Welcome to the Boarders 4 Parks information page

(www.boarders4parks.org is currently under construction)

Here's our vision:

We would like to build an approximate 3,600-square-foot skateboard park in Dahl Playfield –
we are calling this a skatespot.

We think that either one of the following locations would work for a skatespot.

- A -

The northern-most end of the parking lot. We would build a space about 80 feet long by 45 feet wide for a total of 3,600 square feet. We would relocate the driveway to 25th Ave. N.E. to a location 80 feet south of its current location.

- B -

- A triangular space of approximately 3,500 square feet. It would be the southernmost part of the triangular space formed between the sidewalk on 25th Ave. N.E. and the walk way that trends northeast from the sidewalk toward the restroom.

Here's who we are:

We are a group of parents, kids and neighbors of Dahl Playfield who are interested in building a safe place for skateboarders to skate. Our youngest skater is five and our oldest is seventeen. Some of us are pictured here on a rainy Saturday afternoon in June after we cleaned Dahl Playfield for about three hours.

Here's our history:

In November 2004, some of us heard about the renovation planned at Dahl Playfield by Friends of Dahl. We are parents, kids and neighbors of Dahl Playfield and we hoped that a small skatepark could be included in the design of the renovated Dahl Playfield. Although Friends of Dahl did not see a skatespot as part of their vision for the park, we continued to look at Dahl Playfield and other parks in Northeast Seattle for a small skatepark.

On February 6, 2005, we held a public meeting at the Northeast Branch of the Seattle Public Library. We published information about this meeting in public sources in the community, including a specific invitation to Friends of Dahl. At the meeting, there were 19 people in favor of building a skatespot and 5 opposed. The opposition focused primarily on Dahl Playfield as an inappropriate location for a skatespot, and suggested that Boarders 4 Parks consider other local parks.

On March 14, 2005, Boarders 4 Parks held a second public meeting at the Northeast Branch of the Seattle Public Library. This meeting was even more widely advertised, including specific invitations to Friends of Dahl and the Wedgwood Community Council. At this meeting, 47 people were in attendance. As suggested at the February 6 meeting, other possible skatepark locations were discussed. Six possible skatespot sites were identified with photos (Maple Leaf Park, View Ridge Park, Bryant Park, Froula Park, Dahl Park & Under NE 65th Street-I5 Overpass). Discussion ensued as to the pros and cons of each of the sites. All in attendance, except two persons, voted in favor of Dahl Park for constructing the skatespot owing to sufficient space, safety concerns, easy access to arterials and presence of public restrooms.

If you would like more information about our skatespot discussions, please contact teresasumearll@comcast.net.