| The next trick: Plans in hand, communities size up funding |
| SOURCE : Patriot News DATE : March 24, 2008 BYLINE : Chris A Courogen |
The easy part is done. Now the challenge of creating a system of skateboard parks in the area served by the
West Shore Recreation Commission begins.
"They are already talking about implementation, how to move forward to get some of these projects under
way," said architect Anthony Bracali, the principal author of the commission's four-month, $18,000 skate park
feasibility study.
The study recommends a system of a six skatable areas ranging in size from 1,000 square feet to 8,500
square feet, spread throughout the seven municipalities in the commission's service area, which mirrors the
area served by the West Shore School District.
The parks would offer a combination of street skating elements such as benches, stairs and walls, and
transition elements. Transition areas are flowing, curved surfaces.
The study came about after several of the municipalities began looking for ways to serve the needs of the
area's estimated 2,500 skateboarders, who in some towns split their time between doing tricks and eluding
police who enforce bans on skating in public spaces.
The plan, which avoids typical wooden ramps and half-pipes in favor of concrete areas that can be used by
both skaters and other park users, has gotten mostly favorable reviews from skaters and municipal officials
alike. But the estimated $1.5 million price tag could be a stumbling block.
Money would have to come from the municipalities, said commission spokesman Todd Miller. The
commission's involvement was limited to facilitating the study, which was paid for by a grant from York County.
The plan calls for the six skate parks to be built in two, three-park phases, but the Lewisberry Borough Council
has rejected a recommended 2,500-square-foot multi-use plaza space in its park.
Newberry Twp., Lemoyne and Goldsboro have been more receptive, Miller said.
A skate park is called for in the master plan for Newberry Twp.'s Shelley Park, where an 8,500-square-foot
combination street and transition skating area is proposed.
A small, 1,000-square-foot street skating area is proposed for the Shelley's Riverview Recreation Area in
Goldsboro, and a series of paths lined with benches and walls would provide 1,500 square feet of street
skating terrain in Lemoyne's Memorial Park.
All three have indicated an interest in applying for state grants next year to help pay for the projects, Miller said.
"We are definitely interested in the possibility if we can get the funding and community support," said Shireen
Farr, the Lemoyne Borough Council president.
Like many municipal officials, Farr said the study's innovative recommendations changed the way she looked
at the idea of a skate park.
"I like the idea of a dual-use area," Farr said. "The study got us out of the old mentality of what skateboarding
used to be. It gave people a different point of reference."
Tom Vernau, the Lower Allen Twp. manager, had a similar reaction. The study calls for a 7,500-square-foot
area in Lower Allen's community park with an outdoor stage and seating tiers that can be skated on when the
area is not being used as an amphitheater.
"It is an interesting use of space," said Vernau. "The combined uses really make more sense than an
amphitheater that would only be used a half-dozen times a year. It's kind of a neat idea, but at almost a
half-million bucks, somebody is going to have to help us fund it."
CHRIS A. COUROGEN: 255-8112 or ccourogen@patriot-news.com
PARK PLANS
Fairview Twp. 7,000-square-foot facility Roof Park Goldsboro 1,000-square-foot street skating area Shelley's
Riverview Recreation Area Lemoyne 1,500-square-foot street skating terrain Memorial Park Lewisberry
2,500-square-foot multi-use plaza space municipal park Lower Allen Twp. 7,500-square-foot area community
park Newberry Twp. 8,500-square-foot facility Shelley Park SEE FOR YOURSELF
www.wsrec.org/skatepark_study.htm
West Shore Recreation Commission begins.
"They are already talking about implementation, how to move forward to get some of these projects under
way," said architect Anthony Bracali, the principal author of the commission's four-month, $18,000 skate park
feasibility study.
The study recommends a system of a six skatable areas ranging in size from 1,000 square feet to 8,500
square feet, spread throughout the seven municipalities in the commission's service area, which mirrors the
area served by the West Shore School District.
The parks would offer a combination of street skating elements such as benches, stairs and walls, and
transition elements. Transition areas are flowing, curved surfaces.
The study came about after several of the municipalities began looking for ways to serve the needs of the
area's estimated 2,500 skateboarders, who in some towns split their time between doing tricks and eluding
police who enforce bans on skating in public spaces.
The plan, which avoids typical wooden ramps and half-pipes in favor of concrete areas that can be used by
both skaters and other park users, has gotten mostly favorable reviews from skaters and municipal officials
alike. But the estimated $1.5 million price tag could be a stumbling block.
Money would have to come from the municipalities, said commission spokesman Todd Miller. The
commission's involvement was limited to facilitating the study, which was paid for by a grant from York County.
The plan calls for the six skate parks to be built in two, three-park phases, but the Lewisberry Borough Council
has rejected a recommended 2,500-square-foot multi-use plaza space in its park.
Newberry Twp., Lemoyne and Goldsboro have been more receptive, Miller said.
A skate park is called for in the master plan for Newberry Twp.'s Shelley Park, where an 8,500-square-foot
combination street and transition skating area is proposed.
A small, 1,000-square-foot street skating area is proposed for the Shelley's Riverview Recreation Area in
Goldsboro, and a series of paths lined with benches and walls would provide 1,500 square feet of street
skating terrain in Lemoyne's Memorial Park.
All three have indicated an interest in applying for state grants next year to help pay for the projects, Miller said.
"We are definitely interested in the possibility if we can get the funding and community support," said Shireen
Farr, the Lemoyne Borough Council president.
Like many municipal officials, Farr said the study's innovative recommendations changed the way she looked
at the idea of a skate park.
"I like the idea of a dual-use area," Farr said. "The study got us out of the old mentality of what skateboarding
used to be. It gave people a different point of reference."
Tom Vernau, the Lower Allen Twp. manager, had a similar reaction. The study calls for a 7,500-square-foot
area in Lower Allen's community park with an outdoor stage and seating tiers that can be skated on when the
area is not being used as an amphitheater.
"It is an interesting use of space," said Vernau. "The combined uses really make more sense than an
amphitheater that would only be used a half-dozen times a year. It's kind of a neat idea, but at almost a
half-million bucks, somebody is going to have to help us fund it."
CHRIS A. COUROGEN: 255-8112 or ccourogen@patriot-news.com
PARK PLANS
Fairview Twp. 7,000-square-foot facility Roof Park Goldsboro 1,000-square-foot street skating area Shelley's
Riverview Recreation Area Lemoyne 1,500-square-foot street skating terrain Memorial Park Lewisberry
2,500-square-foot multi-use plaza space municipal park Lower Allen Twp. 7,500-square-foot area community
park Newberry Twp. 8,500-square-foot facility Shelley Park SEE FOR YOURSELF
www.wsrec.org/skatepark_study.htm
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