Beyond Concrete Part 1: Introduction to great parks
Beyond Concrete Part 2: Specific ideas for a great Dallas skatepark at Bachman Lake
Beyond Concrete Part 3: Examples of great park design from DFW and North America. With help from New Line & SPA Skateparks, we collected examples that illustrate the potential of great skatepark design from their portfolio of work.
BEYOND CONCRETE P3: Great Skatepark Examples from North Texas & Beyond
If you have other ideas you would like to share, please join our email list and share your idea to info@skateparksfordallas.org
Arlington's Vandergriff Skatepark is 30,000 square feet and was built in 2014, as the central flagship of the city's skatepark master plan. This park conveys Arlington's brand image, features unique, skate-able sculpture and is integrated into the cities trail & park system for more connectivity
Arlington's Vandergriff Skatepark, with city branding and repurposed benches in the background. Before the park was built, skaters used these benches for tricks.
Arlington's Vandergriff , with its winding, open ended 'snake run' surrounded by mature trees and natural park land cuts a stunning figure with a skater in flight, and this unique feature regularly features on locals favorite list.
Arlington's Vandergriff Skatepark, photo by drone. This park is the largest and most centrally located of the multiple parks included in Arlington's 10 Year Skatepark Master Plan. This park is a regional magnet drawing skaters from around the metroplex.
Arlington's Vandergriff Skatepark is incorporated into existing park paths, which connect to concessions, parking and other city pathway infrastructure. This kind of connectivity into the multi-modal transportation paths further enhances the value of all of the facilities, creating both destinations and connections
The Colony, TX Before & After -- from modular skate ramp park to beautiful facility completed cost effectively. The Colony, like Dallas' own St. Francis skatepark was a fenced in modular ramp park that was uninspired and not a true asset to the whole community.
The chainlink fence makes for an uninviting space, and the modular ramps have a limited lifespan
Working with New Line / SPA, The Colony reused its existing concrete slab to gain cost efficiencies, and designed a beautiful park. They were able to expand the park to about 12,000 sqft as part of this redesign, and incorporate local attributes like the sailboat to indicate the proximity to the lake. This drone photo was taken before completion of construction. The redesigned park opened December 16, 2017.
The Colony redesigned skatepark Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, December 2017
Northeast Community Park, in Frisco, Texas is the largest park in DFW to date, at 47,000 square feet. The park opened in August 2017 and this grand opening celebration was hosted by the City's Parks & Recreation Dept with hundreds in attendance. The park features numerous innovative sculptural features.
Hundreds celebrate Frisco's skatepark in August 2017.
Frisco's skatepark includes shaded areas to gather and hang out with friends.
Frisco's 14 foot over-vertical 'concrete wave'. The park provides facilities for skateboard, BMX and scooters
Gabe Nesbitt Skatepark, McKinney TX. The park is a destination scaled facility including plaza, ditch, bowl and pool terrain. Landscaped islands with limestone seating allow spectators to safely be a part of the experience. The park has an iconic, skateable art feature within the plaza area references the city's motto "Unique by Nature". Completed in 2013, 30K sq ft
McKinney Skatepark overview shows the incorporation of safe spectator zones, shade elements and terrain features for various interests and skill levels included in a single facility.
The Unique by Nature Skate-able Sculpture
Roanoke Skatepark in Roanoke, TX. The City's slogan "Unique Dining Capital of Texas" is reflected within the skatepark features - a cantilevered spoon, metal knife rail, black & white checkered (diner) pool tile.
The pool feature includes 'diner-style' tiles, and the skateable spoon and metal knife rail connect to the city's motto
Plaza at the Forks Skatepark in Winnepeg, Canada - An strong example of world-class street and bowl terrain integrated with colour, texture, art, landscaping, and inviting viewing areas. This park has attracted world class skaters to Winnepeg to enjoy its unique design. Be sure to check out the image of the park when it is full of skaters.
That is a beautiful skatepark!
Ed Benedict Skate Plaza in Portland, Oregon - Water Droplet manual pad and gap. River rock in gap collects storm water and directs to planted areas within park.
UBC Campus Skatepark, British Columbia, Canada is the first skatepark on a university campus in North America. Concrete and Steel skateable books sculpture - a signature feature created with input from the local community. The university emphasized the community input into the design process and it shows.
Skate-able book sculputure on a university campus
Vancouver, Canada's Chuck Bailey Covered Skatepark - Created as part of a legacy facility for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Features an expansive 30K sqft plaza area with permeable concrete drainage gaps, plus specialty shotcrete skateable 'rocks/boulders' and a 6,500 sqft covered flow bowl
Vancouver's Surrey BC Skatepark is transit accessible, and adjacent to an existing recreation center. This center shares many attributes with Dallas' planned location at Bachman Lake, with existing DART transit access, trail access, as well as an existing recreation facility. Maybe we should take a trip to Vancouver and check it out!
Thank you for reading Beyond Concrete. Please share with your friends and help us spread the word about Skateparks for Dallas
City of Dallas broke ground on the Bachman Lake Skatepark on March 28, 2024. See the event highlights here.