Monthly SPAC meeting summary – May 2026

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Below are the AI-collected notes from the May SPAC meeting! Please reach out if you would like to attend a future meeting. There are always opportunities and projects to plug into, and we are a friendly and inclusive bunch!

Meeting May 27, 2026 at 17:00 PDT

Summary

The meeting prioritized strategic site activations and park maintenance planning for various local community skate projects.

High level topics:
Dahl Playfield Strategic Planning
We welcomed new SPAC member Dave Carulli, who is a local at Dahl playfield and wants to get involved in some maintenance and upgrades to the aging site.

Regional Skatepark Project Updates
Projects across Rainer Beach, Morgan Junction, and Magnolia face various delays involving construction schedules, budget constraints, and staff turnover. System-wide assessment process seeks to guide future funding and maintenance.

Event Planning and Maintenance
Participants coordinated logistics for upcoming community events and discussed informal maintenance strategies to improve park safety. The group also evaluated options for migrating their communication platform to reduce costs.

Decisions

ALIGNED

  • Paid Slack subscription cancellation The group decided to cancel the paid Slack subscription due to excessive costs and will transition to a free communication alternative.
  • Informal DIY maintenance clinics approach The team decided it could be a good idea to conduct DIY maintenance clinics informally to avoid triggering liability concerns with the Parks Department while educating community stewards.
  • Dahl Skate Park maintenance strategy Maintenance operations at Doll Skate Park are set to focus on small, immediate repairs, while larger infrastructure updates are deferred to a subsequent project phase.

