| « Photos ~ Former site of Tacoma's beautiful Mattson Mansion | Home | Photos ~ Tacoma Farmer's Market and 3rd Thursday » |
Latest Entries
On the Set at the Toyota Commercial Filming
Dick Stein Reading The Tacomiad (and other fab audio!)
Photos ~ Frost Park Chalk Off #30
Thu. May 18, 2006, 06:49am PDT
Talking about a Tacoma skate park
There's discussion going on (here , here, and here) about getting a skate park together somewhere in downtown Tacoma. No real descisions have been made but the biggest question is "Why?" I ask that from a purely "devil's advocate" approach only because I favor the idea but don't know the true reasons behind it.
At last week's public spaces workshop the ten groups that scrutinized areas in and around Pacific Plaza nearly all mentioned the need for a skate park in their report back to the entire group. Mind you, these were mostly local business leaders and middle class, middle age folks at this thing (with a few youthful exceptions). Why would all these people think spending money on a skate park is a good idea? My gut says because they want to corral skaters off in some corner somewhere out of sight and range of their damaging boards and tricks and "young whipper snapper" ways (listen to the under 705 idea - go to 5:30 in the audio clip). Only one group suggested not tucking them away to hide them somewhere but instead suggested various skate park elements be spread around downtown. (micro-sites skate park - skip to 7:15 in the clip)
An approach like this could do a few things. First, it avoids the "we don't really want to see you" mentality that is given to any "undesirable" group in our society. It's a difficult and rewarding sport that anyone can do nearly anywhere without the usual need for a court or field. I have to believe that part of what's exciting about boarding is the thrill of the hunt -- finding that one rail or edge in town that no one else has or that just plain rocks. Let's encourage that exploration and thrill by molding surfaces and avoid posting "no skateboarding" signs but instead post "skateboarding here" signs.
Although I officially stink, my buddy Steve (of the Fergusons) and I have been boarding a bit mostly to keep in shape for next years snowboarding season. Unfortunately, even though we surely don't fit the "boarder" stereotype, I feel like a bit of a criminal just practicing in a sloped parking lot or along the street behind my office. I don't want to feel that way and I sure as hell don't think it does any good for the youth just out to have a good time. Let's not just create a skate park/area but let's hold city-sponsored competitions, invite punk bands to play, etc. Let's make this happen but let's do it for them, not for us.
Update (2006-05-19 @ 9:18am)
Looks like the Friends of McKinley park have a skate park/plaza in their recently approved master plan [pdf]. Yes, there is indeed a park that many zoom past across I-5 from the Tacoma Dome. Looks like it could be pretty cool if that master plan comes through!
Comments (1) | To Top
5/18/2006 @ 11:44am
One argument for creating a larger skate park instead of many smaller ones might be "skatepark tourism." I don't know if it has been brought up at any meetings, but there are a few smaller towns in central Oregon that have noticed increased tourism since putting in designated skate parks that were nice. Apparently a good place to board is worth driving to, which of course means more food/shelter/gas sales for the community.
Tacoma may not notice much difference as a whole, but the establishments right around the park might.
Now if the whole thing gets stuck in a gangland lot next to the waste-water reclamation facility, it would probably turn into the place so many people fear when they think "skatepark," but if it is put where everyone can feel comfortable, and there are other options nearby for non-skater family members, there's no reason something like this wouldn't enhance the city.
by Marshall