NEWS RELEASE CONTACT May 19, 2005 Bryan Aptekar Community Relations Portland Parks & Recreation (503) 823-5594

Citizens Advisory Committee Announces Recommendations for Locations of Future Skateparks

Citizens Advisory Committee Recommends 19 Sites Throughout Portland

Glenhaven Park Recommended as Site for Next City Skatepark

After 18 months, more than two dozen public meetings, and a series of site visits, the SkatePark Leadership Advisory Team (SPLAT) has made its recommendations to Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) for a system of 19 skatepark sites to be developed in the City of Portland. Two of the skateparks will be developed within the next three years, and the rest to follow, as funding permits.

SPLAT is a citizens advisory group that was convened in 2003. At their final meeting on May 10th they completed 18 months of work to meet the need for safe, legal recreational opportunities for the city’s estimated 30,000+ skateboarders, freestyle BMX bike riders and other action sport enthusiasts.

Advisory Committee Creates Vision for “System of Skateparks” The recommended sites reflect the SPLAT’s vision for a system of skateparks consisting of one regional, several district, and many small neighborhood skatespots.

The regional park will be more than 25,000 square feet (sf) in size and would be sited in a non- residential area. The district parks will be at least 10,000 sf (smaller than two tennis courts) and would potentially be covered and lit for extended hours use. The smaller neighborhood skatespots will be typically less than 8,000 sf (the size of one tennis court) and would serve a more limited number of users. (MORE)

Administration 1120 SW 5th Ave., Suite 1302 www.PortlandParks.org Portland, OR 97204 Zari Santner, Director Tel: (503) 823-7529 Fax: (503) 823-6007

Sustaining a healthy park and recreation system to make Portland a great place to live, work and play. The following sites were recommended for the final citywide skatepark system.

North Portland • University Park (skatespot) • Kenton Park (skatespot) • Pier Park (district park) (the only current public skatepark in the system)

NE Portland • Glenhaven Park (district park) • Fernhill Park (district park) • (skatespot)

Outer East Portland • Parkrose High School (skatespot/ district park) • (skatespot/district park) • Ventura Park (skatespot)

SE Portland • (district park) • Brentwood Park (skatespot) • (skatespot) • Berrydale Park (skatespot) • (skatespot) • Woodstock Park (skatespot)

SW Portland • (skatespot/district park) • Holly Farm (skatespot)

NW & Downtown Portland • ODOT Steel Bridge (district/regional park) • ODOT – I-405 (skatespot)

All Locations Meet Siting Criteria Over 300 sites throughout the city were evaluated. SPLAT determined that each of the sites recommended adequately addressed a set of siting criteria. The primary criteria were: - good visibility - limited off-site impacts - accessibility to public transportation - creation of a safe and secure environment - compatibility with adjacent uses

Site evaluations were done by Committee members, representatives from the City’s Noise Control Office, crime prevention specialists from the Neighborhood Coalition offices, PP&R operations and security staff, and the Portland Police Bureau. (MORE) Neighborhoods, Businesses, and Public Provided Input Neighborhood and Business Associations were invited to participate in the process. Many provided formal letters voicing their positions on sites being considered within their area.

Public review and input was encouraged during two separate rounds of meetings; three held in November 2004 and nine held more recently in the spring of 2005.

Some sites were clearly favored over others. Some sites had strong neighborhood support while others received both support and opposition.

Certain challenges face some sites, and these challenges will be addressed by additional outreach and planning efforts. Challenges range from land ownership issues to neighborhood concerns to relocation of existing structures. SPLAT felt that after the first skateparks get developed, this would create excitement and momentum. This would help in generating neighborhood support and fund raising efforts for other proposed park locations. When each of the sites get to the point of being developed, PP&R will work with neighbors and Neighborhood Associations to measure support, discuss concerns and mitigation, and develop the features of the skateparks.

Glenhaven Park Recommended as Site of First New Skatepark While SPLAT’s recommendations are for the long-term system, there is only limited funding available today. The fact that there is money for skatepark development is thanks to Portland voters who passed the 2002 Parks Operating Levy, which provided funding for two skateparks by 2008.

SPLAT strongly recommended Glenhaven Park, adjacent to Madison High School, on NE 82nd, as their first priority for initial development. This site enjoys considerable neighborhood support. The Roseway Neighborhood Association expressed “enthusiastic support” for this site. In their letter to SPLAT encouraging development of this site, the Roseway Neighborhood Association Board stated “that the evaluation of SPLAT of the site within Glenhaven park was well-considered and reflective of the park’s opportunities and constraints [and] that a skatepark at the location within Glenhaven would be an amenity in the neighborhood if properly developed and managed.” Similarly, the neighboring Madison South Neighborhood Association has advocated for this site as an ideal location for a skatepark. The neighborhood coalition, Central Northeast Neighbors (CNN), has also been supportive of Glenhaven. “We strongly need and support free recreational activities for youth in the area,” said Sandra Lefrancois, Neighborhood Involvement Specialist with CNN. “The Central NE community is very fortunate to have the opportunity for a safe and accessible facility that will serve neighborhood youth.”

(MORE) Next Steps

Public Invited to Learn More PP&R and SPLAT members will host a “Stop & Talk” display outlining the siting recommendations at the Lloyd Center Mall, on Saturday June 4th, from noon – 4pm. The display will be on the first floor, near the Ross store. People interested in learning more about the project, and the sites being recommended may stop by and talk with staff and SPLAT members at this event.

PP&R to Review Recommendations Portland Parks & Recreation will work with SPLAT’s recommendations to fulfil the Levy commitment of constructing two sites within the next three years. PP&R is also working to raise other funds through grants, sponsorships and partnerships, to develop more of the system to provide equitable distribution of these new park facilities around the City

Presentation to City Council Staff will also present SPLAT’s recommendations to City Council in late June.

Selection of Designer/Builder In the next three months, PP&R will seek a qualified design/build skatepark company to assist with design and development of two sites as promised in the Levy. In order to move forward with remaining sites, PP&R will also develop a funding and implementation plan.

Ongoing Outreach For each of the sites, when it comes time to design and develop them, PP&R will work with the neighbors and Neighborhood Associations to discuss features and management measures.

The Need for Public Skateparks Since 1977, skateboarders have been advocating for a legal place to recreate in Portland. What they, as well as freestyle BMX bikers and inline skaters, have requested are safe, legal, public facilities where they can recreate without fear of being arrested or their equipment confiscated. Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) has one public skatepark in its current park system. This facility is located in Pier Park in the St Johns Neighborhood. The neighbors and the neighborhood association strongly support their skatepark.

Additional Information The project website (http://www.portlandparks.org/Planning/skatepark/index.htm) gives extensive background on the project, including: • Information about the project advisory committee, planning process and recommendations. • An explanation of the Skatepark System and the three different scales of parks envisioned. • The siting criteria used to evaluate all potential sites. • Site Information Sheets for those sites recommended, including the potential size and location of the proposed skatepark • Opportunities for involvement in design and fund raising

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