Yachats Community Skatepark
Get kids off the streets – It’s ALL about SAFETY!
Yachats Skatepark Update
September 9, 2009
In our last report to the community, the Yachats Skatepark Committee
shared the disappointing news that the land designated for use as a
skatepark by the City Council had been deemed unsuitable. The soils
at the skatepark site simply wouldn't hold even the most basic foundation
and skate structures.
Fifteen years working to help the community understand that busy
kids are good kids, that kids of all ages need safe places to play,
that skateboarding is not a fad, and that skateboarding is safer than
most popular sports (including cheerleading) unless relegated to the
streets (where collisions with cars do not bode well for the skater).
Years working
with the community to develop a wonderful facility plan, and years
getting land allocated for the park. And now, it seems, we're back
at "square
one."
What we've had going in our favor all along however, is the rock solid
knowledge that kids of all ages need SAFE and ENGAGING places to play.
Without
that, they get into trouble, they get into drugs. Ask any peace
officer,
child therapist, teacher, anyone that works with kids - if you don't
give them something constructive and engaging to do, they'll find something
to do on their own. And sometimes, that means mischief.
So what to
do? We're pleased to say that the Skatepark Committee fairly quickly
opted for two strategies: (1) find a short-term fix that would give
the kids at least one skate element by summer, and (2) start coming
up with a new plan and a new site. We contracted with a builder out
of Portland with
solid experience in designing and building custom ramps and by the
end of May we installed a quarter pipe ramp in the Commons play area.
Strategy #1 complete and working well.
Strategy #2, coming up with a
new plan and site, has brought about considerable discussion in the
last several months. While we're looking for a new site for skate park
elements, other efforts are underway to address the needs of young
people in our community. As many of you
know, the Yachats Youth and Family Activities Program has been busting
at the seams in their basement home. They recently established
a Facility Committee to develop options for securing safe, adequate
indoor youth program facilities. Broad-based surveys conducted by the
Facility Committee to assess indoor program needs, resulted in strong
indications that we cannot consider indoor needs alone, but must also
consider adjacent outdoor play areas. Obviously,
the Facility Committee's efforts will affect and dovetail with efforts
to
determine the proper placement of future skate park elements. So, given
the potential for "cross pollination" and a desire to keep
related planning
efforts in sync, the Skatepark Committee is opting to go into a "sleep
mode" or hiatus until planning for outdoor youth activity areas
begin to take
shape and options can be explored.
While we expect to resume efforts to develop an adequate skating
facility
for youth in Yachats within a year or so, we would like to thank the
individuals and merchants that have so strongly supported our efforts.
We cannot list all of you, but our major supporters include: Yachats
Village Market, The Drift Inn Family Pub, Green Salmon Coffee Company,
Judith's
Kitchen Tools, Toad Hall, and Nan & Greg Scott.
So by September
15th we'll pick up the donation cans that our merchant supporters have
been so very gracious to make available the last couple of
years. The Skateparks' annual fundraiser (The Brushwhackers' Halloween
Ball) has been cancelled for this year, but we intend to resume the
community
event in 2009. All funds raised for the skatepark will be kept in the
skatepark fund to be used for skating improvements. Questions about
the existing skate ramp can be directed to Leon Sterner at 961.4258.
Questions about the Skatepark Committee or future activities can be
directed to LauraLee Svendsgaard at 547.3640.
Since 1995,
Yachats youth and citizens concerned about their safety have been
working to construct the state-of-the-art Yachats Community Skatepark.
Working with renowned designer and skateboarder Mark Wojton of Benchmark
Skateparks, a preliminary facility of approximately 5,000 sq. ft.
and costing $112,000 to construct has been designed. Catering to beginner
and intermediate skaters, the 122’ x 45’ at the widest
point and 4’off the ground at its highest point will include
a beginner bowl and more advanced features for this street type skatepark. Granite
edging will add a unique element, improving the aesthetic appeal and
softening the park’s noise
impacts.
The primary purpose of the Yachats Community Skatepark is to provide
a safe place for both resident and visiting youth to skate. This
is the sixth
most popular sport in the country and the third most popular sport
among kids under 18. Survey results from the American Sports
Data Association (www.spsdev.org)
reveal that skateboarding is safer than football, baseball, basketball
and cheerleading. Skateboarding deaths and serious
injuries in the U.S. are directly related to vehicle collisions.
Kids are going to skate. As concerned citizens, we have a responsibility
to provide a safe place for them to enjoy this activity.
Public lands for placement of the facility have been designated.
Preliminary plans have been developed. The citizen and youth
supported Friends of the Yachats Skateboard Park are working
hard to raise the funds and secure the Yachats City Council’s
approval to build.
To learn more about the Yachats Community Skatepark (questions, concerns
or to learn how you can help) please email us at m35glenn@peak.org or
call 541.547.5171.
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