austin public skatepark action committee

Austin Parks and Recreation Planner, Ricardo Soliz, is conducting public input meetings to determine what improvements Austinites would like to see built in parks throughout the city. Soliz will take the suggestions and requests gathered at these meetings to compile a list of capital improvements to be included in the next City of Austin Bond Election (date to be determined).

The previous bond election yeilded a skate and BMX plaza that will be constructed later this year in House Park. This is actually a paltry accomplishment compared to the millions of dollars allocated in that bond package for such recreational expenditures as 15 new tennis courts and new golf course putting greens. That’s why it’s important for skateboarders to attend these meetings to tell the Parks and Recreation Department that we need facilities, also. Austin’s hundreds of public tennis courts, baseball diamonds, football and soccer fields sit idle every day. It’s only skatepark, Mabel Davis, is crowded EVERY day.

These input meetings are casual. Ricardo Soliz gives an overview of his department’s accomplishments and challenges, then breaks the attendees into several groups of about 6 people each. The groups then list what they’d like to see in their own neighborhood parks. Finally, each group votes for the suggestions and the results are collected by PARD staffers.

At the East Austin meeting February 17, 2008, there were only three skateboarders present, but support for skateparks among the other attendees was almost unanimous once the topic was brought up. So if you want to see a skatepark, skate plaza, or a skate spot added to your neighborhood, attending one of the upcoming three meetings is your best bet. If you know people who cannot attend but would like to voice their support for more public skateparks, they can email Mr. Soliz: ricardo.soliz@ci.austin.tx.us.

Remaining Meetings

• Southwest Austin- March 17 @ Bowie High School 6:00 PM
• Northwest Austin- March 31 Anderson High School 6:00 PM
• Central Austin- April 7 Austin High School 6:00 PM

Meeting flyer (print & distribute)