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BE THE SPARK!At first blush, you might find the idea of creating a new skatepark

somewhat intimidating. But it doesn’t need to be that way.

Over the last few years hundreds of communities just like yours have

successfully negotiated the process of planning, designing, installing and

celebrating a new skatepark. Each one of these success stories began

with someone like you – a rider, a parent, a city official – who served as

the spark that ignited widespread project support, enthusiasm and

activity. So it is really quite simple: if you have the idea, we know you

can get it done.

What follows are 10 simple steps to creating a community skatepark.

This is a distillation of the key factors that have made other skatepark

projects successful, and we can assure you that it is a well-traveled path

to success.

Get started on your skatepark project today!

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CONTENTS

Page

4 . . . . . Strength in Numbers – Forming a Skatepark Committee

6 . . . . . Get Smart

8 . . . . . Get Connected

10 . . . . . Identify Possible Sites

11 . . . . . Present Your Case to the City

12 . . . . . Raise Funds and Build Enthusiasm

14 . . . . . Design Your Skatepark

16 . . . . . Construction and Installation

18 . . . . . Host the Grand Opening

19 . . . . . Ongoing Operation

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STRENGTH IN NUMBERSForming a Skatepark Committee

Skatepark Committee: a group of people who meet regularly to inspire,

plan and direct the creation of a new skatepark.

GOALS

• Provide strength and momentum to your skatepark campaign• Gain credibility with community leaders• Assemble people of many talents and perspectives to tacklespecific tasks

If you are serious about rallying your community around a new skatepark, yourfirst step should be to mobilize your community’s riders. Your goal is to form anorganization that is passionate about the sport and the need for a skatepark.Once formed, your committee will not only recruit other individuals to thecause, but also guide the entire process from design through installation.

STEPS IN FORMATION

1 Recruit 5-6 active riders and host an initial planning

meeting. At this meeting you can create a name for your

skatepark committee, brainstorm ways to get the word

out to other riders, and establish a date and place for the

next meeting.

2 Create flyers announcing the time and place of

the next committee meeting. Distribute these

flyers at skating venues, skateboarding retailers

and skating competitions. At this meeting, your

Committee can elect a Committee Chairperson

who will lead subsequent meetings and

spearhead efforts.

4 Form specialized Teams

within your Committee.

There are several key

areas that should be

headed by subgroups of

3-4 Committee

members. Each

Committee member

should volunteer for one

of the following

committees:

a Publicity – distribute information about the skatepark development process to the

community through the press, special events, mailings and a website.

b Research – will gather information on skateboarding, skateparks and your

community that you can use to support your efforts.

c Recruitment/Networking – this Team will have the important task of presenting

your cause to potential supporters and gaining their participation. Once this

bond is formed this Team will nurture the relationship to maximize the impact

on your efforts.

d Design – collaborate with riders and city authorities to design the best skatepark

for your riders and your site.

e Fundraising – responsible for conceiving of and executing skatepark

fundraising programs.

f Construction – coordinate volunteers for construction and installation duties.

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3 Once you have 15 – 20 dedicated riders involved in your skatepark

campaign it’s time to invite other interested parties to join your cause. Set

the date and place for your next meeting, and create another simple flyer

that you will now distribute to your community’s parks and recreation

department, area retailers, parents and schools. Your community center or

city hall may be able to provide space for these meetings. The goal is to add

5-10 other members who are not riders, but are supportive of your cause.

5 Host regular Committee meetings at which time each Team will report

on their goals, activities and progress.

Note: It is likely that your Committee will both take in funds and invest

them in your cause. If that is the case, you should also elect a Treasurer to

manage these funds and account for their use.

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GET SMART ABOUT SKATEPARKSYour committee already has several big advantages going for it: you’re passionate

about your cause, organized in your activities and very knowledgeable about

skateboarding. Now, you’re going to add another advantage: You are going to

become experts on the skatepark industry and the rider needs of your community.

There are three goals for this effort:

1 Enable your Committee to demonstrate the vitality and growth of the sport

2 Show the need for a skatepark in your community

3 Reveal how other communities have successfully addressed this issue.

GATHER DATA

One of your Research Team’s first steps is to gather industry data about the number

of skateboarders and in-line riders in the U.S. and the growth in the number of

skateparks nationwide. A good place to start your search is at the Tony Hawk

Foundation website at www.tonyhawkfoundation.org. This information should be

shared with your entire Committee so they can incorporate it into their publicity and

fundraising activities.

