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.