Seattle skaters’ efforts garner new park
SEATTLE – When some high school boys were kicked out of an elementary school playground for skateboarding, the principal gave them a warning and a challenge: find a way to bring the community together to build a skateboard park and never be kicked out again.
The students’ efforts have led to donations totaling $66,000, free space to build on and pro-bono design work from a nationally known skate park builder.
The Sealth High School students who used to skate in Concord Elementary School’s playground have moved on now, but the effort to build a skate park in the South Park neighborhood continues to grow. The River City Skate Park still needs $89,000, but supporters are optimistic about the progress they’ve made so far, including $10,000 raised this week at a fundraiser.
“If you dig a hole, people will help you fill it,” said Mark Johnson, 36, an architect and self-described “born-again skateboarder,” who lives in South Park.
When Johnson heard the students’ presentations a couple of years ago at a community meeting he was attending with another skateboarding adult, “We looked at each other and said, ‘Hey, this is it,’ ” he said.
The land has been donated by the Sea Mar Community Health Center, which offered a long-term lease on property it had planned to develop into housing and offices, but couldn’t.
Charlie Cunniff, executive director of the Environmental Coalition of South Seattle, said the goal is to build the park with as much community involvement and private money as possible.
Seattle’s Parks and Recreation Department has also made plans to build new skateboard parks throughout the city with public money, but Cunniff said private money gives this park an advantage because it doesn’t have to sit in line behind other projects and follow all the rules and regulations.
Cunniff seemed especially excited about the involvement of skate park designer and builder Grindline, which now plans to move its headquarters from West Seattle to South Park.
“They are relatively famous around the country, but have built just one skate park in Seattle. This is a way for them to get a skate park in their own hometown, and use it as a place to show people what they do,” Cunniff said.
Grindline, founded in 2000, has designed and built 75 skate parks throughout the country, and one in South Africa. It also designed a skate park for Japan, now awaiting construction.
Chris Hildebrand, Grindline general manager, said he remembers Johnson calling him after the high school students made their presentation and asking if his company wanted to get involved.
“I told him, get some land and some money and we would be glad to help. I honestly didn’t expect it to get too far,” he said.
He said South Park can expect a showcase skate park.
“Of course, if we have our headquarters there, it will have to be a flagship kind of park,” he said.