Case Study:

Elmhurst Park District

Skate Park

Three years of planning and public meetings produce a popular skate park in York Commons

By James W. Rogers, CPRP

As far back as 1997, the Elmhurst Park District was aware of the need for some type of recreational facility for the increasingly popular skating activities enjoyed by in-line skaters and skateboarders in the community. The results of an attitude and interest survey indicated that youths ages 13 to 18 were not being served adequately and that teen social activities were the number one area where program improvement was needed. In addition, the Elmhurst community faced many of the common problems that exist in communities without skating facilities: skaters using inappropriate public places for skating, causing congestion in downtown retail districts, and the resulting frustration from skaters and boarders with nowhere to go.

Prior to 1997, the district had converted a small number of infrequently used tennis courts into roller hockey courts and, while those facilities proved to be successful, it was obvious that they only served a certain segment of the skating population. In 1997, the park district initiated a skate park action plan that called for looking into the possibilities of establishing a permanent skate park facility in Elmhurst.

The initial stages of the action plan involved discussions with other providers of services and programs for teens such as parent-teacher organizations, the YMCA and the city of Elmhurst. At the same time, park district staff developed site selection criteria and set about reviewing potential sites throughout the community. The criteria included location, — safety and security, residential impact, site and program impact, cost, topography and existing site amenities.

Finally, in May of 1998, the first of many public meetings was held to solicit input from the community and, in particular, from skaters about the possible development of a skate park.

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"This skate park is great. I'm there at least twice a week and not once have I seen a fight or a drug deal. It just doesn't happen." " The skate park is just an attractive nuisance. Kids can come and go as they please..."

The general consensus from the meetings was that a skate park facility would be a positive addition to the community but that residents had concerns about where it would be located, what type of users it would attract, and inappropriate behaviors that might occur there.

Based upon input received from the public, the district's board of park commissioners decided to proceed cautiously by developing a temporary skate facility on two existing tennis courts. The concept behind the temporary facility was to enable the district to determine what actual usage levels and patterns might occur at a permanent facility while, at the same time, working with the staff and public to find the best possible site. The district purchased steel ramps including a half-pipe, launch box and beef box with half-pyramid for the temporary facility, at a cost of approximately $40,000, knowing that they could become part of a permanent facility if one eventually was constructed.

In the spring of 1999, the temporary skate park facility opened in Wilder Park. The facility proved to be very popular with skaters and was accompanied by few of the disturbances feared by residents. Throughout 1999, the site selection process was finalized and additional public meetings were held to discuss possible sites. Not unexpectedly, residents living in close proximity to the proposed sites were not in favor of the facility.

However, the park board felt strongly that a skate park facility was needed and would benefit the entire community. As a result, after rejecting the first proposed location for placement of the facility on non-district owned property, the board approved construction of a permanent facility at York Commons. The selection of the site coincided with an overall park redevelopment project planned for 2000 that also included swimming pool and playground renovations.

The skate park facility opened in May 2000 and has proven to be a successful addition to the district's facility offerings, both in terms of popularity with skaters and teens and in regard to creating few complications for the surrounding neighborhood. The facility covers 12,000 square feet and includes not only the ramps that were moved over from the temporary site, but also a concrete surface that contains a rhythm section, pyramid and snake run, along with 12-foot and 18-foot rails. The cost for the permanent facility was approximately $160,000, making the overall total for the skate park, with amenities, $200,000.

Its inclusion in the overall park site redevelopment has resulted in a park that offers amenities to serve all ages and provides families with "one-stop shopping" where they can enjoy swimming, skating, playgrounds and ball fields all in one park.

James W. Rogers, CPRP
is the director of recreation for the Elmhurst Park District.

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