Charles River Skatepark
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should there be a skatepark in Boston?
About 25% of greater Boston’s youth, as well as growing numbers of young adults, skateboard, inline skate or BMX bike. The Charles River Skatepark will provide these athletes with a venue where they can safely and legally practice, exhibit and compete. There are currently three skateparks in Boston, which have been met with mixed reviews by Boston area skaters. In addition, none of the three are easily accessible by public transportation and none are able to accommodate the volume of athletes that the Charles River Skatepark will serve at 40,000 square feet.
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Who has been involved in the design and planning of the
Charles River Skatepark?
- Over 400 Boston area youth helped design the Charles River Skatepark through public meetings and email discussions with the skatepark designer, Zach Wormhoudt.
- Young people are also helping with fundraising and advocacy.
- By employing this public design process, the CRC aims to create a facility that will be well received by its users and also to instill a sense of ownership for the skatepark within the skating community.
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Won't the skatepark encourage participation in a
dangerous sport?
Contrary to popular thought, skateboarding is a relatively safe sport with statistics indicating that it ranks below all major sports including basketball, football, hockey, baseball and soccer, and even non-contact sports such as fishing and golf in terms of numbers of hospital visits per participant (US Consumer Products Safety Commission, 1997). Researchers from The Journal of Trauma conclude in a 2002 report that, compared with other sports, skateboarding is relatively safe. For instance, the 1998 rate of skateboard injuries treated at emergency departments was only half as high as basketball injuries.
Injuries to skateboarders occur primarily when skateboarders practice close to traffic, use homemade ramps or encounter uneven surfaces. Each of these concerns is mitigated by the construction of a world-class skatepark (Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America, 2004).
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If injuries do happen, who will be liable?
The Charles River Skatepark will be self-insured by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts just as all other state operated playgrounds, ice hockey rinks, playing fields and athletic facilities. The state will employ a “skate at your own risk” policy similar to the majority of other public skateparks in the country.
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Who will supervise the Charles River Skatepark?
The skatepark will be owned and operated by the state’s Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR formerly the MDC) and will be supervised in the same manner as other state-run athletic facilities. State police and the DCR rangers will patrol the park as part of their regular patrols through the Charles River Parklands.
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Who will be responsible for maintaining the skatepark?
The CRC, together with the DCR, is developing a long-term management plan, which will include the establishment of a maintenance fund, adequate staff/volunteers to be responsible for caretaking and will ensure that the skatepark will be properly maintained.
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What hours will the skatepark remain open?
While the governing rules for the skatepark will be determined by the DCR, the CRC is advocating for the skatepark to remain open 24 hours a day. As we have found with other skateparks, around the clock activity and bright lights will make the skatepark and its surroundings much safer by discouraging illicit activity. Active parks are safe parks.
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Is the location accessible by public transportation?
Yes. There are 4 T-stops within walking distance of the site; Science Park and Lechmere on the Green Line, Community College on the Orange Line, the commuter rail at North Station, as well as numerous bus routes.
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Will there be a fee?
No. The park will be free and open to all users.
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What will be the rules and regulations of the skatepark?
Similar to other public skateparks (including existing City of Boston parks) the Charles River Skatepark is expected to adopt a “skate at your own risk” policy. Although the park will be unsupervised, riders are advised to wear helmets and protective gear. Children under the age of ten will be required to be accompanied by an adult.
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Won't a skatepark bring drugs and crime into the neighborhood?
Other skateparks across the country have demonstrated that facilities such as the Charles River Skatepark, where kids can spend out-of-school time engaged in healthful activities, have been successful in reducing teenage drug use, crime and violence. According to the former Mayor of Louisville, and creator of the renowned Louisville Extreme Park, David Armstrong, “These facilities have an amazing way of policing themselves . . . If you instill a sense of ownership among its users, they will not want to trash their doorstep.” Like all state parks, the skatepark will be patrolled by the State Police.
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What about graffiti?
The concrete finish of the skatepark as well as surrounding concrete surfaces will use a graffiti repellent sealant, which will allow graffiti to be quickly and easily removed.
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Will this park be just for skateboarders?
No. The skatepark will be open to inline skaters and BMX bikers in addition to skateboarders and has been designed to accommodate all three sports. Spectator areas are also being designed for the general public as these action sports are as fun to watch, as they are to participate in.
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What is the timeline for the Charles River Skatepark?
Construction is expected to begin in 2006 or 2007 in conjunction with the surrounding Parklands. The skatepark is expected to open in 2007.
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How can I help?
To donate online, click on the "Donate to Skatepark" link at the bottom of this page. If you are a skater or biker, a generous donor will quadruple your donation. You can also help by hosting a gathering of skateboaders and their parents, and the CRC will conduct a skatepark presentation. Donations are also accepted by mail and can be made out to Charles River Conservancy, with “Skatepark” indicated on the memo line. The CRC's mailing address is shown in the column to the left.
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If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact the Parklands Project Coordinator, Sarah Tindall, at the phone number shown in the column to
the left or by email to slt@thecharles.org.
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