STOP the SKATEPARK at GLENCOE PARK

The Argument against Small Skateparks (>4k sqft) at Glencoe

For Perspective
The author of the petition grew up skating, blading, boarding, BMX, etc. I'm not against skaters, but I am against a skatepark at Glencoe Park that residents do not support. 

Alternative Locations to Glencoe Park
Glencoe is one of the smallest, least accessible, most residential park that could have been chosen in Dallas. Here is a list of excellent alternatives.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gep99ZrhhsDNYy4sLYZp4vsT8WxizVfeGILTJUN3p9w/edit?usp=sharing

Here are the supporting images:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zY7n-XHDFn362LAu1WYupUVxwD8kvyhi?usp=sharing

For Reference
Here's an on-going labor of love I started for my child a while back that I'm happy to share with you (and all other skaters). It's a fairly complete audit of all the skateparks in DFW. Most I've visited. If the community wants to add to it, have at it!

DFW Skatepark Database
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1cFSNJW-S2XQ3OPyD2-rUVmTsNvrF7WD-o6om1w9FaRM/edit#gid=0

DFW Skatepark Images
For the Glencoe discussion, I went a step further and grabbed images of the neighborhood skateparks under 10k sqft.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1kXrJWCfoaSZctujRp6evH0f3hfbGFZso?usp=sharing

They aren't beautiful, they aren't used in proportion to allocated space, they aren't maintained, and he wants to dump it in the middle of Glencoe Park and walk away.

This is the state of most skateparks:

• Poorly designed
• Empty, abandoned or under-utilized
• Ugly eye-sores (esp. the large rusted metal pre-fabs)
• Constantly getting repainted due to graffiti
• Don't have shade for summer
• Pre-fab metal is noisy and hot
• The bigger the features, the older the skaters
• Are not secure, so older skaters will be there all night

As you can tell, most neighborhood skateparks are under-utilized because there's just not the number of skaters between ages 6-12 in a particular neighborhood to justify it. This is much different than the large master-planned skateparks in the middle of master-planned suburb communities. Those are getting great buy-in from the skating community.

Once a child has skated a few years, they want bigger, better features. From what I have seen, it's really tough to find that balance between building a true neighborhood skatepark with the right sized features that won't attract older dudes, and small enough to justify the space and funds allocation for a limited number of young skaters.

For all of these reasons and more, most of these neighborhood skateparks have been mostly ghosted by both skaters and city maint. budgets. Skaters are flocking to the large destination skateparks (14k+ sqft) (which I fully support) that are smoother and much better designed with bigger and better features like bowls, pump-tracks, half-pipes, spines, rollers, have shade for sunny days, better lighting at night, restrooms, are near retail/convenience stores and probably the biggest draw, provide socialization opportunities with lots of people.

The vast majority of residents surrounding Glencoe Park did not ask for this skatepark, and do not support it.

The Argument against Medium Skateparks (4k - 10K sqft) at Glencoe

1. At-Risk Youth: Proponents of the skatepark will tell you it's a great way to keep at-risk youth occupied – and it is. But there just aren't enough at-risk kids in the surrounding neighborhoods to justify this argument.
2. Noise disturbance: If the features are big enough to attract young adults, doesn't have a secured gate, and lit, it will be used by skaters all night long, disrupting the peace and quiet of our tranquil park and causing annoyance to those living around the park – especially residents of Monticello Crossing, The Gentry, Anita, Ellsworth and Martel.
3. Vandalism and Crime: Glencoe Park currently has no graffiti or crime issues. It is indisputable that areas surrounding medium and large-sized urban skateparks become targets for vandalism, graffiti and crime, leading to safety concerns, property damage, property loss, and a decline in the overall desirability of the park and surrounding neighborhoods.
4. Non-local visitors: In one breath, the leaders of Dist. 14 will tell you this is a neighborhood skatepark. In the next breath, they will tell you how great it is that its accessible from all parts of the city via the bike trails and Dart. A 7,000k destination skatepark will lead to increased traffic, truancy, and antisocial behavior from people who don't care what the surrounding resident population thinks. Google "The Boneyard Garland Crime increase".
5. Aesthetic concerns: Skateparks, with their large metal ramps and structures, are eyesores and clash with the visual appeal of our quiet, natural neighborhood park. See the image folder link above.
6. Loss of greenspace: Green space is extremely rare in Dallas. Why is the City of Dallas ripping up grass and pouring concrete? Reclaim an unused parking lot. Plus, in an area when everybody is complaining about climate change, isnt this just contributing to it?
7. Space allocation: In the Spring, Summer and early Fall, both of those ballparks are utilized almost nightly by kids practices, games, and SMU organizational / intramural games.
8. Impact on Property Values: Residents feel the compounding effects of a medium-sized skatepark will lower property values around Glencoe Park, especially on Monticello Crossing, Martel, Anita and Ellsworth as potential homebuyers will be deterred by the noise and other negative aspects associated with skateparks.

Alternatives to Glencoe Park

1. NE corner of Worcola/Twin 60s parking lot – close to dart and bike path.
2. Matilda Bridge lot – close to dart and bike path.
3. Cole Park – PERFECT! Dist 14, the High-schoolers can skate right after class.
4. Randall Park – Next door to Woodrow Wilson High School!
5. Buckner/Samuel Park – Huge empty fields right next to an elementary school. Awesome location.
6. Exall Park – This seems like a great place. Why not here?
7. Fair Oaks Park – Huge park, next to Conrad High School, do you need 7 softball fields?
8. R.P. Brooks Park - huge space, good distance from residential, serves Merriman Park and Jill Stone Elementary schools.
9. Flag Pole Hill – tons of space. Near the bike path
10. White Rock Lake – Unlimited space and close to dart and bike path. 
11. Orbiter Park – Centrally located. Tons of unused space. Non-resi area.
12. Valley View Park – Centrally located with great access
13. Hamilton Park – Tons of unused space. Centrally located. Non-resi area
14. Revershon – close to dart and bike path. 
15. Harry Moss – huge park near bike path and dart
16. Garrett Park – NE corner near the Mini-pitch
17. Lake Highlands Park – near the elementary school, tons of space. near the bike path

LINKS

Hot Spot for Crime
"John Comer Skatepark has become a place where drug dealers come to try to hook children and young people," said Michael Mendoza, a barbershop owner in the shopping center."
|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpYiVeDsruM

Three shot at skate park
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/skate-park-shooting-leaves-3-injured-in-saginaw/258615/