"It looks sick!"
Those were the words of three local teenagers after eyeing up the design for Revelstoke's new skateboard park. They said it simultaneously, with barely any prompting.
The skatepark design was unveiled at an open house hosted by the City of Revelstoke, the Columbia Valley Skateboard Association and New Line Skateparks last Thursday, Apr. 16, at the community centre.
"They nailed it," said Chris Payne, the president of the CVSA. "It's balanced. It has its individual elements but it all flows together."
The proposed park is a little under 20,000-square-feet in size, though it's total footprint appears significantly larger than the existing 16,000-square-foot park because of its oblong shape.
Skateboarders and bikers will enter the park from the existing footpath at an entry way designed to mimic the look of Mackenzie Avenue. In response to concerns, the entrance will be rough brick to make skaters get off their boards to get in and out of the park; the goal being to minimize contact with passing pedestrians.
The first section of the park is the beginner area, with two drop-in spots, a one-metre high quarter-pipe, a flatbar and two ledge features.
Moving further in is the long street line, which stretches from one end of the park to the other. Starting at a two-metre-high drop in, riders will be able to hit various rails, ramps, wedges, stairs, drops and ledges before hitting the turnaround at the other end and going back the other way.
The south side of the park features a pool-style bow, with varying depths. To the north is a snake line that ends in a big wall ride.
"The layout is totally unique," said Kyle Dion, the president of New Line.
Above: The proposed design of new skateboard park. The full design document can be seen at the end of this article. ~ Image by New Line Skateparks
The open house was held to seek input into the design, but given the feedback that was heard, it's unlikely there will be any major changes.
"When we saw the design, we said we don't want to change anything," said Karl Jost, the president of the CVSA. "People are already picking the lines they want to ride."
Chuck Morin, one of about 75 people who came to the open house, said the design met expectations. "There's good variety and lots of different lines," he said.
A meeting was held with neighbouring residents earlier in the day, but only three turned out. Alice Weber, who lives next to the park, said suggestions were made to build up the berm that serves as a sound barrier, and to make sure the screening trees don't block out views.
Once all the feedback is incorporated, a final design will be created. Dion said New Line will then start on the engineering so the CVSA can go out and look for grants and in-kind donations.
Jost said the CVSA has about $13,000 in the bank, as well as $50,000 of city funding to pay for the design. Once the design is finalized, they will begin filling out grant applications in earnest. "When we go apply for grants, we're going to look really good," he said.