Also notable is that Grindline, because they were a subcontractor on the design, should be able to bid on the construction.  If this happens and they are awarded the contract, I will throw a party, and you’re invited.

Check out the bid announcement here:  Delridge Ad

Here are the much-requested dimensional specs for the Delridge design.  (click the image for a larger/almost actually readable version)  Remember, you must get your feedback posted here by November 20th to have it considered.

Some helpful details:

· The long low wall/ledge that sits on the grass (see first attachment figure) between the skatepark and the benches may be moved to the southern edge of the skatepark so we get a barrier (requested by folks in Parks) that is skateable.
· The egg bowl is 10 ft deep with a foot of vert and the shallow is 6 ft deep
· The flow bowl shallow end (looks like a U) will be between 3 to 4 ft deep and the remainder of the flow bowl except the extension will be between 5 and 6 feet.  The extension will be 7 ft and just hit vert.
· The brick stamped area will be similar to Bellevue bank except smaller height.

It looks like someone forgot to eat breakfast before sitting down in front of Rhino.  At least throw in one of those SeaSk8 bacon strips guys!

Grindline took all of the feedback they gathered from the last meeting, and came up with these delicious new renderings.  Our folks at Parks tell us that these have been vetted through the initial layer of review with the Parks internal design folks, and may only need minor revisions.  Possible problems include the cantilevered slabs (safety), and some minor grading issues.

Features/changes of note include:

• the deathbox/gap theme
• the removal of the cool mini-ramp feature to the West of the bowl section
• the bowl being split into two
• the missing brick-stamped transition wall around the tree
• the apparent solution to the “which way to bend the kidney” problem
• the return of the Bainbridge shallow end (minus the pool block)

The SPAC meeting this Monday will serve as a de-facto feedback session on this new iteration of the design. Feel free to show up to the meeting and provide your input directly, or post it here in the comments section and I will deliver it for you.

Remember folks, it ain’t a skatepark until you’re rollin’ on it.

Update:  Council member Rasmussen chimes in with his support.

Well here is a very similar opportunity for skaters to show the neighborhood that’s been so supportive and welcoming to them, that they are interested in contributing.  Volunteers are needed to help build the  playground at the Delridge Community Center. Funding depends on the  neighborhood being able to commit a certain number of people.

You should send an email by July 2nd to helpdelridgeplay@gmail.com if  you can help.

Friday, July 17th
6:30 am to 2:00 pm

No special skills are needed, except for an  ability to wake up early and take the day off work, possibly.

There will be edible gardening preparation,  painting, and other fun activities other than strictly building. Come bond  with your neighbors and help improve the area.

There will also be an art wall that they are hoping people will want to help paint.

Please show up and let Delridge know you’re down for more than just yourself.

Photo courtesy of the West Seattle Blog

Make sure to get over to the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center tonight at 6:30pm, to see the Grindline vision for the park, and provide your input for the final design.

The design has not officially been unveiled, although Micah was showing it at Delridge Day, and you can kind of see it here in this photo.

Personally, I would like to see more intermediate features integrated into a flow area that fills the hole in the middle. This park is going to be heavily used, and everyone who wants to skate transition is going to crowd the bowl without something else.

Regardless, please show up and contribute to the next Seattle skatepark.

Chances are, you will be able to convince Micah into showing you the final design if you turn up at this.  But the better wager is that you will have a great time watching a bunch of kids compete for free stuff.

Delridge Day is also a great opportunity for West Seattle skateboarders to get involved and educated about the community that they will be skating in everyday.  The Delridge community has been overwhelmingly welcoming of the skateboard community, including efforts by non-skaters in the neighborhood to reach out to skaters and actively learn about skateboarding and skate culture.

But this is a two way street.  The skateboarders really need to reciprocate by not only showing up to participate the skate event, but also by walking around and getting engaged in all of the great things that the Delridge community has to offer.

Skaters:  go to this event to meet and engage with your new neighbors.

The downside of this is that the angry neighbors who called skaters “degenerates”, “drug dealers”, “thieves”, and even accused them of defacing a monument to fallen soldiers in Olympia in a public meeting, were successful in keeping a neighborhood skatespot from being built.  The kids in the Myrtle neighborhood will now have to travel all the way to Delridge to skate.

The upshot is that no kids will have to enjoy their healthy recreational sport of choice in the vicinity of adults that clearly fear and despise young people so much that they’re willing to demean them to their faces.

Thanks Myrtle neighbors!  I hope you enjoy your new homeless camp/cell tower farm/jungle gym #5000/place where teenagers are going to have nothing to do so they’ll be doing all the things you don’t like them doing anyway.

You win at life.  Congrats.

I will say that it’s a testament to all fo the hard work that the Delridge community has put into this park, that we had not only such a stellar turnout of community members last night, but that the Superintendent and Planning Director are so supportive of the project.

There were lots of other important issues discussed at the meeting.  I’ll post the minutes as soon as possible.