Dallas recently played host to an amazing skate competition hosted by 4DWN, which drew skaters from hours away to try out the new skate bowl and compete with friends. One of those visitors is a renaissance man and all around talented guy named Ryan Crane.
Ryan is a professional architect in his home town of Bartlesville, OK.
Ryan created the 7ply Art of Skateboarding show at Price Tower
Ryan also worked with the city of Bartlesville to get a new skatepark approved by bond referendum (like Dallas), as part of the Bartlesville Skatepark Initiative
And Ryan is a skatepark designer
Read more about Ryan Crane's journey
SP4D invited Ryan to make a visit to Bachman Lake with local skaters to discuss the site, share what is known at this time, and start thinking of ideas for how this location can be converted into an amazing skatepark. Ryan is working on putting the ideas to paper and we will keep you posted right here. His work will be inspiration, idea-generating, and a vehicle for additional communication with Dallas skaters, but it is not the skatepark's official design.
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We gathered a group of local skaters to visit the site with Ryan and discuss ideas and share local knowledge about the skate scene in Dallas. #ImOnBoard & Skateparks for Dallas is a project of the Dallas Parks Foundation
Jay Paul Sanchez, Clinton Haley, Warren Christie, Eric Eley and Ryan Crane
Here is the group standing on the dam of Bachman Lake, overlooking the Dallas Parks & Recreation department maintenance facility that will become the skatepark. Behind them is Bachman Lake and Dallas Love Field airport, home of Southwest Airlines.
For some context, here is the group discussing the park with Bachman Lake at their backs. It is a beautiful location.
Below is the current Dallas Parks & Recreation Maintenance Facility that will be moved to another site to make space for the skatepark and other recreational facilities. The DART rail line, and Bachman Station are right behind the park. The Orange & Green Line will bring you to this station from Downtown, DFW Airport or Carrollton & Farmer's Branch. The station is very close to this site, so this will be a truly accessible park.
One aspect of the site that stood out to the group during the visit was the extensive shade trees that are present on the property. As Ryan looks at the site, he will fit as many of these trees into the conceptual design as possible providing natural shade and preserving the beauty of the location.
The group visited SkateparksforDallas.org to review the project goals that we have shared on our site, and discuss how these goals can be applied to this location.
A 30,000-75,000 square foot, permanent, poured-in concrete skatepark
Features suitable for skaters of all levels
A venue that can attract community contests and events
Accessible by multiple modes of transit, including DART and bike/walk
A true public amenity, where families can skate together, or just watch the talented young people of the city of Dallas, with benches and shade.
Skateboard-appropriate lighting for night skating
Additional ideas that came out from the discussion included
Ensure a family friendly location through design. Parents can bring their kids to skate in, and then go get exercise around the trails or visit the Bachman Recreation Center
This location lends itself to spectating, with the elevated trails that pass right by the park, so let's provide a comfortable access from DART as well as from the trails.
Include public art, potentially skateable, art.
Represent the history of Dallas skateboarding in the features and art, including some of the famous ramps from the old Northwest Highway park, and other popular local, historic, skate spots
Key amenities like shade, rest rooms, benches, and water fountains
Do you have history of Dallas skateboarding that you want to share? Email us at info@dallasparksfoundation.org to share, or join the email list.
Thank you to Ryan Crane for making the time to visit Bachman Lake while visiting Dallas. If you can visit the Price Tower in Bartlesville, be sure to visit the 7ply: The Art of Skateboarding show while you are there. Price Tower is a Frank Lloyd Wright skyscraper, and the art show is an impressive compilation from national artists.
Thank you to Eric, Warren, & Jay Paul for joining Skateparks for Dallas at Bachman to provide local skater input to the idea session.
Don't forget to join the email list to stay up to date.
The shared experiences of skatepark advocacy around the country. Go Athens Go!