DEFINE YOUR PROJECT

Create a Skatepark Fact Sheet that includes the following information.

This Fact Sheet must be continually updated as your project progresses.

• Goal – A fun, safe and accessible place to skate

• Why It Is Needed

• Benefits to the Community

• Industry Facts

• List of Committee Members

• Key Committee Contact Information

FORMULATE A PETITION

Draft a rider petition that concisely states your objective to build a new skatepark in your

community. Have each rider in your community sign this petition and provide the following

information about his or her riding activities: age, years skating, skateboard, BMX, or inline

preference, approximate number of days riding in the last year, favorite skatepark obstacle.

Summarize the findings in a one-page report that you will share with your Committee. Regularly

update the list of petitioners and provide it to key officials and supporting organizations.

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ASK THE EXPERTS

Ask your skatepark equipment representative to provide you with contact information of other new skateparks

in your region. You can learn a great deal from these people as you plan your skatepark and begin campaigning

within your community. Give them a call and ask for their help or advice. If they are supportive, ask them to

write a brief one-page letter describing the positive impact their new skatepark has had in their community.

Make these letters part of your campaign packet that your Committee will use in their meetings with the city

council, parks and recreation department and neighborhood businesses.

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GET CONNECTEDGOALS • Gain support from individuals and

organizations outside of skateboarding

• Use their expertise to guide your publicity,

fundraising and event management.

• Encourage them to recruit their peers,

thereby creating yet another level of support.

You can never have too many supporters for your

skatepark project, and every new supporter brings

additional credibility to your efforts. Therefore, it pays

for your Committee to form a broad network of people

who add momentum and know-how to your campaign.

The list of potential supporters is unlimited, but here is

a starting point:

Law Enforcement – Start at the top by

sending a letter outlining your plans to the

Chief of Police and the officer in charge of

community policing. Ask for a brief meeting to

discuss your project. You will be pleasantly

surprised how their goals and yours

are aligned.

Civic Organizations – Your local Lions, Kiwanis, Rotary and Optimists Clubs are often the

unheralded heroes in your community. They champion community projects that many people

overlook, and their membership is comprised of people who aren’t afraid of a challenge. Contact

each group to see if you might make a brief presentation at their next monthly meeting or distribute a

one-page overview of your project to their members.

Local Youth Organizations – YMCAs, YWCAs and youth activity coordinators at schools and

churches all strive to keep kids fit, active and safe – three goals that are easily achieved by a well-

designed skatepark.

Retailers/Businesses – Your local Chamber of Commerce may be able to provide you with a list of

retail and business contacts in your community.

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Arrive at each meeting well prepared and begin by thanking

the person for his or her time. Briefly present your skatepark

plan and then ask the following three important questions:

• How can you or your organization help us achieve our

goals?

• How can we best work together?

• Do you know any other individual or group who could

possibly help us?

Recruitment is a process, not an event, so be sure that one

of your Team members is assigned to each relationship to

keep this individual or group engaged in your cause. Invite

them to Committee meetings and fundraising events, add

their names and titles to your published list of supporters,

or invite them to join a Board of Advisors that will guide

your Committee.

As your network of support grows and your Committee

activity progresses, it is important to share this information

as widely as possible. One of the best ways to accomplish

this is through a project website. This site should be simple

in its construction and allow for growth as your organization

moves forward. A simple, top-line navigation on the home

page might include the following tabs:

Assign at least two people to create the website and keep it up-to-date.

