Monday, March 13, 2006

What the skatepark would be, and why we need it

First of all, some commenters over on SoLo seem to be under the impression that this will be an indoor skatepark. This is not the case. Here's an image of what the park may look like, taken from the city's CAT grant application.
(Click to enlarge)

This was apparently designed with the public input of local skaterboarders, BMX bikers, rollerbladers, and parents at a series of public meetings. I didn't attend any of the meetings because I am terrible at all 3 of those activities. Maybe someone who was there can add something in the comments. Maybe they could also explain what half the things in that design are, such as a "hubba ledge" or "fun box."

As a popular T-shirt says, "skateboarding is not a crime," or at least shouldn't be. The crime comes when private or public property is damaged by "grinding" along it with the metal trucks on the bottom of a skateboard. Many local properties have been damaged by this, and have taken measures to try and prevent it. The problem is there are no legal places in Davenport for skaters to particpate in their sport. I believe the skatepark would help alleviate this problem.

I am sure that there are as many skaters/rollerbladers/bikers in Davenport as there are tennis players, yet we have multiple city-owned tennis courts scattered around the city, and no skateparks. I think I've seen the tennis courts at Garfield Park being used about 5 times over my lifetime, yet the city still has to maintain them and clean them off after floods. We have places for soccer, bike riding, baseball, softball, tennis, basketball, and sand volleyball. Why shouldn't skateboarders get a place? A bunch of railings, cement shapes and empty swimming pools aren't going to require thousands of dollars to clean up after a flood; they'll require a hose.

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

I see this as one of the projects Davenport should not be taking on at this particular time. I think we should be concentrating more on infrastructure. A skate park will not entice people to move here. Better streets, sidewalks and less criminal activity will. When people look to move into a city the appearance makes a huge difference.

Anonymous said...

To save money why don't we just build a 200 foot long wall down there and let the kids spray paint it.

Anonymous said...

If skateparks haven't worked in other cities what makes you think they will work in Davenport? I have never seen the one down my the boat ramp being used, seems like another big waste of money.

QuadCityImages said...

Every time I drive past the one in Bettendorf there are kids using it. The roller hockey rink on Marquette doesn't get used because all it takes to play roller hockey is a block of relatively flat street. As I said, all it takes to skateboard is the railings and benches of local businesses, but that is rough on the busisnesses. Drive past the Bettendorf skatepark on a decently warm day if you think none of them get used.

Anonymous said...

Of course when there is an anonymous post it is easy to hide behind it. In your anonymous mind PARKS may not be part of infrastructure, but everywhere else I have ever lived it is an integral part. We NEED more parks. Many more.

Anonymous said...

I just took a nice long walk along the bike path. There are plenty of parks. If this were a flower garden or even a regular kids playground park it wouldn't cost nearly what the council is ready to spend on a skatepark. And I didn't say not to do it, I said it would be best to wait until finances are better.

Anonymous said...

I think we should get the skatepark because every time I want to go skateboarding I will have to drive 30 miles to just skate.The skateboarders have no where to skate in Davenport.

Anonymous said...

It is about time we get a skatepark. we spend lots of money on a skybridge and it hardly ever gets used and the skatepark will get used alot and i mean alot.

Anonymous said...

hey i think we should build it...as a fellow skateboarder of 5 years...it would help keep private and public property undamaged...nobody wants there property to be damaged...they dont want kids parents sueing them for skating or riding bikes or etc. on there property. would you like it if someone sued you for something rediculous as that? i wouldnt.

Anonymous said...

i think the skatepark is coming along really good. I think that it is a really good idea to have a skatepark in davenport. We do not have anywhere to go do our sports like that.People get mad for us grinding on there stuff but its not going to stop if we dont get the skatepark. skate or die

Anonymous said...

lactose

Anonymous said...

to be honest i think the skatepark is the best idea ever. one because of how big and good its going to be its going to bring many people to the quad cities. people will tavel from far away to ride it. and like everyone else says it will keep kids from damaging private proberty. with as much bikers and skaters who get tickets for riding street if they all pay the fine it could pay for the park ha.

Anonymous said...

We need a park tht bikers can use I am 13 and I have never been on a quarter pipe because every park I've seen is "no bikes aloud"

Anonymous said...

I think the skatepark is a fantastic idea, it will bring a lot of people to Davenport. I have to go to Iowa city just to skate a park like the one we are building. People form out of state go there so why wouldn't they go to the even bigger one in Davenport. It will also bring a lot of pro skaters here to try the park on their tours.

Anonymous said...

^^ for the kid above who says bikers need a place to go, its because bikers tear stuff up and ruin for everyone else. They also snake skaters. The park isn't even finished and there is damage from bikes. There needs to be someone supervising bikers.

Anonymous said...

for you who said that bikers are damaging the park, the skateboarders are down there to.and unlike skaters the bikers taqke there turns and rubber doesnt ruin concrete.I also skteboard so if you dont know what your talking about dont comment

Anonymous said...

First of all this Skater/Biker rivalry is seriously stupid. All the skaters and bikers in my town are cool with each other, and we share all the spots and take our turns. I wont tolerate any of this crap at the new Bikepark. This is a PUBLIC Park and any discrimination entitles people fighting and shall not go down. But Personally I feel that Bikes do less damage to things than skateboards do. A little bit of wax and things are all good. And Skateboarders, if you're going to be skating and waxing ledges, don't use colored wax, use canning wax, or parafin wax. It works great and melts right off after about 10 days. As a Biker of 2 years I think this Bikepark will be a great thing. This will eliminate going to Iowa City to ride a bowlpark.

Anonymous said...

so many people will come to this. this skatepark is one of the best and biggest in the midwest. i was there before it even open and met some people from iowa city and colorado. so defintly this summer so many people are going to come from hours a way to see it. you did a good job city of davenport and thank you.

Anonymous said...

Nice write up.

For reviews and more photos check out: http://www.qcalive.com/locations/davenport/davenport-skate-park/

For anyone that has skated it, you should leave some more reviews and tell people why they should check it out.

Anonymous said...

this will bring a lot of people to Davenport. i skate and i go all across the country just to go to a skatepark. there is one in louisville, kentucky that i go to every year just to skate.

Anonymous said...

They need to build a skatepark in Geneseo illnois cuz the cops wont let you skate anyware!!!!

Anonymous said...

i think skateparks are worth the time and effort... they will be used and it will keep kids out of trouble/ just throw out some ramps and some rails and maybe 3 funboxs and we will be fine... i hate to get my board taken away and this park will help prevent this from happening... you guys need to build a skatepark in woodhull IL, i know it dont seem like a big town but you have all the towns surrounding it. just take out the tennis court because thats all it is used for is skateboarding

Anonymous said...

they do need to build a skate park in geneseo also cuz the cops dont let u skate anywhere like it says above!!!! scroo da police.

sean1993 said...

NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE SAYS WE NEED MORE SKATE PARKS IN DAVENPORT.