Well looky-here…

Guess what came a’wanderin’ into the ol’ inbox!

I’m not saying that this has anything to do with skateboarding, but I do think it’s pretty interesting that the guy who is running the project to restore the Hat and Boots is also the principle pimp on the River City skatepark project.  You’re darn tootin’!

My question is why does the Parks Department always write press releases in this ridiculous Comic Sans font?

The press release:

HAT ‘n’ BOOTS: TOGETHER AGAIN
Iconic art and roadside kitsch from “Premium Tex” fully restored
Seattle Parks and Recreation is happy to announce the restoration of the landmarked Hat ‘n’ Boots will be completed the first week of November.  The Hat ‘n’ Boots located in Oxbow Park at 6400 Corson Ave. S. were moved from their former location at the “Premium Tex” Texaco gas station on E Marginal Way to Oxbow Park in December 2003.

“The restoration of the Hat at Oxbow Park is another gold star for this tenacious South Seattle neighborhood,” said Mark Johnson, Senior Associate at Jones & Jones Architects. “Without the vision of the community in the late 90′s to save and relocate the Hat ‘n’ Boots, one of Seattle’s most iconic roadside attractions would have been lost.  Let the celebration begin!”

The boots had already been restored, and repainted in the original colors and design when the Pro Parks Levy funded Oxbow Park first opened in 2005.   Parks started restoring the Hat in the summer of 2009.  The scaffolding and tent that have surrounded the structure for months during construction will be removed on October 15, 2009 and the final coats of paint will be applied when weather permits.

Jones and Jones Architects led the design of the restoration project.  The construction of the hat included a combination of skilled contractors. Seattle Center’s Welding Shop completed the welding of structural reinforcement; materials were donated by Capital Industries; sandblasting and priming was completed by Seattle Parks Paint Shop and Turnstone Construction is responsible for the detailed concrete work and final paint.

Seattle Parks is very appreciative of the efforts of all involved to work together and make this project a reality.

For additional information please visit http://www.cityofseattle.net/parks/proparks/projects/oxbow.htm <http://www.cityofseattle.net/parks/proparks/projects/oxbow.htm> or contact Kelly Davidson, project manager 206-684-0998 kelly.davidson@seattle.gov <mailto:kelly.davidson@seattle.gov>

The park will be smaller than originally planned, but this is still amazing news:

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Hello River City partners – We hope all is well for you all.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE SKATEPARK:
We have the permits in hand and will run through a design revision this week to coordinate the construction budget with the money we have in the bank.  We have to scale the park back a bit from what we had originally envisioned, but we feel that it is really of great benefit to the community.  The park will be more of a street park, with concrete benches, level changes, humps, and features that skaters of all ages can use.  Since it is a Grindline park, there will be many ways that one can use it.  When it is very busy, many users will be able to skate at one time. They have revised the design to a “pin wheel” that essentially allows five different sets of groups to skate at once, but it also acts as a continuous snake run that will allow folks at less popular times to connect obstacles all across the park. There will be a small kidney pool (envision a small swimming pool) with open sides that allow visible access and flow into that part of the park.

What this revised vision equates to is a park that is useful to more than just skateboarders. It will be a place to sit and watch that will be accessible to everyone.

Construction will start next week.  Mark Hubbard, James, Matt, and other Grindline folks will be onsite working for the next few months. Please let people know that they can stop and say hi, share tacos, drop off burritos, or say thanks any time.  Don’t hesitate to thank Sea Mar for the land.

We will follow up with a new graphic shortly – we are in triage mode to get the site mobilized and our revisions into the city for a seamless project beginning, but as soon as we have a pretty graphic I will get it out to you (and to the SP library and Neighborhood and Community  Centers).

More soon.
-mark and kim
River City Skatepark