• About our project

• Skateboarding andskatepark facts

• Committee and teammembers

• Board of Advisors/supporters

• Upcoming meetings and events

• How to get involved

• Site selection

• Design

• Links – to the Skatewavewebsite and others

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IDENTIFY POSSIBLE SITESGOALS Find a site for your skatepark that has the following characteristics:

• Safe

• Accessible

• Affordable

• Adequate size and drainage

• Access to parking and rest rooms

Your parks and recreation department is one group that you will definitely want in your corner. They

are potential sources of funding, design expertise, communications, insights into the operation of city

government, skatepark installation and maintenance, and most importantly, site selection. When you

meet with your parks and recreation director, be organized, inquisitive and enthusiastic. Your

objectives in your first meeting are simple:

1 Present your organization and your objectives

2 Learn the department’s goals and gain an understanding of how they operate

3 Identify the primary contact in the department for your Committee

4 Discuss possible funding avenues

5 Initiate the discussion of potential sites

No doubt your earliest Committee meetings included discussions of possible sites, and you should

be prepared to suggest 2-3 of these sites in your meeting. Present the pros and cons of each site,

and ask the parks and recreation representative for his or her thoughts on this important subject.

Don’t avoid potential neighborhood concerns in the discussion – litter, graffiti, noise, traffic – because

these are certain to arise at some point. Don’t expect a definitive answer in your first meeting.

Instead, simply begin the process of working with the parks and recreation department to define a

specific list of site characteristics. This will help guide the process of site selection.

Among the most valuable assets of your community are its public lands, and it is the job of the city

council and the parks and recreation department to see that this land is properly used. Recognizing

that various parties will have differing views on what constitutes “proper use” will aid your Committee

in the site selection process. You want the final site to be a win-win situation for as many groups as

possible, including riders, area neighbors and businesses, law enforcement personnel and, of course,

parks and recreation directors.

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PRESENT YOUR CASE TO THE CITYGOALS • Demonstrate the need for a new skatepark

• Present your organization as a solution to the problem

• Enlist their support in acquiring a site and funding the project

Before you appear before your city council there are several things you will want to have in order. First,

your Committee and its various Teams should be formed and actively engaged in the process. Second,

you should have already recruited advisors from outside the realm of skateboarding who will bring

credibility to your campaign. Third, you should have completed your skatepark petition and survey and

established connections with people who have already planned and built a new skateparks in nearby

communities. And lastly, you should have already met with the parks and recreation department to enlist

their support, establish project budget estimates and identify potential sites.

Your mayor’s office and city hall will have a calendar of all the upcoming city council meetings. Each of

these meetings has an agenda of topics to be addressed, plus a segment for new business and public

comments. Choose 2-3 Committee representatives to represent your organization at the next meeting,

and send them there to achieve your goals. Other Committee members and supporters should be

encouraged to attend, but only specific members should present on your behalf. Because there will be

other people with other interests to present to the Council, it is very important for your representatives

to be well-prepared with the following materials:

1 A one-page fact sheet on your skatepark project with your goal clearly stated

2 A list of all Committee and Team members and Board of Advisors

3 A copy of your petition and summary of rider activity in the community

4 Copies of letters obtained from other communities with successful skateparks

along with photos of those skateparks

5 A list of 2-3 potential sites

6 Suggested next steps

Your primary speaker should be prepared to present your case for a new skatepark in no more than

5 minutes. Following that presentation, one of your advisors should be called upon to voice their support

for your efforts. Your objective is to be perceived by the council as well-organized, dedicated and

authoritative. You want to leave the meeting with the understanding that the city council will review your

petition and supporting materials, and begin the process of civic debate and discussion on the issue.

After the meeting, have your Publicity Team contact your daily/weekly newspapers to find out which

reporters cover the city council meeting. Send copies of your information to these reporters, and follow

up with a phone call to see if you can arrange an interview on the subject of the skatepark. Your goal in

this interview is to begin presenting your case to the community at large.

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RAISE FUNDS AND BUILD ENTHUSIASMGOALS • Establish a realistic budget estimate

• Identify possible sources of funding

• Create and execute fundraising programs

Through discussions with your parks and recreation

directors, your skatepark manufacturer’s representative,

and your contacts at other nearby community skateparks,

your Committee should be able to establish a total budget

for the project. The most important budgetary

considerations are to be both realistic and complete.

Consider your site and the number of riders that will likely

use the facility on a regular basis and build a budget that

will fund a skatepark that fully meets your needs. Make

sure your budget includes site preparation and the design,

construction and installation of the skatepark, as well as

amenities such as lighting, fencing, trash receptacles,

water fountains, benches, tables and signage.

