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. From p. 63 used more space for street skating and totaled $145,000, excluding landscap- n not put in the 10 -foot hole [at West- ing costs. The city contributed e Skaters in Hollister submitted draw- lake]," says Shawn Cooper, Grand $150,000 from its capital improve - ings for their skate park. The park Junction parks planner. "The big bowl ment plan budget, and the task force 1 planners toned down some of the was geared for very experienced raised another $40,000 for landscap- v advanced features that skaters request- skaters, and it's not getting a whole lot ing in three months from outside con- i. ' ed so that less experienced skaters of use. Street skating is the highest use tributors, including parents, business v would have options, too. The 8,000- area at Westlake." owners, skaters and the city police square -foot park will include one 3- Modesto's 13,000- square -foot park department. Persons or businesses who f foot -deep bowl, one 5 -foot -deep bowl, also is aimed at intermediate and gave a minimum of $1,000 received quarter pipes and various ramps and advanced skaters, and the city may recognition on a permanent plaque at I 1 add be inners' facilities at a later date, the ark. t � I edges for skateboarders and tnitne g P skaters. Lemcke says. The next item on the Not all skate parks receive as much t Including skaters in the design agenda likely will be lighting. in city funding or in private dona- f process benefits everyone, Rubcic says. The majority of skate parks sur- tions. In Hollister, city officials were 1 "If skaters are involved, they have a veyed by Modesto do not have out- not always enthusiastic about a skate 1 ' sense of ownership, and they will take door lights because it is an extra park, Rubcic says. "The most difficult 1 better care of the park," he says. expense and because parks depart- part of this process has been getting I As in Hollister, planners for Grand ments do not want skaters to use the t city council to fund the skate Junction's Westlake Skatepark incor- parks at night and create noise. Most park," he says. porated ideas and suggestions from skate parks are open from dawn to In researching liability — a major local skaters. The park features a 7- dusk. concern — Rubcic visited eight skate II foot -deep rectangular bowl, a free- parks for ideas and background infor- ' 1 form 7- foot -deep open -ended bowl, a FUNDIN mation. Based on other cities' success- street skate area and a 10- foot -deep Because of the high cost of concrete es and local demand, the city bowl with a keyhole slot entryway. and specialized design services, skate approved $120,000 to fund the skate Because the park has grown in popu- parks can be cost - prohibitive for local park. That amount should be suffi- larity since its May 1997 opening, governments. And, since demand for cient, Rubcic says. If not, the city will Grand Junction is constructing a sec- the facilities is high, many cities rely turn to the community for donations. and facility. Eagle Rim Park, planned on financial support from the commu- for completion by summer 2000, will nity to fund construction. MAKING AND BREAKING RULES contain elements for less experienced Modesto's research showed that Ongoing costs for a skate park are ` skaters, including an extensive street skate parks cost between $50,000 and minimal, provided that there is no F 1 skating area, steps, rails and ramps. $200,000, depending on size and the damage to the facility or graffiti to 1 . "If I had it to do over, I would have number of features. Modesto's park remove. Rules help avoid liability I problems as well as costly repairs. For ' PARKS b: RECREATION example, most skate parks do not allow bicycles because the metal bike parts can damage the bowls and other F Parks partnership guide available skate park elements. Additionally, Lemcke says, parks officials do not The Urban Institute, Washington, D.C., has published a guide for cities want bikers colliding with skaters and 1 and counties looking to improve their public parks through private causing injuries. partnerships. Commissioned by the Lila Wallace– Reader's Digest Fund, Modesto and Grand Junction skate I "Partnership For Parks" offers guidelines for partnering with private - sector parks also have strict rules about graf- parks supporters. fiti. Most skateboarders decorate their The guide examines four questions for public - private parks partnerships: boards with paint and stickers, but • How should public - private partnerships be structured? city officials did not want the same • Who should make decisions? items plastered around the skate parks. • What assets and liabilities do partners bring? Grand Junction park planners and • How do the partnerships manage risks? local skaters agreed on "self- policing" A 1994 study by the National Parks and Recreation Association, Ash- to prevent graffiti or "tagging" with bum, Va., showed that $30.7 billion would be needed between 1995 and stickers. "If the park is tagged, the 1999 to meet public demand for parks services. Results of the study have skaters know we will shut it down shown that public - private partnerships can help meet that demand and fos- until we can clean it up or cover it ter community involvement. over," says Mari Steinbach, recreation To order a copy of "Partnerships For Parks," call Urban Institute Publica- superintendent for the city. tions, (202) 261 -5687. The guide costs $10, including shipping and han- To enforce rules about skate park dling. It also may be viewed online at www.urban.org. r hours, graffiti and litter, some cities ticket unlawful skaters. But, for the 70 October 1999 AMERICAN CITY & COUNTY