Community Center Skate Track

Approval of Preliminary Design

Recommendation:

It is recommended that the Hermosa Beach City Council:

1. Approve the preliminary design development plan for the Community Center Skate Track Project.

2. Direct Lawrence Moss and Associates to proceed with development of construction documents for the Community Center Skate Track Project based upon this design.

Background:

The City Council at it's regular meeting on November 13, 1997, approved the Community Center site for the skate track.

Per City Council's direction, Public Works prepared a Request for Proposals for design of the track facility and on March 10, 1998 City Council awarded the design contract for the Community Center Skate Track Project (CIP 97-525) to Lawrence Moss and Associates.

Analysis:

Lawrence Moss and Associates has proceeded as directed in the City's RFP for the project. The proposal required that three workshops be held with local youth involved in the sport. To insure that the meetings would be even more valuable Parks Commissioner Todd Kuh requested that there be a preworkshop meeting.

The preworkshop meeting, held on April 8 at the site, was a fact-finding gathering and encouraged the participation and involvement of the local skaters. There was a good turn-out of approximately 70 skaters of all ages. Much valuable information was gathered through a questionnaire and a question and answer session. The skaters were quite enthusiastic and specific regarding what they would like to see developed at the track.

The first workshop, held a week after the pre-workshop, developed a clearer vision of what types of obstacles and features the skaters desired. The 100 plus participants were broken into 6 groups. Each of the groups were then asked to design their "perfect" track. Play-dough models and sketches utilizing scale site layouts depicted half pipes, rails, snake runs, fun boxes, pyramids, vert ramps and other more radical designs.

At the second workshop, three preliminary designs, based upon the six designs prepared by the skaters two weeks before, were presented to the growing crowd (approximately 180). The skaters were then asked to vote on their favorite design and elements. A number of observations became apparent to the designers of the track:

1. The large majority of skaters desired a street type course.

2. Large bowls and extreme vertical ramps were not desired.

3. Transitions, gaps, rails, pyramids, table tops and low ramps and quarter pipes were desired.

4. Distances between elements should be kept to a maximum to insure proper runup speed.

5. Where possible metal edges should be used on all "grindable" surfaces.

On May 20, 1998, Lawrence Moss & Associates presented a preliminary design before the Parks Recreation and Community Resources Advisory Commission. This preliminary design development plan was based upon the results of the poll taken at the second workshop. Professional skateboarder, Rodney Mullin, was present at that meeting and offered some insight on how the design could be "fine tuned" to make the track even more fun and skateable. The Commission approved the design with modifications as noted.

The plan before City Council is the amended version of the design approved by the Commission, endorsed by a professional skateboarder and, in reality, designed by the skaters themselves. The elements are basically street in nature and are laid out with plenty of space between the major obstacles. There is an area which will satisfy the needs of beginning skaters but the majority of the track is devoted to intermediate to advanced intermediate boarders. It is a layout which allows for great flexibility in line and type of trick to be performed. Ledges which are provided can be used for tricks or observation areas. The plan provides a multitude of options to keep the skaters interested for many years.

Fiscal Impact:

Construction of the skate track as planned is estimated to cost $92,000 (see attached preliminary cost estimate). Costs for related parking lot improvements should add approximately $20,000 to that figure. Original estimates did not include total removal of the existing asphalt tennis court paving and replacement with a new concrete surface. The size of the track has also increased by 500 S.F. over the concept plans presented to Council earlier. These changes would account for the cost difference to the $80,000 November estimates. The 4% UUT fund source currently has an estimated balance of $1,479,954 as of June 30, 1998.

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