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Dude. The city of Portland hopes to hire a team by late February to help create a large new skatepark at the west end of the Steel Bridge.
It’s part of a seven-year-old plan to build several skateparks around the city where young people can skateboard and rollerblade on a series of bowls, ramps, rails, half-pipes, quarter-pipes, pyramids, flatbanks and jumps.
One of the largest of the planned parks, around 35,000 square feet, could be built on a triangular piece of property between Northwest Everett Street, Naito Parkway and Northwest First Avenue, near the west ramp of the Steel Bridge.
That project, considered the “crown jewel” of the skatepark plan, was estimated seven years ago to cost about $1.5 million. Today, there’s no money identified in the city budget for the project, but it could be built with a mix of public/private funds, said Tom Miller, chief of staff to Mayor-elect Sam Adams.
City officials will take proposals Jan. 9 from design and development consultants who want to work on the project. A team should be hired by mid-February, with work beginning soon after.
About $50,000 has been set aside to design what the city calls “a world class, one-of-a-kind, multifunctional recreation place with an emphasis on skateboarding in a complex urban environment.” Design teams will have to show “an understanding of how design details impact the skateboarder’s experience.”
No money has been set aside – yet – for construction of the park.
Development of a skatepark at the west end of the Steel Bridge has been on the drawing board since 2001, when then-City Commissioner Charlie Hales worked with business groups, neighborhood associations and a skatepark advisory group known as SPLAT (Skatepark Leadership Advisory Team) to develop plans for a series of skateparks. Projects, sites and funding were all whittled during nearly three dozen meetings with the groups.
A Portland Parks and Recreation levy in 2002 included money to develop two neighborhood skateparks. The overall plan was to build at least a dozen parks around the city, some small, neighborhood sites and a few large ones in more central locations.
By the end of this year, the city will have a handful of skateparks: One at Holly Farm Park in Southwest Portland, and four at Pier Park in North Portland, Glenhaven Park in Northeast Portland, Gabriel Park in Southwest Portland and Ed Benedict Park in Southeast Portland.
A total cost estimate for the projects was about $4.7 million for fewer and smaller facilities, and $13 million for more and larger facilities.
A Steel Bridge skatepark would be the park bureau’s largest and centrally located park. It was envisioned as a family attraction for the Old Town area.
In July 2005, Portland’s City Council endorsed the skatepark plan. A June 2008 report also reinforced the park bureau’s desire to develop the parks, including the Steel Bridge site.
“Given that the City Council passed by ordinance a plan that called for skatepark development at this site, I’d suggest the community has every expectation that council will bring the skatepark to fruition,” Miller said. “The question of when is unclear at this point.”
Portland has had a complicated relationship with skateboarders for many years. Local skaters pressed the city for nearly three decades to build public skateparks without much luck. In 1990, a group of skaters built their own park under the east end of the Burnside Bridge. It was used as the backdrop for Gus Van Sant’s 2007 mystery “Paranoid Park,” based on the Blake Nelson novel.
Although the city later sanctioned the park, it is still maintained by local skaters.
In 2001, local skater Luke Akers and skatepark designer Buzzy Morales worked with the St. Johns Neighborhood Association and the Army National Guard to build a facility at Pier Park. Four years later, the city gave Skaters for Portland Skateparks, a nonprofit skatepark advocacy group, permission to redevelop Pier Park with private money. Dreamland Skateparks rebuilt the park, which reopened in October 2006.
Today, it is considered a destination for skateboarders from across the country.
kevinharden@portlandtribune.com
"Someone who cares" is making things up. I can't speak about the other parks, but Ed Benedict skatepark isn't even open yet. It's still a fenced off construction site, so there can't be much of a problem there.
(email verified)
Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 05:24 AM
Yeah, and that's the only place in the city where that happens.
(email verified)
Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 06:28 AM
I suppose you think that drinking and smoking only happens at skate parks? That happens at all parks, at least Portland is trying to find a way to provide our youth with some activity and hopefully keep the skaters from using my front yard and my office as a skating area. I love that Portland is looking to expand this however with that said lets make sure that other worth while projects have the money needed as well.
