New Basin Skatepark: Plan Rolls Forward For New Extreme Sports Facility
9 August 2003
With upwards of seventy extreme athletes and skatepark supporters in attendance,
advocates for a world-class skatepark on the banks of the Charles River in the
vicinity of the Leonard P. Zakim - Bunker Hill Bridge hosted an evening informational
and planning meeting at the Boston Public Library on July 30th.
The Charles River Conservancy, an organization dedicated to the renewal of
the Charles River Parklands, led the second in a series of meetings where local
athletes and community members were able to participate in the planning of a proposed
New Basin Skatepark.
Moderated by Butch Stearns of Fox 25 Sports, a panel of speakers included professional
skateboarder Vanik Hacobian, skatepark designer Jamie MacDonald, and various other
park planners, security experts, and state officials. The panel invited audience
participation in discussing ways in which safety and maintenance has affected
other skateparks, and how these issues will direct the design of the proposed
park near the Zakim-Bunker Hill Bridge.
Event organizers noted skateboarding is a relatively safe sport, with skaters
suffering fewer injuries than athletes in hockey, football and baseball. Comments
from speakers as well as the audience stressed the importance of designing the
proposed park with safety in mind — paying close attention to lighting, rules,
visibility, and proper park maintenance.
Boston City Councilor Michael Ross, a speaker at the meeting, voiced enthusiastic
support for the planned skatepark, reiterating the letter he co-authored with
Boston City Council President Michael Flaherty and fellow Council member Paul
Scappichio, which stated, "A skatepark will offer skateboarders a place to practice
their sport, thus reducing damage to City property".
The public steward of the proposed site, which is on state-owned property,
is the recently reorganized Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), formerly
known as the Metropolitan District Commission. The DCR was represented on the
panel by planner and project manager Karl Haglund and park ranger Russ Geer. Geer
regularly patrols the area of the proposed skatepark and welcomes its construction.
Ken Crasco, chief landscape architect of the Boston Parks and Recreation Department
gave the audience of some 70 athletes and park supporters an overview of a 5 year-old
skatepark in Hyde Park, which was built and maintained by the City. "We can always
learn from the past, and the next skatepark will be even better," said Crasco.
Using information gathered at the meeting, Jamie MacDonald of New England Skateparks,
a professional design and build firm, will develop preliminary skatepark plans
for review at a meeting scheduled for September 23rd in Cambridge. Skaters, bikers
and rollerbladers of all ages are invited to attend and make their views known.
(More information will be available about this meeting as the date draws near.)
Renata von Tscharner, president of the Charles River Conservancy, sponsor of
the meeting, expressed thanks on behalf of her organization and event attendees
to Robert Wadsworth, of the Boston Foundation. The Boston Foundation's support
allows the Conservancy to involve young athletes in the planning process. The
Tony Hawk Foundation, and individual donors have also contributed to skatepark
design activities.
For more information on the New Basin skatepark project and opportunities for
public involvement, call Emily Twiss at the CRC office.
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