Hello everyone, my name is Broc Litton and I have a progressive thought for this progressive city. I want to build a small skatepark in the the urban core, built by skaters and funded by the skaters of Jacksonville through fundraisers. I'm hoping to be granted a piece of public land that is invaluable to the city....(under a bridge ideally, unsellable land.) Cities such as Portland, San Diego, Seattle, San Pedro, Philadelphia, and St. Louis already have established skater funded and built parks. I have been looking at the lot of land under 1-10 at the intersection Myrtle Avenue and Dennis Street. Also the lot of land where the Springfield Community Garden once stood on the corner of 1st and Main. Below is a small example of what other cities have been able to do, fully skater built and skate funded. Please offer some opinions on what I can do to make this possible in our growing city of Jacksonville.------Broc Litton
Marginal Way Skatepark in Seattle, a very inspiring 2 minute video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbI1SQCECPo
Brooklyn Street Skatespot in Portland https://www.facebook.com/brooklynstreetskatespot?ref=ts&fref=ts
CULTURE-CULTURE-CULTURE :D
Sounds cool. As a word of advice, most of the sites under bridges fall within the maintenance of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) instead of the City of Jacksonville. It may be helpful to meet with the organizers of RAM because they would have had to go through the process of getting FDOT approval for that event. Also, the property on Main Street in Springfield, where the community garden used to be) is privately owned.
Very Cool. Imagine the venue under the Acosta and tying it in to the Northbank Riverwalk. Downtown a Destination and not a pass through. Welcome to the forum.
QuoteImagine the venue under the Acosta and tying it in to the Northbank Riverwalk.
I was thinking the same. Something closer to downtown would be great. I immediately thought of the prime location of the skate park on the Southbank here in London. It's a great (and legal) canvas for street artists, too. Countless tourists spectate and grab a bite from nearby food trucks. I could see it working in Jax for sure.
I have been looking recently at the area by the tunnel on Myrtle Ave N that segregates Downtown from Riverside. The property about 200 feet down Harper Street once you turn off of Myrtle Ave N. The property is also accessible from Dennis St.
This area of Jax is very forgotten and run down. We the skateboarders would love to come in and clean the area up, and then go on to build a skatepark together as a community.(essentially a concrete art piece)
http://goo.gl/maps/4NEVc (http://goo.gl/maps/4NEVc)
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-mar-jacksonvilles-dennis-street-warehouse-district (http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-mar-jacksonvilles-dennis-street-warehouse-district)
My question is...what can I do or whom should I get in contact with to get this going?
Awesome idea.
Tony Allegretti is a good start. He's currently the Director Of Downtown Engagement for the Jax Chamber, helped to develop the Riverside Arts Market as well as Art Walk, is really well-connected politically AND is a skater himself. Heck of a nice guy too.
Quote from: 1901DIYSKATESPOT on April 14, 2013, 11:08:36 AM
I have been looking recently at the area by the tunnel on Myrtle Ave N that segregates Downtown from Riverside. The property about 200 feet down Harper Street once you turn off of Myrtle Ave N. The property is also accessible from Dennis St.
This area of Jax is very forgotten and run down. We the skateboarders would love to come in and clean the area up, and then go on to build a skatepark together as a community.(essentially a concrete art piece)
http://goo.gl/maps/4NEVc (http://goo.gl/maps/4NEVc)
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-mar-jacksonvilles-dennis-street-warehouse-district (http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-mar-jacksonvilles-dennis-street-warehouse-district)
My question is...what can I do or whom should I get in contact with to get this going?
Excellent TED talk on do it yourself urbanism, in this case grassroots projects (not always officially sanctioned at first) in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2012-nov-go-oakcliff-how-citizen-activists-can-remake-a-city
The lot under I-95, near the intersection of Myrtle and Dennis, is owned by FDOT. You'd need their approval to do anything under the highway.
