Tue 5 Jun 2007
Could Cedar Park Come Around to Support Skateboarders?
Posted by seth johnson under skatepark , transition skating[15] Comments
Skaters living in the suburb northwest of Austin are organizing to lobby Cedar Park to include skatepark funds in an upcoming bond election. Darrell Lowrance, who rallied skaters to great success in Round Rock, sent me this note on the topic:
The city of Cedar Park will be holding a bond input meeting at 6:30PM on Weds, June 6, 2007 at the Cedar Park Public Library, 550 Discovery Blvd. We still have time to lobby for another skatepark in our area. Some park improvements have already be suggested, but nothing has been finalized yet.
Skateboarders lacked any representation in the process when Cedar Park previously considered a public skatepark. With a strong showing at this bond input meeting, it’ll increase the likelihood that NIMBY opposition will be defeated later on. In 2005, Cedar Park conducted a survey asking residents what Parks and Recreation improvements they would like to see, and the results showed 22% of respondents wanted a skatepark. So not everyone up there is a hater.
As we parked down the street from the Terrible One ramp facility last weekend, we saw a man sleeping on a patch of grass beside the street. Due to the surrounding poverty, it sort of fit. Then after we got out of the car, the sleeper awoke and started walking down the sidewalk with a skateboard in hand. When we got to the ramp, it was pretty much more of the same, but most people were still standing up and/or rolling around. Here are some photos. I have no idea who won or placed because the bracket organization disintegrated right after I got there. The best I can say is, “Adam.”
A visitor from out of state, Bill Helene, shot these photos.
June 5th, 2007 at 7:57 pm
come on Cedar park, get with it.
June 5th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
Great work posting the 2005 survey results, Seth. I don’t believe I’ve seen it before. I’ll be sure to print it out for the meeting.
Many of the most desired facilities now exist since the Brushy Creek Lake Park opened in 2005, with trails, playgrounds, nature center, picnic areas and even a waterplayscape. The only thing that’s glaringly still missing in CP is a skatepark.
I just got word about the format of this meeting– it will be casual, meet-and-greet with the city officials, which is an excellent format for making our case for skateparks. It certainly beats having to prepare, practice, and deliver a 5 minute speech supporting skateparks, and afterwards, receiving zero feedback from the city.
June 5th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
Darrell, I say this everytime, but thank you again for all your hard work!
June 5th, 2007 at 11:14 pm
Army– Thanks for getting involved. Hope to see you tomorrow night.
June 7th, 2007 at 12:17 am
Skaters had a *great* showing at the meeting tonight. About 12 skaters, both young and old, and filled out surveys, writing in “Skatepark” as Most Important. Our presence was definitely felt by city officials and staff. They are very aware of the need for a skatepark. Many thanks to all who attended.
I discovered that getting a skatepark added to this bond package is kind of a long shot at this stage, but our presence has definitely motivated them to work with us on possibly building a small skatepark with existing funds in the near future. I talked at length with the Parks director, and it sounds extremely promising. I’ll be following up with the city in the weeks to come.
June 9th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Anyone can fill out the survey online and tell the city you want a skatepark.
Cedar Park online survey–
http://www.cedarparktx.us/cp/page119821238.aspx
Under Parks-Other: type in “Skatepark, High Interest” and follow the instructions to email your survey data.
June 13th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
austinskatenoes is slower than a snail on heroin.
June 13th, 2007 at 5:37 pm
i love skatenoeses
June 14th, 2007 at 11:09 pm
pendantic fool- if it is too slow for you, start your own website.
June 15th, 2007 at 11:13 am
I think our fearless leadrer and main contributor is is busy building two skateparks. Cut him a little slack and I’ll try and take up some.
June 16th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
Clay. Ok.
June 18th, 2007 at 9:52 am
when is House Park 2.0 supposed to launch?
June 20th, 2007 at 9:08 am
they should make the wood from the house and make a giant half pipe.
June 21st, 2007 at 4:05 pm
hey, cedar park local here. this city is definitely got some gnar spots slowly becoming extinct. due to insane skatestopping designs such as chains in front of stair sets (who does that?) actually building new things to cover existing spots, or just turning the lights out at night has killed a few. this is the time for a park. i’m thinking that cedar park should cooperate with the new ymca. there is tons of acreage and the ymca has a pool(specifically designed not to skate haha) a paintball course, a rock wall, tons of stuff that would get not nearly enough use compared to a skatepark. anyways. sorry that i wasnt informed of the meeting or else i coulda added 4 or 5 to the lucky 12 supporting skateboarded. im really sad to hear that news didnt get out. hopefully cedar park will catch up with the surrounding cities. but we can only hope. because this is the place with some of the most uptight people i’ve ever dealt with.
June 23rd, 2007 at 1:07 am
Hey, Johnny, if you want to get involved, go to http://www.skatersforpublicskateparks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7360&sid=5a773d625866819e0a113fa2a2938800
There’s more info about the Cedar Park situation and you can get in touch with other area skaters. Create yourself an account and jump in the game!
You ought to sent an email to the city council and mayor about the local skatespots being shutdown and how the CP needs a skatepark now, not later.
I know what you mean about uptight people in CP. The city set aside $125K for a skatepark back in 2005, but every place they attempted to build it was protested by the NIMBYs (Not In My BackYarders). Skaters need to stand and be counted if something is ever going to be built there.