The plan to install a "skatespot" at Roxhill Park at 2850 s.w. Roxbury Street had its first public showing of the early schematic designs and while the meeting at the Southwest Branch of the Seattle Public library was only attended by 14 people, several very vocal skaters showed up to offer their input and well informed ideas to the project.

CLICK THE LINK TO SEE THE OVERHEAD VIEW OF THE SKATESPOT SCHEMATIC -- CLICK THE PHOTO ABOVE TO SEE MORE

Led by Seattle Parks Department's Kelly Davidson the plan was designed by Colby Carter of California Skateparks who said he's spent a solid three weeks of labor, working out how to handle the elevations, the elements, and to work within both the budget and the space allotted.

The overall project will mean the installation of the skatespot (defined as anything under 10,000 square feet, this one is around 9000 sq. ft) as well as a major renovation of the play area at the park. The budget is just over $1 million dollars funded by the 2008 Parks and Green Spaces Levy. Parks plans to bid the construction this spring and be in construction in 2012 opening next fall. Some of the budget comes from the Rob Dyrdek Foundation who contributed $75,000. The foundation promotes the Safe Spot Skate Spot Program, which seeks to create safe and legal havens for skaters across the country.

This meeting focused on the skatespot schematic design. The next meeting set for Monday, Oct. 17 will deal with the playground area. Both areas will be part of one construction bid. A final meeting will take place Nov. 14.

A previous meeting with the Skatepark Advisory Committee produced an early schematic but that has since been revised.

Also on hand for the meeting was Landscape Architect Shwu-Jen Hwang who is overseeing the handling of trees and other landscape elements for the project.

She noted that five trees would require removal to fit the skatespot in, and pointed out that the primary access point for skaters and spectators would be from the parking lot. A walking path will run along the skatespot's eastern edge.

She also spoke about how the drainage would be handled, "Because we increased the concrete area we need some place to put our storm water and drainage so we propose a rain garden (on the south side of the skatespot).

Designer Carter talked about why the area is more of a "plaza design" as opposed to something more like the recently installed skatepark in North Delridge which while much larger also has a mix of bowls, half pipes, and other "street" elements favored by some skaters. "We wanted to present something like this is because we know there's not something like this to skate in Seattle." He described the various skating elements which include ledges, half pipes, stairs with low 2 foot tall railings, "hubba ledges" a ledge down a set of stairs where grinds and slides are performed, a bridge element and "tranny" (transitional) elements.

Several skaters spoke up to voice concerns about this first design primarily about not being able to complete a circuit of the spot using design elements like a "pump bump" (a dip and rise that allow a skater to build momentum) and Carter acknowledged that north eastern corner of the spot "has been an issue for me." As it now stands the eastern edge is flat, at the bottom of the grade meaning skaters would likely have to stop and walk back up.

The entire site grade is about six feet.

The safety of skaters was also voiced since to some it appears that some elements would cause them to collide.

A skater for more than 30 years Jimmy Clark said, "I just came back from Delridge with my two kids 7 and 10 and I see the problems with this where you have stairs and rails, you're going to have all the 13, 15 and 17 year olds bombing, coming across, that's your only cross tranny area and I don't have any idea why you wouldn't have any transition along the front edge. It seems like you need to enclose that. I see areas where kids will run into each other (...) I've already seen my friend's five year old just get destroyed because of a feature that was similar to that."

Carter defended his design noting that there are issues with the City of Seattle regarding the height of skatepark elements, plus considerations regarding distance from trees and proximity to pathways.

Davidson mentioned that the major concern for the Parks Dept. was hiding places, keeping those unlikely so clear sight lines for police could be maintained.

Another skater expressed his dismay saying, "If it's going to be basic and small I'd rather see us spend the money on lights. I just really hope it's better than this." Davidson explained there was simply no budget for lighting the skatespot.

Sheets were handed out to allow skaters to allow them to draw in their suggested changes.

You can learn more at the Parks Dept. page for the project here.