Rick went to the meeting and wrote a recap. My favorite part is this excerpt.
The committee and THPRD have no plan at all to keep more advanced skaters or bikes out of the novice park. In fact, they seemed very surprised, and somewhat dismayed, that the “advanced” (in years, if not ability) skaters and bikers at the meeting thought the new park looked fun and that we did plan to ride there when it opens.
I love it when park officials get dismayed that a park looks fun. You can read the whole story and see some renders of the proposed site after the jump.
Tualatin Hills Novice Skatepark
I couldn’t find any pictures at Grindline or the parks site, but I did grab these from Nebraskabowlrider’s photobucket feed via Sleestak. Imagine that. People have reviled my endorsement of a skate park built for beginners in an area relatively saturated with bigger parks. I’ve rethought it and I’m on the fence. Sometimes still think it’s a good idea if only to keep the groms out from underfoot. However, it’s pretty clear from reading Rick’s narration that the idea has failed in that sense. They have designed a great small skate spot that will be built adjacent to and subsequently overrun by the existing users of the current park. Looks fun as hell to me. I’ll go check it out for sure.
Here’s Ricks write up:
Went to this meeting. This is an attempt at a brief recap (I’m not real good at “brief”).
Apparently, this Novice Skatepark concept has been cooking for 7 years, in which time of course, skatepark design has progressed greatly. Unfortunately, the people planning this park have not. Although they hired Grindline to do the final design and build, the funding was gained over the years with the comittment to build the novice park, so their hands were basically tied. They seem convinced that, because some older kids and bikers ride the old ramp park, that must be an “advanced area”, and if they build a “novice” area, that everything will magically self-regulate so that just the little kids and slow old guys will want to ride the novice park. These people definitely mean well (they did hire Grindline…) and they were very positive about skating as an activity, but they are sticking to the plan and aren’t real open to new ideas on this park. It’s a done deal. There were as many bikers as skaters at the meeting (about 5 of each, with a few parents and someone from Skaters For Public Skateparks) along with the committee and Micah, the Grindline guy. Only two little guys, though, and they brought a very nice poster with their own design ideas. They will like the new park.
The new area will be directly adjacent to the ramp park (this will not help the “novice self regulation” one bit). The design is a small, but very fun looking mini-snake into a 5 ft. bowl, some rails, ledges, bumps, a curb, low tranny around the edges, basic but slightly shrunk down street elements, really. It actually looks like it will be a great park to learn and goof around in, so I think they nailed the brief if they are shooting for grom appeal. A fly-out track was suggested, and likely will be added. The new area will be about 8600 sq/ft, if I remember correctly.
The committee and THPRD have no plan at all to keep more advanced skaters or bikes out of the novice park. In fact, they seemed very surprised, and somewhat dismayed, that the “advanced” (in years, if not ability) skaters and bikers at the meeting thought the new park looked fun and that we did plan to ride there when it opens. I saw no reason to believe that the issues they perceived in the original park, with groms being intimidated by bikes and big guys, won’t occur in the new “novice park”. They are definitely in a ski area mindset, that the terrain dictates the level of ability. Yes, bikes will definitely be allowed to use the “novice” park.
All in all, it was less a meeting for input, and more to show the new design. They are planning to break ground in April and get it in for May, so they aren’t wasting any more time. As far as future Beaverton skateparks go, this would require significant bureaucratic effort and fund-raising. If it took 7 years to get another novice skatepark right next to the existing outdated one, I can’t imagine that a big, modern park is around the corner. One of the park guys there seemed intrigued with the idea of small skate spots in other parks (like West Linn, Vancouver, or Holly), so maybe these could be snuck in. They felt that the “novice park” was a “baby step” toward building a bigger park someday (“We have to prove that this “novice park” is a success before we move on to bigger skateparks.”) Definitely outdated thinking. It’s Beaverton, what can I say?
Luckily, there are plenty of other places to go for big, if you have a car. Unfortunately, most of these kids don’t, so they’ll have to be happy with their back to back mini-parks. I think most of them actually will, as long as they don’t get taken out by a biker, or me.
