Solid Surf - Southport Forum

[ChrisW]

OK, here are my thoughts on how the Kr8er should be extended.


The space between the midi-ramp and the fence that the silver bench and the cobbles occupy needs to be used better. (Who in their right mind thought it would be a good idea to put cobbles ANYWHERE in a skatepark??????????????)

So as PHASE 1 this space needs to be re-designed WITH A LONGTERM IDEA OF HOW THAT WILL FIT IN WITH THE REST OF THE PARK!

1)I'd suggest selling the bench back to the council to be used elsewhere and using the money towards the extension. Make EVERYTHING skateable. People will find places to sit.

2)The static bins need to be removed and the Kr8er sign needs relocating closer to the gate. Plastic movable bins would work just as well.

3)A curved block/ledge (similar to those in Diana Gardens) could be put following the shape of the curve of the park at the corner closest to the miniature railway/midi-ramp.

4))An ollie pad/kerb could run along the right hand side of the path in from the gate, leading towards another curved block of a different size on the curve where the Kr8er sign currently is.

5)The grass should be taken out and the bank concreted over to create a flat bank or bowled out transition, possibly with a ledge halfway up.

6) All remaining grass should be taken out and concreted over.

PHASE 2 should be the extension of the park into the land beyond the 'shoe tree'.

PHASE 3 should be the final re-design of the space where the ramps currently are.

I'm not sure about the location of the midi-ramp. It doesn't make sense having it sideways on to the funbox. It compromises flow. The flat bank where the grass is would improve that but would lose the possibility to transfer from the quarters into the ramp.

I think the park needs a smaller mini-ramp for beginners and learning new stuff on too.

Personally I'd prefer to see the whole lot of ramps taken out and re-located somewhere else and the space be re-designed and re-built in concrete on similar lines to the Clitheroe park.
That way the wooden park would exist as an 'overflow' when the concrete park got busy and might even help segregate BMX and skateboarders, so that each had something that appeals to them more than the other park.


Those are my initial thoughts.

Much to be discussed/argued about.

Here's a good place to start that discussion.

Chris
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www.solidsurf.co.uk also has an interweb presence at...
http://www.myspace.com/solidsurf_skatepark

Only a skater knows the feeling.

[ollieh]

I like the ideas with the grass! would be sweet. the bins... if you put movable one in they would be stollen or broke within a week.. woudnt work! like the mini ramp idea i love skating mini ramps....not that good mind.. the midi at kr8ter is like 6ft with like 2 inch vert and i just cant land anythin exept tail stalls on it.. so mini is a must have. errrm a concrete extention and thats about it just dont make thing suitable for bmx and roller blades only!

[ChrisW]

Basically what I'm imagining is something like this in the current space (but best designed by those who know what they want).....



....with something like this built in the space behind the current park, which is currently overgrown and empty......



The important factor here is that IT'S STREET STUFF THE KIDS WANT, and skaters have more chance of 'selling' a design such as the DC street Plaza to councillors here than other design skateparks because aesthetically it will fit in with the landscape of the Marine way Bridge better. So I'm suggesting the following:

PHASE 1: Re-design part of the current skatepark to use the space more effectively and provide some additional 'street' furniture/ledges etc. (see my earlier post for the detail, in my opinion)

PHASE 2: Move the current Fearless ramps to another location, primarily for the use of BMXers but to also act as an overflow for the current skatepark when busy.

The free space can then be re-worked as a Street Plaza (top photo), with the area in Phase 1 already built in the required design.

PHASE 3: Transition - Extend the park further by adding the transition elements shown in the second photo. This design should fit into the available space and is also suitable because it can be used by three skaters at once when busy or by 1 or 2 skaters at quieter times.

This combination of terrain means that multiple users will be able to use the park at anyone time, but that there is an overflow park in case of extreme high numbers and also so that any fans of the old design still have access to it.

So what do you think?
_________________
www.solidsurf.co.uk also has an interweb presence at...
http://www.myspace.com/solidsurf_skatepark

Only a skater knows the feeling.

[ollieh]

i dont think the councel would want to knock down the skatepark to build over it and add more because the money issue, but i think they are more likely to extend it... it really needs a mini ramp

[allofusarelost]

While a lot of the older skaters, and a handful of fresh rippers DO like what little street-style objects there is at the skatepark, simply adding blocks, steps etc. inspired by the 'banned areas' will in no way quench the need to skate real street. Coming from my own, and fellow skaters, POV at least.

We have always been more than aware of the legal risks of skating public and private property, but the last i checked, that was part of the entire skater ethos. While i in no way expect that everyone adhere to this ethos (plenty of skaters are coming from outside of the scene, which is great) please do not assume that the skaters involved with council-led projects are representative of the entire skateboarding population.

Stupid as it may sound to some, the majority of us who have spent the last decade dodging security guards and cameras, having to run and climb fences etc. will not stop because of a single sanctioned area given to skaters and co.

While i in no way mean that we are not willing to help in any way to raise awareness to the cause, at the same time i think my rambling point was that the new skatepark features need to be less of seperate objects trying to please everyone, and more a single, fluid mass of shapes, lumps, curves and edges that aren't seen in a train ride any direction away. Like the original skatepark of an age ago was. Snake run etc.

Leave the street skating to the streets.
That is one battle that has always been fought, and we like it that way.

[SouthportSkateparkProject]

[allofusarelost]

Thanks for that link, i myself am a huge fan of concrete skateparks so that was a treat.

I appreciate the reply and hope this forum does become more widely used.
Would it be ok to link to it on our website/myspace?
Myself and a friend run an independant skate-team also based in Spt, called Underdog/Fingerpop and while we don't really have the manpower to grow that much, we have been operating for a number of years now.

I do hope i didn't sound over-opinionated in my previous statement, (i read things back at times and cringe a little) however i was more writing ideas i felt others would also like to be touched upon, opposed to blasé statements about the 'good times' and 'real skaters' haha as it sounds to read back. It would be very un-skateboarder of me to assume i spoke for entire communities , when i struggle to know what i'm rambling about at times!
Such as now.

Keep in touch, i'll be the skater at the park with the massive earlobes and brown hat, lol.

[SouthportSkateparkProject]

No worries.

Think of SSP as:

more Stacy Peralta than Jay Adams!

more Hawk than Hosoi

more Mullen than Rowley

more Transworld than Thrasher!

more 'Skate and Create' than 'Skate and Destroy'!

With one main aim, getting the best possible concrete skatepark built in Southport and providing as much information for Southport skaters and non-skaters alike on issues concerning them along the way.

SSP

PS. Better pictures of Saffron Walden can be found at this link. Look right through the thread.

http://www.middle-age-shred.co.uk/phpBB2_v2/viewtopic.php?t=11293&highlight=
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SOUTHPORT-SKATEPARK-PROJECT
Sign the petition here...
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/SOUTHPORTskatepark/

[ChrisW]