Description
of the second annual supervised portable summer skate park and
dirt trails project at United
Brethren Church
Summer 2004
for inline, skateboard and BMX.
I.
a. general description of a second
portable summer skate and BMX dirt trails park at United Brethren Church,
Fowlerville.
II.
a.
planning/design/construction/testing.
b.
inauguration event.
c. summer
schedule development.
III.
a. programs and mid-summer event.
b. skate park
improvement/maintenance.
c. summer
ending competition event.
IV.
a. basic
project requirements.
V.
a. diagrams
and images of portable skate park and BMX dirt trails.
I. The One and Only skate park Project in
fowlerville is sponsored and created by us, David and
Andrée Weimer, residents of Fowlerville who are experienced in organizing
events and activities for the urban sports and for the enthusiasts who practice
them. Our website, www.oneandonlyskatepark.com chronicles our activities.
We
returned to Fowlerville in December 2002 from France where we created a
non-profit organization, DREAM
EXTREME, through which we organized events, donated
equipment and built a public skate park for a municipality in Southern France.
In
Fowlerville, we saw a lot of skateboarders, inline skaters and BMX riders. There was no structure in this community to
support the activities of these young practitioners.
Last
year, 2003, we organized and supervised a free summer skate park project at
United Brethren Church. It was a
wonderful experience and great success.
632 visitors came to the skate park—many repeat customers—during 27 days
of operation in the back parking of UBC.
We are doing this again, this year, only much better.
We
are renovating our 12 skate park modules from last year, building 8 more
modules, installing 3 grind rails, installing a mini half-pipe and building
dirt trails as an urban sports ‘summer camp’ for Fowlerville skateboarders,
inline skaters and BMX riders. This
park is built under our supervision with local extreme sports enthusiasts and
hosts two summer events this year, plus a summer-beginning inauguration on
Saturday, June 19 where we name the skate park. Activities and lessons for all levels will take place throughout
the summer at the skate park.
This
portable skate park will be installed from June 14 until August 14 or 19,
2004. Hours and a weekly schedule are
posted at UBC and local businesses. It
is supervised by adult One and Only Skate Park Project members at all
times. Helmets are required, other
protection is recommended, and a waiver and consent form is required for each
skate park participant.
1). The skate park will be free and open to all
practitioners of all ages—for all local urban sports enthusiasts—it is a place
made just for them.
2). This year, we’re seeking help to pay for
materials and project-related costs.
Examples are plywood sheeting, screws, paper and ink cartridges for
posters; shovels and rakes for the dirt trails. We estimate the total cost of materials and skate park related
expenses to be $4500.
3). This free skate park is operated without
profit as a combined incentive of The One and Only
Skate Park Project in Fowlerville and United
Brethren in Christ.
4). The founders of The One and Only Skate
Park Project will organize and carry out all aspects of the planned summer
activities centered on the portable skate park and dirt trails.
5). A fully stocked first aid kit will be on
hand and a responsible adult as well, to attend to any injuries.
6). Free ice water will be provided daily.
7). Inexpensive soft drinks and fruit juices, as
well as snacks, will be provided daily by project staff.
8). Restrooms at UBC will be available for skate
park attendees.
9). Skate park parking area will be cordoned off
30 minutes before each skate park session and re-opened after all equipment
from a skate park session is removed.
10). Skate park participants can bring their own
CD’s to play on a sound system maintained
by
project adults.
United Brethren in Christ Church and
The One and Only Skate Park Project’s second
annual portable skate park and BMX Dirt Trails
Project—Summer 2004
II. Planning/Design/Construction/Testing/Inauguration
(estimated duration one week.)
a) Planning/Design/Construction/Testing.
One and Only Skate Park Project founders, David and Andrée, have a
design/plan for the skate park and dirt trails (p. 14). A planning meeting will be held on Saturday,
June 5th, 2004 with inline, skateboard and BMX enthusiasts to
discuss the skate park and dirt trails construction, which starts June 8th,
the first day of Summer Vacation.
Interested local enthusiasts will be selected to comprise the building
team, which will oversee and complete the skate park and dirt trails. The team will construct and test the skate
park ramps and dirt trails for suitability and safety. Team members will comprise a maintenance
crew that will look after the upkeep of the facilities throughout the summer.
1. One and Only project team members will construct four additional beginner
skate park ramps and six additional intermediate/advanced ramps. Project leader, David Weimer, will oversee
and supervise this activity. These
skate park ramps will supplement the existing 12 skate park modules from last
year’s portable skate park at UBC. A
mini half-pipe, acquired by David this spring, will be renovated and
installed. A third grinding rail, for
beginners, will be added to the two rails already made from last year’s skate
park, and installed
a. One
and Only Skate Park Project team members with parental permission, proper
training and safety equipment will be the only ones allowed to work with
electric tools. There will be adult
supervision at all times during skate park construction.
b. Skate
park project members will go to local lumberyards, metal shops and other
locations and assist in loading and transporting the necessary materials for
this skate park project.
c.
