Post on 15-Jan-2016
Skate & Hockey ComplexRiverwalk Recreational Center
Eddy County Commissioners Presentation
AgendaSkate & Hockey Complex
County Commissioners Presentation
• History of Skateboarding and In-line Hockey• Benefits of Proposed Facility • Proposal & Cost Estimates • Key Issues
This is not a fad!
• 10 million U.S. skaters; 4 million aggressive skaters; 1 million freestyle bikers
• 6th largest sport; 3rd most popular among ages 6-18• 1 in 10 teenagers owns a skateboard.
• Over 200 skateboard manufacturers with 1998 estimated retail sales in excess of $700 million.
• Combined U.S. trade of skateboarding and inline skatingindustries of $2 billion.
Inline Hockey Program
• Youth hockey has operated for 6 years in Carlsbad-w/ no major injuries
• Carlsbad Hockey Association (CHA) has 70 players and is a member of USA Hockey Inline
• USA Hockey Inline provides insurance and rules governing play
• Incidental contact only, like soccer, and games have officiating to enforce rules
• Hockey programs in surrounding cities:- Alamogordo - Las Cruces - Albuquerque- El Paso - Midland - Lubbock
• Anticipate 125 to 150 players if new facility is constructed
Proposed Inline Hockey Facility
• 75’ by 150’ concrete playing surface with fiber reinforced plastic dasher boards
• CHA players would pay $30 per year membership fee to Recreation Center to cover maintenance
• CHA would continue to provide its own player insurance
• Facility also to be used for inline skating programs
Inline Hockey Facility
Benefits of Skate & Hockey Complex
1. Enhances existing youth programs at Riverwalk Recreation Center
2. Healthy sports-keeps the participants active & involved.
3. For parents-a safe, supervised facility
4. For adolescents-a safe place to socialize with their friends
5. Focal point for other teen activities
6. Local businesses-reduce worry about skaters on their sidewalks.
7. Skateparks draw families traveling with teenagers & young adultsto our area
8. Inline hockey brings out-of-town teams overnight for tournaments
9. Implements #3 goal-Community Vision 2000 “Build a Skatepark”
Capital & Maintenance Requirements
• Capital costs - $266,000
• Asking for support from state legislature/private foundations
• Revenue neutral for city coffers
Income will offset maintenance & operating expenses
Issues Identified
• Liability & Insurance Considerations• Popularity in Surrounding Communities• Land use - Riverwalk Recreational Center• Access & Supervision
Liability & Insurance
• Reviewed skatepark design with insurance industry Safety Engineer (St. Paul Insurance)
• Desirable for Architect to design facility
• Current design minimizes risk of injury
• Safety Engineer confirmed lower injury risk than baseball, soccer and football
• Safety Engineer will provide risk assessment report when needed
Liability & Insurance Considerations
• Enough cash flow to pay for insurance
• Three Insurance Options for Skatepark:– Incremental coverage with present City carrier
– Stand alone policy-approx $10,000/year
– Like hockey, skaters become members of an association --Skate Park Assoc. of USA
• Private skatepark membership or supervised City Park- $40.00 per year - $1 million liability from SPAUSA for members while in the skate park .
Popularity in Surrounding Communities• Skatepark programs in:
-Alamogordo 50-60/day - Washington Park & high school-Las Cruces Under construction-Roswell 35-40/day; 100+ users
-Tularosa 15-20/day-Hobbs (new) 30-40/day good; 15-20/day bad weather-Albuquerque 700-900/day summer; 200/day winter
• Anticipate 100 to 150 skaters in the community
• Hockey programs in:-Alamogordo 90 players-Las Cruces 140 players-El Paso 400 players-Midland 270 players-Lubbock, Amarillo, Albuquerque
• Anticipate 125 to 150 players in the community
Land Use-Riverwalk Recreational Center
• Conflict with possible future Science Center facility• Two alternatives possible:
- design complex to be integral part of Science Center- relocate complex when Science Center constructed
• Cost to relocate facility (est. $120K) is small in comparison to overall cost of Science Center ($20 million)
• Concrete pad is only permanent structure• Surface equipment can be relocated
Access & Supervision
• Complex designed to restrict access - entry through Recreational Center building only– Allows supervision during regularly scheduled hours of the
center
– Eliminates many problems encountered by unsupervised facilities
– Increases participation at Riverwalk Recreational Center
Skate & Hockey ComplexRiverwalk Recreational Center
We respectfully request that the County Commission issue a resolution to approve the concept of the Skate & Hockey Complex at the Riverwalk Recreational Center so that funding may be pursued in the 2001 legislative session.