Once your budget is complete, estimate the portions of that

budget that will likely be funded by the following sources:

___% Parks and recreation department

___% City government

___% Private donations/fundraising

It is possible that the entire budget will be covered by the city, but it is more likely that your organization

will need to raise some of these funds. In fact, many communities view private fundraising as a way of

judging rider commitment to the project. They also correctly assume that skatepark users will take

better care of any skatepark into which they have personally contributed time, sweat equity and money.

SOURCES OF FUNDS

So where does your Fundraising Team look to raise funds for a skatepark? The answer varies

somewhat with the size and geography of your community, but here is a short list of proven sources:

• Individual contributions – parents, neighbors, churches and local businesses

• Local and state foundations – grants from corporate foundations are an excellent source of

capital for causes that benefit kids. Your parks and recreation department will also be able to

tell you if your state offers recreation grants.

• Civic organizations – check with the Kiwanis, Jaycees, Rotary, Lions and Optimist chapters

in your city. They often make donations for causes such as yours, and may even host

fundraising events of their own on behalf of your skatepark.

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Remember to thank all of your contributors privately and publicly. Consider taking an ad out in the local

paper to list all of their names.

IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS

Keep in mind that you can also reduce the need for financial donations by raising in-kind donations for

materials, labor, equipment and supplies. Perhaps a local contractor will provide lumber, or a printer will

donate the printing of your fundraising flyers. Following is a list of potential donors of in-kind supplies,

labor and materials:

Architectural firm – site analysis and plans

Law firm – legal services

Sign company – skatepark signage and donor recognition signage

Landscaping company – trees, shrubs, benches and tables

Lumberyard – construction materials

Ready mix contractor – concrete

Printing firm – flyers, news releases, petition forms

Newspapers – event ads, meeting notices

Fast food restaurant – snacks and refreshments for fundraising events

Screen printer – t-shirts for supporters and fundraisers

One of the best sources of skatepark funding will come from fundraising events that your Committee will

host. Try to find several people at local schools and churches who have fundraising event experience and

ask for their help. The list of possible events is as long as your imagination, but you’ll find the following to be

proven winners:

Door-to-door solicitations – Send Committee members out in teams of two armed with early

drawings of your skatepark and a one-page description of your project. Ask people for their support

with a donation. Be enthusiastic and thank them profusely!

Silent Auctions – Obtain donated goods and services from retailers, restaurants, sports teams,

parents and neighbors, and auction the items. Your skatepark campaign keeps all of the proceeds.

Car Wash – Work with a gas station, church or school to locate your car wash and sell tickets in

advance for a donation.

Raffles – Solicit a large-ticket item from a local business, then sell raffle tickets at special events or

door-to-door. Check local and state laws to ensure that raffles are allowed in your area.

Gift Bricks – Donors get their names on bricks that might line sidewalks or picnic areas at your

skatepark. Charge $20 - $30 per brick.

However you decide to solicit funds, be courteous and personally thank each one of your contributors.

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DESIGN YOUR SKATEPARKGOALS • Provide a safe, challenging environment for all

the riders in your community

• Design a skatepark that is appropriate for the

site and the budget available

• Design a skatepark that is relatively easy to

maintain and operate

SITE SURVEY

A site survey evaluates your site for characteristics such as access,

utilities, soil conditions, drainage and shade. It is a critical first step in confirming the

suitability of your site, and it will likely be conducted by your parks and recreation department.

DECIDE ON THE TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION

There are many variables that affect the type of skatepark that you will choose to build – concrete,

modular or hybrid. There’s the matter of your budget, the size and slope of the site, the number

and skill levels of your riders, maintenance, your local climate and your desire to be able to

reconfigure your skatepark in the future to give riders a fresh experience. And then there is the

important issue of performance.

It is not possible for this brochure to guide your decision, but we can offer these four pieces

of advice:

1 Visit lots of skateparks of different types and ride them as a group (or watch a group of

riders). Then make a list of what your Committee likes and dislikes about each one.

2 Talk to park and recreation professionals who have already been through this process

and ask them what they like and dislike about their skatepark. Is it easy to maintain?

Are the riders still challenged by its design? Are they happy with the performance of the

skating surface? Was it a good value for the money?

3 Hire or work with experienced designers. (Note: Your Skatewave™ representative can

connect you with the Skatewave Design Center in California, which can provide design

tips and 2-D and 3-D skatepark designs).