The ramps will be
removed and stored after operating hours.
The half-pipe and grinding rails will be locked, the dirt trails closed,
and a sign will be posted informing the public that the skate park facilities
are only to be used during posted skate park hours.
2. One and Only
project team members will oversee and carry out the construction of two lines
of BMX trails behind UBC (see page 14).
One line consists of three sets of ‘doubles.’ Doubles are a take-off jump and a landing. A second line consists of two
‘tabletops.’ A tabletop is a take-off
and landing joined by dirt. The second
line is for young beginners and the first is for intermediate and advanced BMX
riders.
a.
One and Only Skate Park Project team members with parental permission and proper training and safety
equipment (glasses, gloves) will be the only ones allowed to build these dirt
trails. There will be adult supervision
at all times during BMX trails construction.
b.
These BMX dirt
trails will supplement the skate park and will be a welcome improvement to this
year’s summer skate park at UBC. Many
young BMX practitioners in Fowlerville visit this one-of-a-kind summer place.
c.
Skate park team
members will learn about proper construction of BMX dirt ramps and will be a
part of building something together with others. Members of this same team will act as the maintenance crew
throughout the summer for these trails.
The dedicated few who involve themselves in this project will actually be
a part of this project 
and will learn and gain much.
d.
The trails will
be completely leveled after the summer activities. The dirt for them will be taken from the actual site of the
trails and will be built using a Bobcat, shovels and rakes.
b)
Inauguration Event.
The One and Only Skate Park Project will hold an event to kick off the summer’s activities. On Saturday, June 19, 2004, a ceremony
commemorating the opening of the skate park will take place with project
members, representatives of UBC and the public.
1. This event will
follow the first week of skate park operation.
2.
There will be a “ribbon-cutting” ceremony and volunteers and project
workers will be publicly recognized and thanked.
3. A ‘jam session’ including a demonstration of riding, skating and
skateboarding by skilled BMX riders, skaters and skateboarders will take place
with music.
4. No charge or fee will be required. This skate park and its events are free to all and open to the
public. It is organized, overseen and
carried out by Skate Park Project creators, David and Andrée Weimer,
together with dedicated volunteers.
5. A name will be chosen during the inauguration event for
the skate park! Recommendations from all attendees will be taken the most
popular name decided upon. The name
will be designed and painted on a sign by local graffiti artists on hand. The sign will be up for the duration of the
summer.
c)
Summer schedule development.
This year, project leaders, David and Andrée, have a new addition to
their family—Benjamin William Weimer, born Jan. 17, 2004! Along with his older brother, Guillaume (3),
and his mom and dad, the Weimers will be able to focus all of their time and
attention on this summer project because David has arranged to be able to take
off from his regular job for the entire two months of the UBC skate park
project. Last year, he worked nights
after disassembling the skate park.
This year, there will be more time and opportunity available to organize
interesting activities and great events.
1. Lessons and
workshops are going to be offered at this skate park. Experienced inline skaters, skateboarders and BMX riders, at no
charge, will teach inline, skateboard and BMX techniques. There will be a sign up sheet for each
week’s lessons.
2. The skate park will be set up for approximately 8 hours (10 a.m.
to 6 p.m.), four to five days each week, including some Saturdays. Times and days will be structured around UBC’s
schedule.
3. The skate park will be removed and stored when not in use.
4.
The purpose of a
summer schedule is to offer a variety of different interesting activities
centered on this skate park. We want to
make this the most memorable summer possible!
III. Summertime activities. Duration
8 weeks (mid-June to mid-August)
a) Summer program development.
With enthusiastic practitioners of the urban
sports involved, it is certain that there will be many new ideas for activities
centered on this skate park. This year,
we are excited to offer two new additions to our facilities—a half-pipe and
dirt trails. We also will organize a
greater variety of activities, including music, juggling, etc. Roller hockey is a certain part of this
year’s schedule. A weekly schedule will
be posted at United Brethren Church, as
well as at local businesses and the post office—like last year. An article will appear in the Fowlerville
News and Views on Monday, June 7th, announcing the opening of the skate
park as well as later articles featuring the mid-summer planned event and the
second annual summer-ending competition.
b) Skate park improvement/maintenance. One and Only
Skate Park Project leaders, David and Andrée
Weimer financed the portable skate park’s initial equipment and operation. We are asking for help in financing
additional materials we’ll need for this year’s plans. David has already obtained most of
the building materials needed for this year’s skate park.