Details

  • Meeting Introduction and Housekeeping: The meeting began with participants joining the call and troubleshooting technical difficulties .
  • New Member Introductions: Dave Carulli and Eliza Steele introduced themselves to the group . Dave Carulli, a documentary filmmaker and Wedgwood resident, shared their interest in the skatepark at Dahl Playfield and their experience skateboarding for 26 years . Eliza Steele, a former corporate tech worker with a background in carpentry and analog photography, expressed a desire to support the skate community through technical skills, skate carpentry, and organizing efforts .
  • DBL Project Status and Challenges: Weston Horner provided an update regarding the grant application for the site, which was declined because the reviewers required a formal plan rather than the community-led, evolutionary approach originally proposed . Additionally, the group discussed the presence of individuals camping at the site . Kristin E mentioned using the “Find It, Fix It” platform to request city resources to address the encampments, though uncertainty remains regarding the effectiveness of that process.
  • DBL Strategic Activation: To address the city’s requirement for a plan, the group discussed reframing the DIY project as a broader community site, such as a pea patch, garden, or art space, to justify the evolving nature of the park . Erin Demmon suggested utilizing green storm water infrastructure, similar to successful projects on Jackson Street, to secure resources and legitimacy for the site . The group reached a consensus to prioritize activating the space with art and gardening to make it more welcoming and less conducive to unauthorized camping .
  • Rainier Beach Update: Matt Johnston reported that the grand opening of the Rainer Beach skatepark is delayed until July, as the surrounding area remains under construction . Furthermore, Matt Johnston noted that the company Evergreen has not yet been paid by Terra Dynamics, and Matt Johnston is currently drafting an appeal to Terra Dynamics to resolve the payment issue, emphasizing the long-term relationship with Evergreen cultivated by the skate community.
  • MJAWA (Morgan Junction) Update: Josh Radick shared that a public meeting for the park was successful, with attendance from local skaters and the Morgan Junction community association. The project is currently in a holding pattern due to budget limitations, with the team aiming to go out to bid in early 2027 and expecting full skatability by 2028 .
  • Magnolia Skate Park Update: Tim Reagan reported that the project is approximately one month behind schedule due to staff turnover and administrative shifts . A final community meeting regarding the design is planned for June 18th, with the goal of finalizing construction documents by the first quarter of 2027 . Kristin E offered to facilitate youth involvement from the skate like a girl volunteer cohort to help them gain community service hours.
  • Marginal Way Cleanup and Pow-wow Planning: Adrien Way and Erin Demmon provided updates on the upcoming Pow-wow on June 14th, noting that a paint party is scheduled to address graffiti and hate speech found at the site . The group discussed securing food permits and potentially sourcing a keg from a local brewery to generate revenue for the event . Kristin E and Eliza Steele expressed interest in volunteering for the cleanup efforts and promoting the event.
  • Marginal Way Maintenance and Future Closure: Adrien Way highlighted a drainage issue on the 4-foot section of the NW transition that requires repair, potentially through bondo or physical fastening . The group also discussed an upcoming site closure for renovations, expected to last six to nine months, though a firm date depends on further coordination with city representatives .
  • Seattle Skatepark System Assessment Project: Matt Johnston discussed the ongoing negotiations for a consulting contract to assess the skatepark system, which involves GIS work and comprehensive site evaluations . Matt Johnston is recruiting help for these assessments and emphasized the need for volunteers who understand industrial concrete to assist in identifying park needs . This data will be used by the city to prioritize future funding for skateparks.
  • Communication Platform Discussion: The group addressed the unsustainable $87 monthly cost of their current Slack subscription. Kristin E proposed migrating to Discord to save money . Eliza Steele suggested investigating open-source, self-hosted, or decentralized alternatives to avoid the recurring subscription models found in major software platforms. The group agreed to continue the discussion offline to ensure they select a tool that meets their requirements for document storage and persistent communication.
  • DIY Maintenance Clinics Proposal: Matt Johnston proposed launching DIY maintenance clinics to train community members on basic skatepark repairs, such as fixing coping blocks and Bondo applications. While Ryan Barth raised concerns about potential liability if these repairs are viewed as active construction by the city, Matt Johnston suggested keeping the efforts informal and focused on empowering local stewards to handle minor upkeep, which could help deter vandalism and graffiti .
  • Meeting Extension: Kristin E requested a 15-minute extension to the meeting to cover remaining agenda items, receiving a consensus of support from the participants.
  • Dahl Skate Park Assessment: Dave Carulli expressed concerns regarding the condition of Dahl Skate Park, noting that the quarter pipe and ramp lack decks and that the park requires an assessment for necessary repairs. Kooko Uno suggested that implementing a “JOBOX” for tools and focusing on community engagement would foster better stewardship of the location. Dave Carulli reported that, per a community council meeting, the adjacent bathroom is scheduled for replacement in spring 2026, though signs at the park suggest uncertainty regarding the timeline. Matt Johnston described the park as an ideal candidate for the asset management plan. Kristin E and Dave Carulli reached a consensus to begin with small, independent repairs, specifically using Bondo to fix large cracks in the concrete, and Kristin E offered to coordinate a group to assist with these efforts.
  • Bothell Skate Park Update: Kooko Uno provided an update stating that there is no new information regarding the Bothell Skate Park following a community open house; the project remains in the hands of GrindLine and the landscape architect, Site Workshop.
  • Westlake Plaza Grand Opening: Tobias Coughlin-Bogue announced the grand opening of Westlake Plaza scheduled for the following Thursday at 5:00 p.m., noting that they were invited to appear on stage for the ribbon cutting. Kristin E emphasized that the site is a significant ledge spot.
  • Skate to the Plate Event: Kristin E provided a programming update for “Skate to the Plate” on July 19th, noting that proceeds will support Skate Like a Girl and that the event is a collaboration with 35th North.
  • River City Go Skate Day Scheduling: Adrien Way and the participants clarified that the River City Go Skate Day will take place on Sunday, June 21st, with musical performances beginning at 2:00 p.m. Adrien Way confirmed they are currently coordinating bands for the event.
  • SUPA SOPA Event: Tobias Coughlin-Bogue confirmed that the upcoming RCSP event is scheduled for August 8th and is expected to be an all-day event.
  • Additional Event Updates: Kristin E summarized recent and upcoming programming, including the successful Weels of Fortune event held May 15th through 17th, the Punk Rock Pow event scheduled for June 19th, and the fact that the Rainier Beach opening has been delayed.
  • Festi-Bowl Status: Kristin E noted that there is a high level of uncertainty regarding the event.
  • Gravity Skate Shop and Long Acres Anniversaries: Weston Horner provided updates on two upcoming events: Gravity Skate Shop’s 50-year anniversary, which will include a planned event at Renton Skate Park this summer, and the 10-year anniversary of Long Acres in September, which will be celebrated with a barbecue.
  • Skate Like a Girl Camps: Kristin E announced that the Skate Like a Girl camps will run for five weeks during the summer, spanning July and the first week of August, and noted that they will serve as the site coordinator for the Kenmore and Green Lake locations.
  • Belltown Blast Event: Adrien Way noted that a poster was seen for the Belltown Blast event, which is scheduled for August 15th. Kristin E mentioned that the organizers plan to utilize ramps from the Skate Like a Girl welcome party.

<Meeting adjourned>

Published by MLJ

The guy who runs this site.