4 Keep your riders involved throughout the design process. No one knows flow like an

experienced rider, and the more input they have in the design of the skatepark, the more

pride and sense of ownership they will take in the final product.

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Once you have determined the type of construction, you can move into determining the composition and flow

of your skatepark. You’ll identify the obstacles that will comprise the skatepark, and position them to maximize

their performance and safety. Involve your riders in every phase of the design process, and when possible work

with professional skatepark designers. When you reach the final stages of design, post it on your website and

email drawings to riders whose opinion you trust. It is important not to rush this phase or limit input to a

selected few. Riders know “flow” and the more eyes reviewing your plans the higher the probability you’ll

get a final design that is ideally suited to your riders.

During this final design stage you will need to specify the types of amenities that should be included in your

skatepark. Following is a checklist of possible amenities. Each one adds to the enjoyment of the skatepark, but

also comes at a cost. Talk these issues through with riders at other nearby skateparks and ask them what they

wish they had included in their final plans.

Long ago you formed a Skatepark Committee and named a Design Team to spearhead its creation, so

now it’s time for the real fun to begin. Take your time and get it right. In the long run you’ll be happy you did.

Bike racks

Concessions

Drinking fountains

Fencing

Landscaping

Lighting

Parking facilities

Restrooms

Rules signage

Sound system

Spectator seating and tables

Trash receptacles

CONCRETE PARK

• Design and construction expertise are critical because

there is no second chance once the concrete sets

• Minimal maintenance

• High cost per square foot

• Strongest appeal is among advanced riders

MODULAR PARK

• Lower cost per square foot

• Unlimited design options

• Reconfigurable

• Variety of skating surfaces available

• Strongest appeal is among intermediate level riders

HYBRID PARK

• Moderate to high cost per square foot

• Combines the durability of concrete with the flexibility of modular

• Able to add street skating obstacles that can be easily reconfigured

• Requires considerable design and construction expertise

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CONSTRUCTION/INSTALLATIONGOALS • Build a skatepark that accurately represents the final design drawings

• Avoid shortcuts that will limit the future performance or durability of the skatepark

To a large extent, the complexity of the construction and installation of your skatepark will be dictated

by the type of construction you chose. By their very nature, concrete and hybrid skateparks require

sophisticated design, engineering and construction skills that are best left to those who have

successfully done it all before. Think twice, and then twice more before hiring anyone who is

inexperienced. If this means using firms from outside your region, so be it. You have only one shot to

get it right with a concrete skatepark, so don’t take any shortcuts on design, detailed drawings or

construction management.

If you chose a modular skatepark for your community, your construction/installation options are greater:

your parks and recreation department can work with a general contractor and your equipment

manufacturer to handle the entire project from start to finish; or, you can use Committee and rider

volunteers to do a lot of the work, thereby reducing costs and creating a greater sense of ownership.

Once all site preparation and concrete work has been accomplished, the installation of equipment can

begin in earnest.

The first step in using

volunteers to install

your modular skatepark

is to determine how

many volunteers you

will need. Chances are,

your skatepark

equipment

representative has

been through this

process before and can

help specify the

number of volunteers,

their duties and the

length of time they will

be on site.

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Recruiting volunteers should be fairly easy. A few simple flyers, a note on your website, and word-of-mouth

should round up all the talent you need. Once you have assembled the volunteer list, assign each volunteer to a

shift (usually 4-5 hours) and a Task Team and deliver the assignments at least one week in advance of your

installation day. Following is a list of Task Teams that you might form for your Installation Day:

Your parks and recreation department will likely provide a construction supervisor for the

Installation Team and several volunteers should be prepared to “float” from task to task at his

or her direction. If your installation requires several days, be sure to secure the site at night to

prevent use of the equipment before its installation is complete.

It is very possible that your local newspaper would be interested in covering your community-

built, all-volunteer installation. Make a call to the news editor several days in advance to allow for

timely assignment of a reporter and photographer.