1. This summer skate park project is intended to encourage kids to
take an initiative doing something they care about. We want them to feel the sense of accomplishment when this summer
is over and they are able to look back and say, “We did it!”
2.
Local businesses and organizations are being approached to sponsor the
summer skate park.
3. Summer
Skate Park Project leader, David Weimer, will maintain and repair the skate
park with help from the building team.
It is in the interest of every kid using this equipment for it to be
safe, well built, solid and clean.
c) Summer competition. Before kids return to school in the fall, a
second annual inline, skateboard and BMX competition/event will be organized
with beginner, intermediate and advanced classes. Last year’s event, “One Shot,” was a great success. We want to continue the tradition and make
this year’s summer-ending competition even more memorable.
1. The One and Only Skate Park
Project will
oversee and direct this event, working together with United Brethren Church
leaders.
2. Project leaders, David and
Andrée Weimer, working with young dedicated urban sports enthusiasts from the
community, will organize and oversee a competition of Beginner, Novice and
Expert classes.
4. The One and Only Skate Park
Project leaders have contact with local bands that are willing to play live
music. Local inline hockey players will
be on hand to play demonstration matches and to invite participation from
spectators. The One and
Only Skate Park Project will also organize demonstrations of graffiti,
juggling, flatland BMX and other unique activities.
5. No charge or entrance fee will be required
for spectators or participants. Contest
participants will be required to wear helmets and to sign a release form. This competition/event is organized,
overseen and carried out by The One and
Only Skate Park Project leaders, David and Andrée Weimer, with a core of dedicated
volunteers.
6. Prizes will be presented to winners, sponsored by project
creators and local merchants. A News
and Views follow up article will name contest winners. An “MC” will call the event using a
bullhorn.
7. A “jam session” will follow the competition, at which time
all urban sports enthusiasts are invited to use the supervised skate park and
BMX trails one last time.
Project Requirements
a. Basic requirements for the second annual summer skate park and BMX
trails at UBC:
This supervised skate park is beginning its second year and financial
help is needed to run all the way through the eight weeks of a summer program.
Last year, we paid for everything but this year we need some help because we
have decided not to work other jobs while running the skate park; we can expand
our hours and our range of activities for the summer this way. This summer
skate park operates 4 days a week, 8 hours a day, and will be constantly
supervised. First aid, lessons, skate,
bike and skateboard maintenance, ice water, cheap drinks and snacks,
activities, music, basketballs, volleyballs, training aids, etc., will be
provided by project leaders, David and Andrée Weimer with the help of adult
volunteers (usually parents).
1.
Our goal is to
raise $4500 in the form of tax-deductible contributions to United Brethren in
Christ Church in the name of the skate park, or in the form of needed materials
such as plywood sheeting, screws, paint, umbrellas, etc., donated to the same.
2.
United Brethren in Christ
Church has made available an account of $400 for materials needed during the
installation and operation of this free summer skate park. We’re asking local businesses and organizations
for matching contributions to help us reach our skate-park-operating-costs
goal. A “Sponsor Board” will display
all our skate park supporters and sponsors will be named and thanked in any
News & Views articles.
3.
Materials
needed for this summer include the following: plywood sheeting, screws, saw
blades, sand paper, paint, nails, water hose, shovels, rakes, hand-held
weed-wacker, sunshades, first aid kit, sodas, snacks, coolers, cups and plates,
printer paper, printer cartridges, camera batteries, markers, orange cones,
three basketballs, three volleyballs, rope, a tarp, chain, 3-inch metal pipe,
lag bolts.
4.
Money needed for this summer
will help pay for the following: the June-August living expenses for David and
Andrée Weimer which include a telephone bill, an electric bill, a gas bill,
trailer and lot rent, food, gas, car insurance and internet cable bill.
Donations to the skate park, which are not needed
at the end of the summer, will be directed to UBC’s youth outreach programs.
V.
Diagrams and images of The
One and Only Skate Park Project’s portable skate park and BMX dirt
trails at United Brethren Church—summer 2004
a. There are 12 modules already constructed: four ramps; two inclined
planes; two fun boxes and two beginner inclined planes. Planned construction includes four new
beginner ramps and six more assorted intermediate/advanced ramps. They are movable and are arranged in
countless different configurations.
b. These rail systems are each 14’ 6” long. They are firmly anchored in the asphalt. An additional grinding rail for beginners
will be added this year—the same length but only six inches high.
c. These dirt trails will be approximately four feet tall for
intermediate/advanced and 1-2 feet tall for beginners. Total length: 100 ft. Width: 15 ft.
d. This mini
half-pipe is three feet tall, eight feet wide and 18 feet long.