Quote from: 1901DIYSKATESPOT on April 14, 2013, 11:08:36 AM
I have been looking recently at the area by the tunnel on Myrtle Ave N that segregates Downtown from Riverside. The property about 200 feet down Harper Street once you turn off of Myrtle Ave N. The property is also accessible from Dennis St.
This area of Jax is very forgotten and run down. We the skateboarders would love to come in and clean the area up, and then go on to build a skatepark together as a community.(essentially a concrete art piece)
http://goo.gl/maps/4NEVc (http://goo.gl/maps/4NEVc)
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-mar-jacksonvilles-dennis-street-warehouse-district (http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-mar-jacksonvilles-dennis-street-warehouse-district)
My question is...what can I do or whom should I get in contact with to get this going?
Jacksonville BMX has a contract with the COJ that may be similar to what you are working for. The track is located in Ray Green Park, but is maintained by a Parent/Rider Association. I am a past Track Director but I am afraid I have been gone long enough that I don't know any of the administration there.
This is their Facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jacksonville-BMX/184123683676?fref=ts
Send them a message and perhaps they can tell you who they deal with at the COJ
Looks like most of the under the bridge stuff is going to be FDOT, but in the event you find a city property, perhaps they can help.
Quote from: Pinky on April 14, 2013, 04:10:44 PM
Awesome idea.
Tony Allegretti is a good start. He's currently the Director Of Downtown Engagement for the Jax Chamber, helped to develop the Riverside Arts Market as well as Art Walk, is really well-connected politically AND is a skater himself. Heck of a nice guy too.
Quote from: 1901DIYSKATESPOT on April 14, 2013, 11:08:36 AM
I have been looking recently at the area by the tunnel on Myrtle Ave N that segregates Downtown from Riverside. The property about 200 feet down Harper Street once you turn off of Myrtle Ave N. The property is also accessible from Dennis St.
This area of Jax is very forgotten and run down. We the skateboarders would love to come in and clean the area up, and then go on to build a skatepark together as a community.(essentially a concrete art piece)
http://goo.gl/maps/4NEVc (http://goo.gl/maps/4NEVc)
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-mar-jacksonvilles-dennis-street-warehouse-district (http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-mar-jacksonvilles-dennis-street-warehouse-district)
My question is...what can I do or whom should I get in contact with to get this going?
Tony Allegretti would be a good contact. He'd definitely know what all you'd need to do to work with the city and FDOT.
FYI - Tony.Allegretti@myjaxchamber.com
Others here definitely have personal contact info, but this is a start.
Love the idea - this would have made a great One Spark pitch!
Quote from: thelakelander on April 14, 2013, 05:19:14 PM
The lot under I-95, near the intersection of Myrtle and Dennis, is owned by FDOT. You'd need their approval to do anything under the highway.
Lake I don't think they are listening and comprehending.
The FDOT will be a big buzz kill if their plans include any thing encroaching on the bridge, any retention ponds underneath, their access, etc.
QuoteI don't think they are listening and comprehending.
Did Lake say there is a good chance that it would not get approved? I didn't think he was insinuating anything. Maybe my comprehension does need some work.
It would be a hard sell to get FDOT to get on board with this, though nothing is impossible. RAM worked out and has paid huge dividends.
Quote from: InnerCityPressure on April 15, 2013, 11:04:37 AM
QuoteI don't think they are listening and comprehending.
Did Lake say there is a good chance that it would not get approved? I didn't think he was insinuating anything. Maybe my comprehension does need some work.
Tacachale is on point. It would be a hard sell to get FDOT to agree. They aren't the easiest public entity to work with. I believe the RAM thing took a couple of years to hash out.
Thank you everyone for the input. I am meeting with Antonio Allegretti later this week for some guidance. Keep the opinions rolling! I want to make this a reality.
--Broc Litton--1901 DIY Skatespot
Excellent, keep us posted. Even if FDOT won't play ball there are probably plenty of other properties that could work.
