NORFOLK
A new $750,000 skateboard park will be constructed at Northside Park, the City Council decided Tuesday, but members were disappointed to learn it won't open until February 2010.
Darrell Crittendon, director of the city's parks and recreation department, said it will take that long to design and build the park. Part of the delay will be because of a series of community meetings, scheduled this winter, to seek design input from local skateboarders.
The council chose Northside over sites at Harbor Park, Lakewood Park, the Norfolk Fitness and Wellness Center and the Campostella landfill.
The park will be situated in an open space near the entrance to Northside Park on Tidewater Drive. The design will incorporate existing trees, Crittendon said.
Crittendon said the site was picked in part because it is visible from Tidewater Drive. "The police indicated to us that's a very positive thing," Crittendon said.
The City Council already has appropriated $350,000 for the project, Crittendon said. It must appropriate $400,000 next spring to complete the project.
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Skate Park Design
The design and execution of new skate park plan will determine whether or not this is a successful project for Norfolk and the region. Hopefully someone will take the time to review parks and operations in other areas. Learn about the elements that work (Etnies)and see the flops too (Franklin - Mt. Trashmore).
A great example of what to do can be found in Lake Forrest, CA. Etnies teamed up with the city's Parks & Rec dept to develop an odd parcel located next to a freeway off ramp into a world class skate park. The park is supervised, large enough for skaters of all sizes and abilities and has a smooth concrete surface with many challenging elements. The best part of their project is the fact that there is zero cost to the users. The operation including labor cost, is funded by corporate donations. NO CITY TAX MONEY IS SPENT
Drive by the "skate park" located in Franklin, enonugh said.
Trashmore was a nice try but is way off the mark. Norfolk, don't install some cheese park, do your homework and use this opportunity to create something worthwhile for the community. Look for sponsorship partners.
hurray!
This is good news, and Northside is as good a place as any, the only thing I hope for are bleachers. If you have never watched the skill and competative nature of these skaters then you are missing a real treat. 2010 seems to be a long time before completion, but at least it's in the works. Now all we have to do is make sure the city holds up their end of the bargain. I'm still waiting for the camera's at E Ocean View that have been purchased, but one year later have not been installed.
flag this
Good for Northside,as I am sure this will make a nice attraction for that up and coming neighborhood.The residents will be very excited,almost as if the circus was coming to town,no I mean their front yard.Come 2010 I would flag this?
Sk8ters 8ule!!!
Sk8ters 8ule!!!