•
A white concrete path should surround the perimeter of the skatepark. This will have a dual use as providing part of the ‘street’ element of the skatepark with metal rimmed blocks at the edges, but may also be used by pedestrians wanting to view the skaters in the skatepark itself. If wide enough this could be spilt into two sections to avoid accidental injuries.
•
A structure similar to the old ‘Swiss Chalet’ shown in the ‘PAST’ section should act as an entrance to the skatepark from the current direction of Princess Park. This would prevent nonskatepark users from entering the main skatepark itself and therefore reduce incidents of anti-social behaviour as well as providing a café facility for both skatepark users and other visiters.
•
The skatepark will have a strict NO GRAFFITI policy and again, by restricting access, this will be possible to monitor.
•
The skatepark should be marshalled, by a responsible adult with access to the Town Link radio system, should any issues arise. This could be a Youth Worker, volunteer parent or ‘mature’ skater.
•
The fenced off area of the skatepark should be locked at night, and Marine Gardens area as a whole should be monitored by Sefton Security at night and will be patrolled by Police Community Support Officers from Southport Town Centre Neighbourhood on both early and late shifts, as it is now.
•
The wooden ramps of the current skatepark should be removed from the current location, and re-located in a corner of the park and ride car park on Fairways, where there is lighting and CCTV already in place. The ground would need re-surfacing.
Contact us at: [email protected]
www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject •
An extended legal graffiti wall should be located at the Fairways site to provide a designated area for graffiti. This will work in conjunction with the STRICT NO GRAFFITI policy at the new skatepark. This wall will be hidden from the Coast Road by sand banks.
•
This area would remain open with free 24 hour access, so that there is always somewhere available for skatepark users when the new skatepark is locked.
Mr. Sheridan, we at SSP believe the key to the success of the regeneration of MARINE GARDENS area is for you to create an area which is of a high quality to attract tourism to the town, whilst also such that local residents can use on a daily/weekly basis. The area should be one that can be used by people of all sexes, and all ages, young and old alike. An area that will allow the full diversity of the local population to flourish in a quality environment, with that “fantastic bohemian atmosphere” of St. Ives you have spoken of. We have no doubt that URBAN SPLASH will present some fantastic plans to Sefton Council for the project. Our aim with this presentation has been to try and change preconceptions when the word ‘skatepark’ is mentioned; To show you what is possible and to sow the seed of that possibility in your mind for your plans for the MARINE GARDENS PROJECT. In the scheme of things the skatepark would be just one small part of the 42 acre site. We feel sure the photograph on page 1 of this presentation is in keeping with your vision. Please allow us to help you make that become a reality, and bring a little bit of California to Southport! SSP Newsletters and some other articles of interest follow. Please look at the web links of interest and contact us at the email address at anytime. Our My Space page also contains photos of other skatepark projects from around the UK, which can be compared to the present offering in Southport. The differences are quite considerable.
Thank you and good luck with the MARINE GARDENS PROJECT.
Contact us at: [email protected]
www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject
Contact us at: [email protected]
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