(email verified)
Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 07:23 AM
"Someone who cares" Needs to start caring about these kids and places for them to be able to skate and hang out. We yell at them for skating on our property and at public buildings ( me being one of them, it is a liability), where do you want them to skate??? Stop being such a snobby upity up and let the kids be kids. Also, I was at Gabrielle on Sunday night at 8 pm walking my dogs and their wasn't ONE person at the skate park or surrounding areas smoking dope or dealing drugs. Relax and enjoy the diversity of Portland, all aspects of it.
(email verified)
Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 07:38 AM
Plainly the City Council has taken leave of its senses to even consider spending the money to plan such a ridiculous boondoggle.
How about fixing the streets before we worry about the skateboard parks?
(email verified)
Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 08:40 AM
Its great to see that the city is loaded with cash for unneeded things like this. I hope this guarantees that they won't be raising taxes and fees anytime in the future!
(email verified)
Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 08:46 AM
Well Someone else who cares, thanks for describing every high school in the city and the U.S. house of representatives ! Not to mention 3rd and sw burnside. As Joe"the Dealer" says " How about a nice tall steaming cup of STFU" you can find the meaning behind the acronym on the Googles
(email verified)
Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 08:55 AM
Great article, Kevin.
From your sterertypical lead, which cleverly uses the term "dude," to your assertion that "young people" will be the primamry beneficiaries of this new park, you appear to have done as little reporting on this piece as possible. I'm surprised you even took the time to spell-check it.
First off, you can drop the stereotyping whevever you want. Virtually every mainstream article I've ever read about skateboarding is written with hackneyed tongue-in-cheek slang thrown in--and it's the type of slang those who don't skate think we skaters use. In truth, we're articulate, thoughtful members of one of the most vibrant and influential skateboard cultures in the world.
But you didn't realize that, because your sloppy reporting didn't include an interview with any actual skateboarders. Had you done so, you'd have uncovered the fact Pier Park was rebuilt by Dreamland Skateparks several years ago, and is frequented by some of the best skaters in the nation. You might have even touched on the fact Dreamland is owned by the creative geniuses responsible for Burnside, and countless other world class facilities around the globe.
Instead, your banged up an uninformative, factually incorrect, stereotypical waste of space, all while missing the fact that Portland is on the forefront global of skateboarding.
In fact, according to American Sports Data, skateboarding in 2007 is an $800 million dollar industry. Why didn't you make a clever joke out of that "dude?"
(email verified)
Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 09:07 AM
Thanks Fitz, you said it! Our youth need a place to hang out and have fun. Skateparks don't equal drugs and crime, but you parents out there keep thinking of something else to blame your childs behavior on!
(email verified)
Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 10:44 AM
"Someone who cares" writes; "Ed Benedict Park skatepark- Drug use/dealing, underage drinking/smoking."
This park is not even built yet, concrete is still being poured. Do some research before you start slamming something.
I say build it.
The kids will not stop skateboarding it the park builds come to a halt, they will just use our buildings and park benches to grind up against. I think this is saving the city money in the long run as well as giving the kids something to do.
They are not all bad kids, my kid skates, and I assure you he does'nt get high and fight!
You can find bad anywere you look, at the nations universities some are there to learn, some are there to party. Dont stereotype them because the ride a skateboard, they are for the most part good kids.
(email verified)
Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 11:22 AM
I'm with Gnuut and Steveo... I hope that in this economy where people are losing their jobs left and right that this is being 100% privately funded. Otherwise, someone needs to be tarred and feathered for even suggesting such an expense right now.
(email verified)
Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 11:49 AM
Right - an $800 million-dollar industry - paid for by parents and other taxpayers.
Sorry, but we're not interested in paying for that just now, children...
(email verified)
Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 01:37 PM
Investing in our youth is money well spent.
(email verified)
Wed, Nov 19, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Investing in our youth is money well spent.
