Walton County Skatepark Assessment

Walton County Florida Gulf Memorial Skate Park

Executive Summary

During the oil disaster, our community has lost it's single greatest recreational resource, the Gulf of Mexico. While beach use has been adversely impacted during the oil disaster, skateboarding has provided a safe and enjoyable recreation alternative. Skateboarding is the land sport which most closely resembles surfing. Skateboarding is especially popular among beach users. No public Skate Park exists in Walton County. The building of a Gulf Memorial Skate Park would provide a lasting testament to the importance of protecting the Gulf of Mexico. It would also provide an alternative recreation venue while our beaches remain contaminated and for if ever they are damaged again.

Public owned and operated Skateboard parks have proliferated throughout the country, and specifically throughout Florida. Skateboarding popularity is outstripping all other sports—more kids today skateboard than play little league baseball.

Walton County recently purchased land adjacent to Helen McCall Park, and due to the proximity to Highway 331 this location would be ideal in its accessibility to residents in North and South Walton County. Approximately 1 acre would be required for the skatepark.

A free municipal skatepark provides enjoyment for the entire community, providing a venue for local contests and events, and serves to keep kids from skating unsafe terrain. (Sadly, the primary motivations for the Milton skatepark were the death of two children struck by cars while skateboarding.)

Budget & Size Concrete skateparks range in size from 8,000 square feet to 25,000 square feet. The average skatepark is about 10,000 square feet. The absolute minimum is 8,000 square feet. Many skateparks are built in phases, due to funding achievements.

Budget = $300,000. Concrete skatepark construction costs average $25 per square foot. At 12,000 square feet, a budget of $300,000 for park construction is needed.

Funding Land has been previously allocated by the County. If this is no longer available, the land can be donated by an individual, or purchased. The public skate park, as proposed, is eligible for contributions and matching grants from several sources including NRDA, Tony Hawk Foundation, Surfrider Foundation, other non- profits and many private corporations

Location The ideal location for a new Skatepark would be adjacent to or within Helen McCall Park. Due to the proximity to Highway 331 this location would be accessible to residents in North and South Walton County.

Land Needed = ½ to 1 Acre. Many municipalities locate skateparks near other community facilities, such as a community center or baseball fields, thus negating the need for additional parking and restroom facilities.

Design & Construction The greatest risk facing a Skatepark project is the failure to use an experienced Skatepark construction firm to develop and construct the facility. Only an experienced Skatepark construction firm comprised of actual skaters will understand the nuanced transitions and correct placement of objects necessary to offer an enjoyable skateboarding experience. Deviations of inches in transition or mere feet in obstacle placement render a park ‘un-skateable’ and unpopular. This has occurred during the development of several skateboard parks in Las Vegas, NV, where city officials implemented arbitrary design changes that in the end resulted in low-utilization for the parks and hence a waste of investment. Concrete Construction: A concrete skatepark is far superior to a wood park and yields greater use and less maintenance. John Norton, the City of Milton Parks & Recreation Director, facilitated the effort to construct the newly opened City of Milton concrete skatepark (ph#850-983-5466). His research included touring the Niceville wooden skatepark and the Tallahassee concrete skatepark. His group’s conclusion: Wooden skateparks are a quick political fix but offer little appeal to most skaters and eventually the lack of use and constant upkeep result in closure of the skatepark. However, properly constructed concrete skateparks in other jurisdictions have provided entertainment for up to 1,000 skaters weekly for generations.

Skatepark Design Firms: Team Pain is based out of Winter Springs, FL. The firm has designed and constructed most public parks in Florida. Team Pain built both the Tallahassee and Milton concrete skate parks. John Norton and other Santa Rosa County officials offered nothing but praise for the work of Team Pain.

Liability To encourage the development of Skate-parks, the Florida Legislature passed Florida Statute 316.0085. This statute limits the liability of the government entity and codifies the ‘inherent risk’ and the ‘assumption of risk’ relating to skateboarding.

F.S. 316.0085 (4): “A governmental entity or public employee is not liable to any person who voluntarily participates in skateboarding, inline skating, paintball, or freestyle or mountain and off-road bicycling for any damage or injury to property or persons which arises out of a person's participation in such activity, and which takes place in an area designated for such activity.”

Popularity Skateboarding is truly "The American Sport." Originating in California in the 1940s, the sport has spread throughout the country and today over 16 million children skateboard while only 9 million children play baseball. – source: http://www.tonyhawkfoundation.org/how_to/planning.htm

“More Americans skateboarded in 2000 than played baseball. Bennett said the number of youths playing baseball declined 13 percent from 2000 to 2001.” - FROM BALLS TO BOARDS: TEENS INCREASINGLY CHOOSING “ACTION” SPORTS, University of Florida News, July 2, 2003. HYPERLINK "http://www.napa.ufl.edu/2003news/extremesports.htm" http://www.napa.ufl.edu/2003news/extremesports.htm

Local Committee Bobby Johnson, Realtor. #850-865-7798 Nick Gullo, Attorney. #850-259-8438. Michael Sturdivant, Psychotherapist and chairman of Surfrider Foundation Emerald Coast Chapter. #850-225-1747