by Keith D. Simon, ASLA

Winning the Coronado project came as a pleasant surprise to Principal-in-Charge Keith Simon, ASLA-- then running the firm's Albuquerque, NM, office (he is now a Principal in the Denver office). "Bill Cecil read a magazine article which quoted our chief skate park designer at the time, Michael McIntyre, ASLA," explains Simon. (McIntyre is now with the Phoenix, AZ office of Carter & Burgess.) "He called McIntyre, who then called me because of my previous experience in San Diego, as Vice President of Wimmer Yamada & Associates--the firm that designed the existing Coronado Tidelands Park. I think our winning the project over other California based firms that had already built skate parks was partly due to our speed and enthusiasm in responding to Bill's request, but was mostly due to the combination of McIntyre, a former amateur tour skate boarder who could win the confidence of the skaters, and myself who knew the political environment and could win the confidence of skeptical residents."

Design Workshop's process began with a thorough site analysis--and a recommendation that the site may be too narrow at 60' to allow design of a safe facility with adequate run-out distances. The high water table present at the bayfront site was also identified as a potential challenge to designing a recessed facility that would blend in better with the aesthetics of the existing park. An initial public meeting was held, and was attended by a small but vocal contingent of nearby residents concerned about the skate park being built in their "front yard."

One of the unique aspects discovered about the Coronado skater population that differs from many other locations is the amount of skate boarders, who are primarily surfers, that prefer skating in the so called "old school" parks with wavelike, free-flowing curves, as opposed to the majority of the sport's participants who prefer mostly street-like features for technical maneuvers. In response, this design includes both types of features--a street plaza that progresses into a series of "surfer bowls."

The park's final Schematic Design solution included a three dimensional computer model by Carter & Burgess to help convey the unique design layout of this linear skate park. Unlike most skate parks that are designed with square proportions, the Coronado facility offers a linear sequence of "skatable rooms" that provide the users with an opportunity to customize their skate lines.

For skaters, the all-concrete skate surface will be built below and above ground, and special attention is given to the reduction of concrete joints that tend to decrease the quality of the skating experience. For the serious skaters, grinding on the transition tops and step edges will be enhanced with metal pipe and angle steel. A series of low pipe rails and cheek walls on the upper deck completes the street plaza amenity package.

Through the process, an exciting development occurred--a resident, and parent of a skater, emerged to offer a personal financial match to the city's $140,000 budget. Motivated by his own kids and encouraged by the landscape architectural presentation about the possibilities for the park at the initial public meeting, the donor--who wishes to remain anonymous--wanted to make sure that the park would be challenging enough to engage the kids and of a quality level fitting for inclusion in the park. Right now, construction documents are nearly complete, and this summer-- wheels will be rolling and trucks will be grinding on California's first bayfront skate park. lasn