Urban Splash Presentation

8/14/2019 Urban Splash Presentation

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www.myspace.com/southportskateparkproject

Dear Mr. Sheridan,

Please allow us to introduce Southport Skatepark Project (SSP).

SSP is led by a panel of experienced skatepark users all ages and disciplineswho currently skate/ride in Southport, and who use the current Kr8erskatepark in Southport, amongst others across the UK, and in particular in theNorth West of England.The panel consists of skatepark users between 12 and44 years of age.

SSP has been formed in order to ensure that any plans for skatepark provisionin Southport utilise the full range of knowledge and experience on offer of thevarious user groups of the facilities.

The aims of SSP are as follows:

To lobby Sefton Council for a high quality concrete skatepark, designedby professionals with a background in skatepark design in conjunctionwith local skaters/riders, and constructed by engineers with provenexperience of high quality skatepark construction.

View the online petition here:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/SOUTHPORTskatepark/

To provide a one-stop resource of information on skateboarding/inlineskating/BMX and, more importantly, the process ofplanning/designing/constructing skateparks of the highest quality.

To work with Sefton Council, Leisure Services and Youth Services,Merseyside Police, and other partner organisations to solve issuessurrounding skateboarding and skatepark users in Southport.

To promote understanding between skateboarders/skatepark users

and other social groups within the community.

To promote skateboarding BY skateboarders FOR skateboarderswhilst also catering for the needs of other skatepark users.

SSP supports the Council with regard to the anti-skating bye-law in the 4current designated areas in the town and actively encourages skaters tocomply in hope that compliance with the bye-law will be seen positively.

Contact us at: [email protected]


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The SSP Vision

Our vision is of a professionally designed and constructed concrete skatepark,designed with the wants and needs of all user groups in mind and designed inkeeping with the Councils vision of Southports Classic Resort status.

We wish to show the Council how this:

Can go through a re-design and planning process like this:



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And become this:

A far cry from the general perception when the word skatepark is mentioned.

Mr. Sheridan, we at SSP are very much aware that URBAN SPLASH is not askatepark construction company. It is not our intention to try and talk you intosuch activity. We are however very pleased that a company withacknowledged success in regeneration is going to be involved in the Marine

Gardens Project here in Southport. Our aim in this presentation is to show youhow a professionally designed and constructed skatepark such as the oneabove and in the opening photograph, constructed by a specialistskatepark design/construction company, could be fully in keeping with theMarine Gardens Project. Such a facility would provide not only a high qualityfacility for local skatepark users but would also become a destinationskatepark encouraging national and international events involvingprofessional skaters and sponsorship from the likes of NIKE, VANS,QUIKSILVER, RED BULL etc.

Please take some time to look through the rest of this presentation and should

you require any further information please contact us at the e mail addressbelow.



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PAST Solid Surf Skatepark

A concrete skatepark existed on the Pleasureland site from 1978 1999!Solid Surf Skatepark opened in June 1978. It was a concrete skatepark withsome additional fibreglass ramps, situated on the site of the current Go-Kart

track. The photos below show it at its peak, including showing Californian proskater Tony Alva, from his tour of the UK in 1978.



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Note the Swiss Chalet in the background of the photo above. That was stilllocated in the same position until recently, when Blackpool Pleasure Beachclosed Pleasureland.

Over the years, when skateboarding ebbed and flowed in its popularity, the

skatepark became used as a slide park by the owners, althoughskateboarders still used the park as well, only in smaller numbers through the80s and 90s. The skatepark was finally demolished in 1999 and replaced bythe present Go-Kart track. For more information, photographs and pressarticles about the Solid Surf Skatepark please visit www.solidsurf.co.ukPRESENT

The KR8ER wooden skatepark was opened in Southport in 2004. It islocated in a hollow between Southport Pier and the Marine Way Bridge; alocation currently covered by the KINGS GARDENS PROJECT.

The popularity of the facility is such that the council has realised that the parkis becoming far too crowded at peak times and has looked into ways tospread users around the area. (These photos were taken early morning.)Following a report highlighting that the intended plans would most likely proveunsuccessful and a poor investment, these plans ground to a halt.



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Move forwards to 2008 and the wooden park is now rapidly becoming aneyesore and has suffered weather damage. Having been constructed fromwood the ramps need re-surfacing every 12 months however, some yearsthere isnt the available budget for this to be done and the ramps have, attimes, become quite dangerous. As the skatepark is not secure and has full24 hour open access, it has now become a haven for anti-social behaviour,predominantly from non-skatepark users with acts of violence targeting theskatepark user group. At the same time the Council have introduced an anti-skateboarding bye-law to the town.

Following publication of SSP newsletters and distributing them to Councillorsand other relevant parties SSP was invited to be part of the KINGS GARDENSPROJECT STEEERING GROUP. The group is involved in the planning of a6m project to regenerate the Kings Gardens area, which stretches from thePromenade to the Marine Lake and Princes Park. The current location of theskatepark has been included in this area for the purposes of the project.

SSP is very pleased to have been invited onto the Kings Gardens SteeringGroup to be able to provide relevant knowledge and experience and will

continue to do so, as both Kings Gardens and Marine Gardens Projects needto be co-ordinated.

Among the options been considered are extending the skatepark in its currentlocation or re-locating it elsewhere. Whilst there may be advantages tokeeping the skatepark in its current location there is also opposition fromsome to it being there. And, as the location is impossible to secure, the optionof relocating the skatepark is looking more favourable in both improving thesize and quality of the skatepark and tackling the anti-social behaviourproblems that have become an issue.



