Why build the park under the bridge at the Washington-Jefferson Park?

1. You can’t skate in the rain. Skateboarders in Eugene need a dry place to skate year around. The location provides one of the only existing covered locations already managed by the Eugene Parks Department.
2. Lights. The location is already lit.
3. Easy access. The location is easily accessed by existing public transportation (LTD Bus 51 – Santa Clara/Eugene Station).
4. Parking. There is a very good amount of available on-street parking.
5. Compatible. In light of the urban setting and existing noise levels from bridge traffic, skateboard usage will not create any more noise than what already exists.
6. Good visibility. The chosen site location between the basketball courts and the horseshoe courts provides the best visibility for non-skateboarders both from the street as well as from various viewing angles in the park.
7. Adjacent space. There is a significant amount of adjacent social space available to non-skateboarders with a great opportunity make the space comfortable and inviting.
8. Overall park improvement. As part of the project, the existing bathroom will be removed (a more modest and less hidden facility will be relocated closer to the road on the west side) and a smaller neighborhood playground may be constructed in a more accessible area.
9. Skateable terrain in all parts of Eugene. Constructing a larger flagship skatepark in this central location would be a very good geographic complement to the existing smaller skateparks in the north, south, and west of town.
10. Underutilized open space. The Washington-Jefferson Park is one of Eugene’s most under-utilized Parks assets. Removing the old playground and building a skatepark here would not displace any existing use, especially in light of the popularity of the RiverPlay park just a couple of blocks away.
11. Inclusion. Including dedicated skateable terrain in the center of Eugene demonstrates our community’s collective acceptance of skateboarding as a legitimate recreational pursuit as well as support for the very large number of our youth who prefer the individual challenges of skateboarding over traditional team sports.
12. Expansion opportunities. A survey through the National Parks & Recreation Association revealed that the single most common complaint among skatepark managers is that they did not build their skateparks large enough to meet the need. In the W-J Park area, there exists literally blocks of underutilized land (covered and uncovered) where skateable terrain could be creatively and aesthetically designed and built to accommodate the growth in skateboarding participation and demand.
13. Catalyst. There are other user groups in our community such as BMX bicyclists and Roller Derby skaters who are desperate for more space dedicated to their passions. Building a skatepark in the W-J Park will be a catalyst for these other user groups to organize and raise funds to create dedicated space outside of the skatepark area, but within the W-J Park for BMX riders and Roller Derby skaters.

Click here to see a general background flyer on the skatepark.

Quick Facts:

– There are 16 million baseball players in the U.S. and over 110,000 baseball diamonds
– There are 13 million skateboarders in the U.S. and only 2,300 skateparks

Top 25 Reasons for Skateparks

1. Skateboarders need safe places to recreate.
2. Skateparks, if designed and constructed correctly, are fiscally conservative and require very little maintenance.
3. Compared to other sports, skateboarding is underserved in the area.
4. Skateboarding has millions of participants nationally and it’s still growing while more traditional sports are in decline. There are currently abundant facilities for these other sports.
5. Skateboarding is a multi-million dollar industry.
6. Skateboarders represent a vital part of an urban community.
7. A skatepark can attract skateboarding tourists if designed to do so.
8. With national health issues looming for today’s youth, it’s time to offer a greater number of healthy, athletic choices.
9. The cost to participate is accessible to every economic class.
10. Thousands of other communities have come to understand the value of skateparks.
11. Skating in a park is much safer than skating in the streets.
12. The community already has hundreds if not thousands of skateboarders.
13. In the future there are going to be many legitimate places to skate in the city. The time to embark on that positive future is now.
14. A skatepark is a place where skateboarders and other people who might not cross paths in the street can come together.
15. Skateparks can displace other less desirable activities in an area.
16. The skatepark can be an attraction for family vacations.
17. Skateboarding is “cool,” And a skatepark will enhance the community’s reputation.
18. Good skateparks often have volunteer teams to help maintain the facility.
19. Skateparks can draw skateboarders away from less appropriate areas.
20. Young and old people use skateparks.
21. Skateparks support vibrant, healthy communities, just like many other athletic facilities.
22. Skateboarding is mainstream.
23. Skateboarding is a popular spectator sport.
24. Skateparks are flexible in design and can work in many different size areas.
25. The skatepark can be a great place to go after school.