How to Go About Getting a Skatepark Built
- 1). Design the skatepark with paper and pen, including all the features you want it to have. Determine a location in the community where the park should be situated -- if you don't, the town council or management will and you may not like it. Size the design to the location so that it will generally fit.
- 2). Meet with people in your community to generate support for the skatepark concept. Pitch the park as a great place for kids to get exercise, a way to keep them off the street, reduce skateboard damage around town and help kids avoid loitering. Try to get the support of local town leaders, educational entities and law enforcement -- it's not required but their support helps politically.
- 3). Prepare a formal proposal to your town council and mayor. Seek a hearing time on the council or mayor's hearing agenda. Invite your supporters to attend or document their affiliation with your proposal. At the time of hearing, make your proposal with clean designs, proposed location and estimated community demand. Try to secure conceptual support to go ahead with a feasibility study and funding determination.
- 4). Use the approval for the feasibility study as the opportunity to secure solid funding for the project. Develop a spending plan to cover the expected financial needs both for creation of the park and ongoing maintenance. Research various grants and funding programs that favor parks, kids and physical activity. Try to secure city financial support if possible. Match up partial or small grants with city funding to get to total funding needed. Consider fundraising if necessary to build sufficient seed funding to start the project.
- 5). Bring the plan back to the city council or mayor to obtain final support. Again, bring your supporters, media information and detailed funding plan to show the city council or mayor. Seek their support to move ahead with the project after having identified the funding sources available.
- 6). Initiate communications with the city engineering department once the council or mayor has approved the project for construction. Provide feedback and input to the engineers as the construction process is detailed, bid out and initiated in terms of actual construction. Do not take a hostile approach with the engineers, instead, work with them and provide advice when asked.
- 7). Monitor the construction process and continue working on fundraising and grant research as necessary to provide additional funds. Continue the financing chase until the project is complete and ongoing-maintenance funding is secured. Celebrate the finishing and opening of the skatepark. Enjoy the facility.
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