 | PlanningFind the Skatepark Locations in Your Neighborhood
The Seattle Skatepark Master Plan was designed to let people like you build neighborhood skateparks without having to go through all the difficulty and process of finding a site for it. Instead, the Master Plan found locations throughout Seattle where Skateparks have the best chance to work for skateboarders and the surrounding community.
To review the list of skate sites in each region of the city, select it from the list below:
| | Note: Regional skatepark data is from the SPAC Cookbook spreadsheet draft, not the final Citywide Skatepark Plan. Until the plan is passed by the Seattle City Council, this information is provided for development and discussion purposes ONLY. |
That said, conditions in the City change. If you are aware of a location that would be great for a skatepark, and it is not on the plan, you may not be out of luck. Getting something built on a site that is not on the plan is a lot more work. However, if you are committed to a location off the plan, we recommend starting by contacting Seattle Parks and Recreation.
If there are multiple skatepark sites in your neighborhood, you may want to choose the one you want to work with, based on the size of the park you want to build, as discussed below.
Determine the maximum size of park your site will support, and decide how big a park you want to build
Each site on the Master Plan lists the best size for a skatepark in that location. The Plan provides for the following sizes and types of skateparks:
- Skate dots - 1,500 Square feet or less
This is a Seattle innovation. Can include anything ranging from small skatable art or other urban furniture, to existing skatable areas being made legal to skate. This is a great solution where there are no large sites in your neighborhood that are available for bigger skateparks. Try combining a series of these small features into an urban "skate trail"!
- Skate Spots - 1,500 - 10,000 Square feet
This is a typical neighborhood oriented skatepark that can accommodate up to 13 users at a time. The current Ballard skatepark is a good example of a skate spot. The area needed is around the size of a single basketball or tennis court. These types of skateparks can be included with other active play areas.
- District Skateparks - 10,000-30,000 Square feet
These are more ambitious facilities, intended to draw skaters from around your part of the city. Fundraising for a facility of this size may be beyond the ability of all but the most committed skatepark advocates. They typically can accommodate up to 40 skaters at one time. The area needed is around the size of a double tennis court.
- Regional Skateparks - Greater than 30,000 Square feet
These are big facilities. They typically can accommodate 50-300 users at one time. Perfect for big competitions and tours. The only one for Seattle is at _____. Around the size of a single soccer or football field. We recommend leaving the funding of a skatepark of this size up to the City.
While it is tempting to build the biggest possible skatepark, keep in mind that this means raising a lot more money. At the same time, the number of sites for skateparks in Seattle is limited. So, you don't want to build something small on a site that can fit a large skatepark. What this means is that you should be realistic about whether you can take on the full size of skatepark that the Master Plan allows in your site.
When you decide to take on a skatepark project, stick with it until you can build the type of skatepark that the site will support. You don't get a second chance so do it right the first time!
Develop information and fact sheets
A simple 81/2 x 11" sheet that lays out what you are trying to do can be very helpful. It can explain your project to neighbors and people who could potentially help you get your park built.
Your fact sheet should include:
- Where you want to build your skatepark
- The size of skatepark you want to build
- How much money you need to raise
- A description of the people you are working with to get this skatepark built. This shows the depth of your support.
- When you hope to have it completed.
- Some handy "factoids" about Skateboarding.
- Contact information for you. Hopefully people will want to contact you to help. Make sure they can do so.
Make a bunch of copies and hand them out every chance you get. Find places to post them in public. In short, GET THE MESSAGE OUT!
Develop a petition in support of your skatepark
A successful petition drive can go a long way in showing support for your project. This will be very helpful for both fundraising, and if there is any opposition to your project.
Make sure your petition includes:
- Where you want to build your skatepark
- The size of skatepark you want to build
- Contact information for you
- Plenty of lines for people to sign, including space on each line for:
- Name
- Address
- Phone number
- E-mail address
Once your petition is ready to go, get as many skaters and skatepark supporters out there to ask people to sign it. Kids who skate who are still in school can do a super job of getting a lot of signatures. Go to neighborhood events like grower's markets, street fairs, block parties, and the like.
Develop a mailing list
By this time, your organizing work and petitioning should provide you with a great list of potential skatepark supporters. Compile all the available e-mails and mailing addresses into a big mailing list. The people on your mailing list should be notified when there are public hearings on your project, events in support of your project, or when you need additional volunteers and funds. They are your community.
Contact and work with the SPAC, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and media
Now it is time to get the word out. The first step is to contact the Skate Park Advisory Committee ("SPAC"). The SPAC is a volunteer group of people like you who have been working to get skateparks built in Seattle. They are a super resource to find out what is going on in Seattle in general, and to get questions answered. The SPAC meets once a month. Their website is here. Also, you can e-mail the chairperson of the SPAC here.
You also need to start talking with Seattle Parks and Recreation. They will be the people who ultimately handle the process of hiring the designer and builder of your skatepark, and they will be the ones to maintain it. You need to let them know about your project, where you are building it, and how far along you are. Parks, in return, can tell you if there are any other plans for the site you are looking at, and if anybody else is in the process of trying to get a skatepark built there, or nearby. Seattle Parks and Recreation will effectively be your partner on your project, so get them on-board early. You can e-mail the Parks staffer in charge of your site here.
Finally, you should start letting local media know what is going on with your park. Your information sheet can serve as a good "press release" to send to various media organizations. We recommend with starting with your neighborhood newspapers.
The citywide daily and weekly newspapers can be useful if you have a specific event coming up. Keep in mind that the citywide papers are usually looking for a story with "controversy" and often will not do a story on your project unless you have encountered some difficulty.
One way of getting some press is to send a "letter to the editor" to the newspapers in support of your project. An example from Skaters for Skateparks is available here.
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