"Notorious Kelly"
Fine. You pay for it. The rest of us are tired of our taxes going for cr@p like this.
(email verified)
Wed, Nov 19, 2008 at 12:02 PM
It could be a very positive park, especially if it keeps them off the fountains, e.g., the one next to the Big Pink at SW 6th and W Burnside.
Since it is the Steel Bridge and not the Burnside Bridge the issues drug users, etc. are not well founded.
I suspect it will have less issues than the typical park.
I welcome it in Old Town.
(email verified)
Wed, Nov 19, 2008 at 12:52 PM
I think it is amazing that Portland takes cares of skaters, I have been skating since 1985 and I am so glad that my kids will get to skate in safe and good skateparks and not have to face the harassment I did growing up.
If the police did their job we wouldn't have any issues at skateparks (which are really rare). Most of the tagging and vandalism happens at night and has nothing to do with skating, should we shut down anywhere that gets graffiti? Why blame the skaters for the gang problems? Skaters are not gang bangers!
The problem is that a lot of kids that don't skate want to hang around skaters because we are the \"cool\" people at the moment, a lot of the kids that hang out are bored youth with parents who don't care enough to hang out with their kids and they bring the trouble not the skateboarders. Skateboarders are smart enough not to crap where they eat as the saying goes,just because someone owns a skateboard doesn't make them a skateboarder. Skaters themselves need to start kicking out the undesirable elements that show up.
And to the people complaining about the building of the park when people are losing jobs, skateboarding is a blooming tourist industry in Portland because of all the world class spots being built, if you care so much about your fellow Portlanders why not open a business that can cash in on the tourist dollars and hire some of the unemployed. That way we all win.
(email verified)
Wed, Nov 19, 2008 at 04:49 PM
Wow, that would be great to finally have a world class skatepark, that large events similar to the DEW Tour could host contests & Demos at! Think of the publicity and the money for Portland and the surrounding areas and retail stores etc.. Nike and Adidas gotta have some money for that!
Think about how much money the Dew Tour brings in to Portland every year, not to mention PORTLAND was on NBC Nation Wide, & all over the wOrld and Fuel tv and ESPN etc.. and their websites etc.
Eyes are on Portland and we are setting the standard! ESPN called the city of Portland the Skatepark capitol of the United States, in reality its probably the WORLD!
Skateboarding is a positive athletic thing that helps kids to, "Do Something Positive" other than drugs & gangs. This could be a great solution for Old Towns numerous problems. Skateboarders help to deter negative activities, & people!
(email verified)
Wed, Nov 19, 2008 at 10:52 PM
Kids who are skating aren't sitting at home playing video games and getting fat. Skating is a positive outlet, and a lot of fun. I'm almost 40 and just bought a long board a few years ago after not skating since elementary school. Now I'm thinking about becoming that old guy with the helmet and all the pads who goes to the local skatepark and tries not to get hurt.
(email verified)
Wed, Nov 26, 2008 at 08:29 AM
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Re: City ready to roll with Steel Bridge skatepark plan
Oh great another skatepark, and this one in a seedy and drug infested area.
Let's see- Gabriel Park skatepark- stabbing last month, marijuana use is commom, underage smoking, truancy, vandalism.
Pier Park skatepark- Gang problems, tagging/vandalism, drug/alcohol use, fighting.
Glenhaven Park skatepark- Major drug use/dealing, fighting, truancy, underage alcohol/smoking, major vandalism. (this place is a true cesspool, truly horrible, and right next to Madison HS who doesn't care that their kids are skipping school and using drugs there.)
Ed Benedict Park skatepark- Drug use/dealing, underage drinking/smoking.
Holly Farm Park skatepark- Drug dealing/use, underage smoking, fighting.
And now the city wants to build another skatepark when the users of all the others don't respect them and follow the laws and rules. NO WAY! This must stop, what a horrible waste of scarce taxpayer money!
"Someone who cares"
(email verified)
Mon, Nov 17, 2008 at 11:30 PM