Later,
Rick (Mac)
26 comments
Chad Balcom
Wow! I guess I missed this when it was current. Sometimes these things are nice to remind me how much I suck, dont skate, etc. Otherwise, I’d never realize how much I suck, don’t skate, etc.
It dissapoints me how much less I suck, dont skate, etc after this one got built. I guess theres always the next park project that I can bum you out with (currently Gresham, & Happy Valley come to mind).
PS – have you guys ever skated a bunch of shitty steel ramps? I have.
enemy combatant
Excellent! Mellow drop-in and nice easy lines! And it looks like it won’t attract any of those pathetic 40-something ex-punk rockers cluttering the place up in their desperate attempts to stave off the inevitable march of time with yet another boring handplant.
soreknee
I had not heard or seen anything posted lately about the Beaverton novice park so I thought I would go over and take a look, novice park or not it looks fun.
Most of the crete has been poured and the Grindline guy I spoke with stated that it should be done by the end of the month, the planned grand opening is for 7/27/08.
Kilwag
Danged interwebs…. You must have forgot the ‹ sarcasm › tag.
xxx
It seems the joke missed the intended target.
jaymeericle
Wow, u guys get touchy about rolling in huh! Lol
Touch a soft spot?
Gnar..!
oldfatjeff
“But really, who cares about all that when this is going on
juan
xxx- finally? wha? dude, you know that most parks you ride here in the metro are fruits of their labor right? Your comment is the definition of irony. Kilwag nice “in your face bro!” pics
irony:
a. Incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs
well close enough anyway…
p.s. damm conahan you got some knobby knees!
juan
Greg N are you implying that curbs aren’t worth skating? I’ll have you know sir I grew up skating curbs, and if I weren’t busy shredding then healing up I’d be out there advocating curbs on every corner of every street. But I’m way to core for that kind of pussy civic engagement.
damienhialation
But really, who cares about all that when this is going on…
Greg N
When I think of SPS skaters I think of the ones pictured above. And they usually advocate for the big stuff. (Curbs generally dont need advocates). So I was thinking that cause this new park is so small maybe he MEANT all the “To much tranny” guys( “non SPS”) would be happy. Like he had it backwards on purpose. I think he was just throwing fire though.
And yes, NON SPS people cant Skate… its just a fact 😉
Kilwag
xxx – Here’s two SPS (Portland) kooks and advocates Tom Miller and Mark Conahan not rolling in on over vert and the deep end of a pool.
Kilwag
WINNER: JAKEANDANNOY!
JAKEANDANNOY
“Beavertron” …like a porno version of the 80’s flick?
conahan
That looks like a painted curb. We need a skatepark electoral college, the will of the people cannot be trusted.
damienhialation
This is a communist skatepark. That is what the red line is for.
conahan
With my massive ego I always figure they’re not talking about me.
Kilwag
There are also two SPSs –
Skaters for Portland Skateparks
Skaters for Public Skateparks
Hateboard
and wtf is that red line for?
Hateboard
are you implying that dudes not affiliated with sps cant roll in greg?
its more or less my observation that dudes that dont really skate….advocate. not all mind you, but many.
most dudes out there charging and putting it on the line dont have the time or energy to be advocates cuz we gotta get our shred on and heal up after. dont take that as a blanket statement, please. its not true across the board. it just seems that way.
LP
isnt conahan a part of sps there xxx? MC is fucking rad. I am sure he can roll in!
Greg N
“finally a park the sps kooks can ride. time to learn the roll in dum dums.” I dont get it. Do you mean the Non SPS Kooks?
xxx
finally a park the sps kooks can ride. time to learn the roll in dum dums.
Rich
Begin Diatribe –
This park reflects the “helicopter parent” mentality that seems to have a grip on our youth. Hey kids, wake-up and assert yourself in your communities. Raise money, work with the city and get yourself some better terrain. Take action or good ol’ Mom and Dad are going to keep you in their safety zone.
– End Diatribe
GregN
Too bad about letting bikes in. But I guess Bikes are a ‘novice’ version of skateboarding.
jf
that mini bowl looks super fun.