Received a email from Mayor Alvin Brown today, ;D Making progression
"Broc,
Thank you for taking the time to write and thank you for the drive and enthusiasm you are demonstrating with this idea. I’m sharing your note with the city’s Office of Economic Development to ask that someone respond to help explain the processes that must take place for these types of ideas to become reality.
Please feel free to write any time. Best of luck with your project.
Alvin Brown"
Broc,
Congratulations on the email from the Mayor. 4 posts on MJ on an idea.
Do you give skateboarding lessons?
Hey yall come out to Shanty Town Pub on Friday, May 3rd. We are putting on a lil fundraiser at 9pm
https://www.facebook.com/events/570891929610886/ (https://www.facebook.com/events/570891929610886/)
(http://i1319.photobucket.com/albums/t676/1901diyskatespot/shantyflyer_zpsc178dfcc.jpg)
Quote from: InnerCityPressure on April 15, 2013, 11:04:37 AM
QuoteI don't think they are listening and comprehending.
Did Lake say there is a good chance that it would not get approved? I didn't think he was insinuating anything. Maybe my comprehension does need some work.
Go for it. Sounds like a good idea.
The FDOT is very resistant to permanent structures and fixtures being built under bridges and overpasses unless it is a road.
A group of Springfielders was looking into funding to construct a skate plaza in Schell Park along Boulevard several years ago. That could be a possible location. With the disc golf course already in the park, this would be another sports draw to the park.
We are looking towards Springfield as a location currently
Are you guys aware that this is being built? I just heard about it today.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Block-Indoor-Skatepark/455470234531945
@Mtn_Biker yes we have heard about this. It is local skateboard pro Mike Peterson opening "The Block". It is super cool and going to be great for Jacksonville. He is opening a private buisness where as we are starting a community funded project. The more skateboarding in the Jacksonville the better!! We have a strong skate scene that is about to explode over the coming years.
Still working with the city to find a location to build, and submitting some proposals over the next few weeks. We are so motivated to get this project off the ground.
Check out this video from a fundraiser we had at Monument Skatepark on Saturday May 11th.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS3p5bMqjeU&list=UUPHHVx7i5L7RdTAn8l8Eyjw&index=1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS3p5bMqjeU&list=UUPHHVx7i5L7RdTAn8l8Eyjw&index=1)
Skate Spot, I'd be willing to bet Springfield and our skateboarders would get behind you if you choose Springfield, maybe Schell Park That disc golf course? Springfielders paid for it, and installed it, with the help of the local disc golf association. Neighborhood organizations, businesses, and even individuals and blocks, and "sponsored" holes for $500 apiece to pay for it. Volunteers laid it out and installed it.
A skate park may be more ambitious, but I'll bet we'd get behind it.
Whatever happened to the skate park idea that was proposed for Schell Park a few years back?
The area under the Main Street Bridge expressway on the southbank could be easily converted to a skate park. Already gets skaters. Add concrete forms to the existing bridge foundations. Close off Mary Street and you'd have a continuous course for two blocks. In the shade, too.
Broc,
A few years back the committee for the San Marco by Design study kicked around the idea of a skate park under the Main Street expressway. It's adjacent to the Treaty Oak Park on Prudential Drive, and runs between Prudential and Riverplace Blvd. If you want to make a pitch, San Marco Preservation Society might be interested in hearing your ideas.
-Andrew Dickson
@hound dog great idea, a skatepark underneath Main Street expressway would be amazing.
----UPDATE----5-24-13
1. We are putting to final touches on a proposal for the RFI # AD-0547-13 Downtown Waterfront Activation. Would be killer to get a piece of that property on Bay Street at the old shipyards across from the Maxwell House Factory and city jail.
2. Meeting with President of SPAR soon to speak about the possibility of our project potentially coming to Springfield.
We met with some officials at City Hall to speak about our 1901 project. The city seems receptive to our project. We will be meeting with the same City Hall officials plus Parks and Recreation in the coming weeks.