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FUTURE

Within the area of the Pleasureland site there is an area of land approximately200 yards away from the location of the original Solid Surf Skatepark, which

has been empty since the Ocean Plaza site was developed. At present it isused occasionally to provide additional car parking at certain times. Thelocation of this site is incredibly similar to the photograph of the skatepark inCairns, Australia which is at the front of this presentation.Turning clockwise here are some views of the site:

Looking out towards the sea, with the pier visible in the background.



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Turning to the right: Ocean Plaza Retail Park

Turning 180 degrees Backing onto Princes Park



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Continuing to the right: The old skatepark was located behind the structurevisible.

The size and shape of the area is ideal for providing a skatepark significantlylarger that the present one, which will cater for the demand more sufficiently.The area is also of a size that a wide path could be constructed around it. Thiswould not only provide walking space for pedestrians to watch the attraction ofthe skaters, but would also form part of the street element of the skatepark,with ledges built around the perimeter.

Please now compare the photographs above with the photograph at the frontof this presentation. Obviously, we cant arrange for the sea to be quite as

blue or to come in quite so close as that in Southport, although it does do attimes!



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This final shot shows the site looking from the sea wall:

THE SSP PROPOSAL

We believe that a professionally designed and constructed skatepark such asthe one shown on page 1 of this presentation would be fully in keeping withthe MARINE GARDENS PROJECT, and also in keeping with the Councilsvision of Southports Classic Resort status. Significantly it would provide aworld class facility for local skatepark users to use on a daily basis, whilst alsoacting as a destination skatepark, bringing professional athletes andsponsorship into the town for national and International events. Yet anotherway to fill all those hotel rooms!

Funding for such a facility may obtained from several sources and should inessence, be independent from the MARINE GARDENS PROJECT budget,although lighting and landscaping around the skatepark which would benefitthe area as a whole could possibly be funded by the project. Grants are

available from the Big Lottery Fund for skateparks, some large companiesalso have funds available for community projects and Southport recentlyreceived 2.4M for use on Youth Facilities. In addition to this SSP willmotivate the user group itself to contribute some funding.

The estimated cost of providing a high quality concrete skatepark is 400,000.This is based on other recently constructed skateparks in the UK.

SSP has received expressions of interest from two experienced concreteskatepark design/construction companies to date:

GRAVITY PARKS www.gravityparks.co.uk/



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GEOFORM SKATEPARKS www.geoform.co.uk/Working in conjunction withSPECTRUM SK8PARK DESIGN CREATIONS of Canada www.spectrum-sk8.com/index.php

The designer of the skatepark at Clitheroe in Lancashire, Laura Powell, has

also offered her design services for FREE to SSP and the skatepark users ofSouthport in designing a new skatepark. For more information on this and onother skatepark projects good and bad across the UK please look through theSSP newsletters that follow this presentation.

SSP makes the following reccomendations for the new skatepark:

The main area of the new skatepark should be fenced off for bothsafety and security reasons.

A white concrete path should surround the perimeter of theskatepark. This will have a dual use as providing part of thestreet element of the skatepark with metal rimmed blocks at theedges, but may also be used by pedestrians wanting to view theskaters in the skatepark itself. If wide enough this could be spiltinto two sections to avoid accidental injuries.

A structure similar to the old Swiss Chalet shown in the PASTsection should act as an entrance to the skatepark from thecurrent direction of Princess Park. This would prevent non-skatepark users from entering the main skatepark itself and

therefore reduce incidents of anti-social behaviour as well asproviding a caf facility for both skatepark users and othervisiters.

The skatepark will have a strict NO GRAFFITI policy and again, byrestricting access, this will be possible to monitor.

The skatepark should be marshalled, by a responsible adult withaccess to the Town Link radio system, should any issues arise.This could be a Youth Worker, volunteer parent or matureskater.

The fenced off area of the skatepark should be locked at night,and Marine Gardens area as a whole should be monitored bySefton Security at night and will be patrolled by PoliceCommunity Support Officers from Southport Town CentreNeighbourhood on both early and late shifts, as it is now.

The wooden ramps of the current skatepark should be removedfrom the current location, and re-located in a corner of the parkand ride car park on Fairways, where there is lighting and CCTValready in place. The ground would need re-surfacing.



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An extended legal graffiti wall should be located at the Fairwayssite to provide a designated area for graffiti. This will work inconjunction with the STRICT NO GRAFFITI policy at the newskatepark. This wall will be hidden from the Coast Road by sandbanks.

This area would remain open with free 24 hour access, so thatthere is always somewhere available for skatepark users whenthe new skatepark is locked.

Mr. Sheridan, we at SSP believe the key to the success of the regeneration ofMARINE GARDENS area is for you to create an area which is of a highquality to attract tourism to the town, whilst also such that local residents canuse on a daily/weekly basis. The area should be one that can be used bypeople of all sexes, and all ages, young and old alike. An area that will allowthe full diversity of the local population to flourish in a quality environment,with that fantastic bohemian atmosphere of St. Ives you have spoken of.

We have no doubt that URBAN SPLASH will present some fantastic plans toSefton Council for the project.

Our aim with this presentation has been to try and change preconceptionswhen the word skatepark is mentioned; To show you what is possible and tosow the seed of that possibility in your mind for your plans for the MARINEGARDENS PROJECT. In the scheme of things the skatepark would be just

one small part of the 42 acre site. We feel sure the photograph on page 1 ofthis presentation is in keeping with your vision. Please allow us to help youmake that become a reality, and bring a little bit of California to Southport!

SSP Newsletters and some other articles of interest follow. Please look at theweb links of interest and contact us at the email address at anytime. Our MySpace page also contains photos of other skatepark projects from around theUK, which can be compared to the present offering in Southport. Thedifferences are quite considerable.

Thank you and good luck with the MARINE GARDENS PROJECT.



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Documents

Urban Splash Presentation