Hello everyone,

This morning I got the answer we all want to know. The skate park is coming and it's a done deal. Kristi and I talked to Mr. York this morning.

This is what I understand:

* park coming for sure

* plenty of parking space

* concrete surface

* concrete ramps coming on truck from Canada

* Mr. York said, "be nice park"

* the re-election will not affect the skate park

* when the money comes in they will start building immediately

* with the recreation center coming we don't have to share our land with anybody.

* Walnut street is for the Skate Park

* Mr. York said, "we don't have to attend any more meetings"


I'll keep you informed if anything comes up.

(name witheld)

Mr. York,

(Name withheld) sent those of us interested in the skatepark an update of the skatepark status after speaking with you.

While I am glad to see it's happening, I am deeply concerned that it has progressed to the "done deal" point without getting input from those of us who are interested and committed to see that Spring Hill has a decent skatepark.

According to Kim's e-mail, you are quoted as saying:

* concrete ramps coming on truck from Canada

This especially concerns me as it implies the skatepark will be a modular/prefab park which is a gross mistake.

Companies who sell this garbage thrive on unsuspecting towns who have no one knowledgeable in the field making decisions concerning the skatepark construction process or what the users actually want. Parks like this are a cheap consolation.

If it's prefab/modular park, the skilled users will avoid it...where will kids junior high age and older have to go? It will also be a short time before beginners get bored with it...they will want to go somewhere else. I've already had people e-mail me saying they would avoid it if this is what it is...my family will too.

The fact is, modular/prefab is cheaper initially but more expensive than a poured park in the long run, and it's just not the type of park users want to ride. It also adds less equity to the town because it's not an attractive feature to those considering relocating to the area...important to companies like Saturn. I also explained how a decent skatepark will attract people to Spring Hill increasing commerce. Nashville has out of town visitors on any given day. I've spoken with numerous parents at the Nashville park who were taking pictures for their kids to help them feel better about moving to the area.

I sent you an e-mail asking to form a committee (like Nashville did) to avoid mistakes like this as well as informative internet links explaining this view. I also relayed Nashville's Mayor Purcell's offer of sharing their skatepark information resources (contractor bids, quotes, etc.) with Spring Hill that would have helped save cost and build a better skatepark.

People on the e-mail distribution list have e-mailed me saying they feel the same way as I do.

I did an internet search for skatepark + ramp + Canada

I hope it's not this:

http://www.envisiononline.ca/skatepar...pment/default.asp

Other modular/prefab vendors to avoid:

http://www.skatepark.org/Industry_Contacts/Prefab_Ramps/

Why we shouldn't have modular or prefab:

http://www.skatepark.org/Propaganda/Why_Not_Modular/

http://www.skatersforpublicskateparks...ocess/design.html


Please let me know that I misunderstood your quotes and am overreacting.

Mr.York,
Hello, my name is C W and I live on the
SpringHill/Columbia Tn. border and work at
Kokamochas Cafe in Springhill@The Commons. I am an avid skateboarder
and have been for about 18 yrs. now and I am interested in getting
the right park built for your town and it's skateboarders/businesses.
I did attend the meeting a few months back, and I am in touch and
skate with Jim Decola. I know that he has written you about the
recent news that we received and that's why I am writing you
personally this time. I do agree with Jim and so do a lot of other
people. We are concerned that you will rush into a decision that will
not benefit anyone in the long run. I am from New York originally,
and I have skated these Pre-fab concrete parks which are scattered
throughout the New England region. They are mainly junk and an
eyesore. I also lived in Portland, Or. for about 5 yrs. which is a
sort of mecca for skateboarders of all ages, mainly because of the
outdoor concrete parks which are very abundant and built/designed by
the frontrunners of this business . I understand that you have a
budget, and if it is the same amount that was spoken about at the
meeting, that is plenty to get a GREAT park made. I have been in
touch with a couple of these builders...ie. DREAMLAND SKATEPARKS and
GRINDLINE SKATEPARKS. Both of whom recently built in the South and
plan on building more. Athens,Ga was a recipient of a beautiful
GRINDLINE design and Hammond, La. got a DREAMLAND park. These parks
will last a long time and be used throughout their existence. They
draw people to small towns like ours, and I truly believe that a
GREAT park would be a win-win situation for all parties involved.
Please consider a Skatepark Committee before deciding on what would
be best, I think a few of us here have ideas that are in your best
interest as well. Thank you for your time. Sincerely,

Mr. York,
Hello, my name is Darin Masters. I am the owner of the only skateboard shop located in Williamson County, Planet Sk8. I have been a skateboarder for 20 years now and have been actively involved in the skate community for just as long including being a part of the private skatepark committee for Metro parks and recreation. I helped guide them in the right direction on who to hire and what to build for their public skatepark and the result was one of the best public skateparks in the world! I was recently informed that Spring Hill was thinking of going with a pre-fab concrete company out of Canada and was immediatley upset and asking for emails of the people in charge. You should seriously think twice about using pre-fab ramps. These parks are nothing more than expensive junk and are truely the worst type of skateparks in the world and the cost of them is not any cheaper than hiring a real skatepark builder to do a design/build. I'm emailing you because I've been in this business for a long time and know what a great skatepark is made of and I don't want to see Spring Hill make this mistake of going with a pre-fab park. The action sports community will not be happy with this outcome and the result will be an empty skatepark and a waste of taxpayers money that could have been well spent to begin with. If this is not set in stone you should contact me and I could help guide you along to putting a skatepark committee together with qualified local people. Just to let you know, there are only a handful of 'TRUE' skatepark design/builders in the world that Spring Hill should hire and here they are:

Dreamland ( http://www.dreamlandskateparks.com/ )
Grindline ( http://www.grindline.com )
Site Design Group ( http://www.sitedesigngroup.com/ )
Team Pain ( http://www.teampain.com/ )
Airspeed ( http://www.airspeedskateparks.com/ )
California Skateparks (did Nashville's park) - ( http://www.skatedesign.com/ )