Not sure if the shipyards are the direction we are going, the property is slotted for only a two year project. We are looking to do a permanent concrete structure. 20+ year project
Really excited to see what the future holds.
On June 21st 'The Block' an indoor skatepark will open on Talleyrand.
www.actionnewsjax.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoId=4080967&nazCatId=20896
From their facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Block-Indoor-Skatepark/455470234531945
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/970344_468261369919498_2066220079_n.jpg)
The "original" Block. By Regency. Circa ~ 1985
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/943233_466230556789246_502413774_n.jpg)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/302973_466162410129394_1039333822_n.jpg)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/183128_463898153689153_592729534_n.jpg)
(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/321646_460023764076592_1004803526_n.jpg)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/27135_456609527751349_618447730_n.jpg)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/603741_469049723173996_1107030829_n.jpg)
^^^Nice pics.
@I-10east @BigCat yes we have heard about this. It is local skateboard pro Mike Peterson opening "The Block". It is super cool and going to be great for Jacksonville. He is opening a private buisness where as we are starting a community funded project. The more skateboarding in the Jacksonville the better!! We have a strong skate scene that is about to explode over the coming years.
Mike knows about our project and is supportive of it. Our projects are very different than each other. The bottom line is we need more places to skateboard in Jacksonville. There are hundreds of basketball courts across town but only a couple skateparks. Skateboarding is on a upward trend to eventually have more participants than sports like basketball.
If you have a chance check out this article----30 Reasons why we need more skateparks.
http://www.skatepark.org/park-development/advocacy/2011/01/30-reasons/ (http://www.skatepark.org/park-development/advocacy/2011/01/30-reasons/)
Here are a couple highly valid points from the article:
3. Skateboarders are currently under-served in the area.
As a community we understand that we need to support our youth who wish to pursue active, healthy lifestyles. Without community support those groups are required to build their own support systems outside of our community. Do we want to sit by while a significant portion of our youth meet their recreational needs with no support or involvement from our community?4. Skateboarding has millions of participants nationally and is growing while team sports participation is in decline.
4. Skateboarding has millions of participants nationally and is growing while team sports participation is in decline.
When one considers that skateboarding is the third most popular recreational activity for kids between 6 and 18 years old, it might be assumed there would be skateparks all across our community. We have baseball fields, soccer pitches, jogging paths, and plenty of other places for people to be active. Yet we have no skateparks! It’s time to address the needs of today’s recreational youth.
Broc Litton-1901 DIY Skate Spot
www.facebook.com/1901diyskatespot (http://www.facebook.com/1901diyskatespot)
Does anyone the status of Schell Park with the ash situation?
Project New Ground on Myrtle Avenue could probably tell you. At one time, before they started remediation and didn't know what they were going to do, having a skate plaza was thought of as a way to remediate the ash situation by capping it off essentially. But that was several years ago. I know they have done remediation along Hogans Creek along Boulevard. So they may have already done it.
Don't know anything about skating or skate parks, but have watched them put this together from office window and it is quite amazing! I'd imagine it'd be quite the draw if tied up DT somewhere.
http://t.co/GY6W9aPe9S (http://t.co/GY6W9aPe9S)
Quote from: JayBird on June 21, 2013, 09:41:54 PM
Don't know anything about skating or skate parks, but have watched them put this together from office window and it is quite amazing! I'd imagine it'd be quite the draw if tied up DT somewhere.
http://t.co/GY6W9aPe9S (http://t.co/GY6W9aPe9S)
Very cool. That is happening this weekend.
Kona's Go Skate Day was yesterday....nice event in Hemming Plaza...and 4 food trucks there too!
Baptist Health may be acquiring the riverfront land under the south end of the Fuller Warren Bridge for conversion to a park. Any interest in a skate park there?