Task # of volunteers Necessary Equipment/Tools

Unloading and Unpacking (done 3-4 days in advance) 5-6 Fork lift, skid loader, gloves, garbage bags

Inventory – Comparing the delivery list to the order list 3-4 Order list, delivery list to ensure that allequipment has been delivered

Hardware and Tools – Set up and staff the table 3-4 Assembly instructions, parts list, small bucketsthat will hold all the tools and hardware that your to hold hardwareinstallers will need.

Equipment Assembly 6-8 Specialized wrenches and tools, gloves,assembly instructions

Obstacle Positioning 4-5 Fork lift, skid loader, skatepark site plans

Refreshment Table 2-3 Water, soft drinks, box lunches, fruit

Clean Up 3-4 Brooms, garbage bags, trash bin

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HOST THE GRAND OPENINGGOALS • Recognize and thank those who made it happen

• Bring the entire community together to celebrate a new community resource

• Foster a sense of ownership and stewardship

Your grand opening presents a unique opportunity to bring together a diverse group of citizens to

celebrate a significant accomplishment and to recognize civic collaboration and teamwork.

The first step in planning the grand opening is to gather together your Committee and all of those

people who played a key role in the project to determine the scope of the grand opening event and to

set a date for it. Your grand opening can be as low-key or as elaborate as you would like, but the

following checklist will give you some ideas:

• Speeches/Recognition

Civic authorities and council members

Committee members

Advisors

Donors

Volunteers

• Athlete appearances – An appearance by a notable professional will draw riders and the

media, and will give the community the chance to learn more about the sport and culture.

• Music/Entertainment – Local bands and DJs

• Food and Beverage – Local companies, stores and restaurants may be willing to donate

items or supply them at reduced cost.

• Product Giveaways – Obtain donations for skateboarding gear and conduct a raffle.

As you did with your Skatepark Committee, form a Grand Opening Committee and Teams that will be

responsible for a specific aspect of the event. In addition to those segments listed above, you will need

Teams for Publicity and Promotion, Set Up, Rider Waivers and Sign-In, Trash Removal and Clean Up.

Work closely with your parks and recreation department and city government to coordinate the date

and composition of the event. Give yourself plenty of time to plan the event; 1-2 months is common.

Notify local media of the event at least one week in advance and supply them with a news release,

agenda and a list of pro athletes and dignitaries. Most importantly, publicly thank each person who

contributed to the success of the project. Chances are there will be more projects in the future, and you

may cross paths with them again and need their support.

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ONGOING OPERATIONGOALS • Ensure rider safety

• Be good stewards

• Maintain the obstacles and amenities

Now that you have a new skatepark it is very important to care for it properly and be good neighbors to

nearby businesses and residents. Pick up trash, limit unnecessary noise and be respectful of other

citizens who are using nearby playgrounds or parks. Empower your riders to police themselves and

report damaged equipment, unsafe riders or vandalism. Remember that this is your skatepark, but you

will have it only as long as your community believes that it is being properly used and maintained.

Your skatepark equipment supplier should have supplied you with a complete maintenance kit and

schedule that is customized specifically for your equipment. Follow these instructions to the letter, and

contact your representative immediately if you encounter damaged equipment.

If you installed modular equipment, you may want to periodically change the layout of your skatepark

equipment to provide a fresh skating experience to your riders. Watch how the current layout is being

used, and ask riders what shifts in flow they’d recommend. Your Skatewave representative can also

suggest new layouts and provide new drawings. If you chose Skatewave 3.0 equipment, you can even

switch surfaces to provide a different experience.

The most important aspect of skatepark operation is safety, and it is crucial that each rider understand

and abide by the rules of your skatepark. Post rules prominently, and add to or clarify rules as the need

arises. This may be the first skatepark in your community, but if all goes well it won’t be the last.

* While riders shown in these photographs are not wearing safety equipment,Skatewave by Landscape Structures strongly encourages the use of safety equipment.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SKATEWAVE PLEASE VISIT SKATEWAVE.COM601 7th Street South, Delano, MN 55328 | 1.866.SK8.WAVE | SKATEWAVE.COM

#800-2160 ©2005 Landscape Structures Inc

This guide is brought to you by Skatewave®,

which has helped more than 400 communities

establish skateparks over the past four years.

Your Skatewave representative can help guide

you through all the necessary steps in

planning, designing and building a skatepark.

To get the name of your Skatewave

representative, please phone 1-866-SK8WAVE.