Cork Skateparks

shagman

They've allready wasted an oportunity with Ballphenane skatepark so I've been trying to get them to build something decent in Ballincollig.
Please lend your support by sending emails to David.Delap@CorkCoCo.ie

Here's the tender document from government the e-tenders site...

http://www.e-tenders.gov.ie/search/search_show.aspx?ID=AUG064708

Here's the communication I've been having with him so far...

---

Original Message

---

From: michael reidy [mailto:irishskateparkforum@yahoo.com]
Sent: 16 August 2006 01:13
To: David Delap
Subject: ballincollig skatepark

Dear David,

I notice that your tender document for the Ballincollig skatepark calls for the construction of a concrete slab rather than a full concrete skatepark.

Concrete slabs are generally only used in modular style parks which are not suited to Irish conditions and have proved unsucessfull here and abroad.

Regards,

Michael Reidy.



David Delap <David.Delap@CorkCoCo.ie> wrote:

Michael ,

This is the first skate park that Cork County Council are involved in .

The grant available for the park was €100,000

This did not allow many options particular if you are limiting yourself to a concrete park.

The site allocated is distant from the main population centre

When you consider these fact we decided that in this location the best option was for a modular park

In the event that the park is not used the furniture can be relocated to a more suitable location.

In the event that the park is popular it can be extended

In relation to the concrete parks none of the manufacturers could answer the technical questions in relation to cracking, maintenance costs , the need for expansion joints in the material

If you have any further questions in relation to the project please contact me.

David Delap



Hi David,

Thanks for your prompt reply. I believe the grant received for the Ballincollig park was based on it being 62% of the estimated overall budget which brings the total budget to €161,290. See below. It is indeed possible to build a concrete park for this budget and considering that an existing hard standing does not exist it is recommended. Why pour merely a concrete slab when you can pour the entire park? Concrete parks generally are more expensive than modular parks it is true but if you look at the amount of obstacles in a typical concrete facility it is often double the number of features in a similar sized modular park. The majority of modular companies are from a non skating background and are subdivisions of larger companies set up to take advantage of a growing market. Very few have the passion and expertise required to build a quality facility. Also the maintenance of a concrete facility is negligible compared to that of a modular facility. The one claim that is made for modular facilities that is true is that if they are unpopular they can be moved or removed. Unfortunately this is a self fulfilling prophecy as modular skateparks are not anywhere near as popular with users as concrete parks. Concrete parks can also be extended if / when demand exceeds the number of users the area can safely cater for. The new skatepark in Lucan, Dublin is such a concrete facility and such an expansion is a planned option for that in the future. To answer some of your technical questions concrete cracking is rare and usually only begins to occur 10-15 years into the life of the park. Expansion joints are kept to a minimum and if used are in a non skate-surface area. Basically concrete parks last so well that only the companies involved from the 80s will have had detailed experience of repair and maintenance issues.

If this is an issue I can have one of the guys involved in building the concrete parks in Bushy park and Lucan contact you and explain the details of construction.

I am not by the way representing any skatepark companies I am simply a concerned skater who's skated many different parks around the world and campaigned for such facilities here in Ireland and I would like these the first batch of skateparks built in Ireland to be of a high a standard as possible.

If you would like to gauge the reactions of users to modular parks already built in Ireland and elsewhere have a look here



http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054968523

http://www.bogginzine.com/comments.php?DiscussionID=197&page=1#Item_9

http://www.skateparkguide.com/concrete%20vs%20ramps.htm





Waterford built the first park in Ireland and went for a modular design; they have experienced first hand the problems associated with modular ramps and are now planning a concrete facility.

Scotland now builds almost exclusively in concrete due to it's resistance to weather and vandalism.



Lastly I would like to add that there is a third option of concrete modular, this consists of pre-cast concrete obstacles placed on a concrete slab. While not achieving the flow and imaginative design possible with a cast in-situ facility it does retain that benefits of concrete over regular modular i.e.: vandal proof , weather proof, smooth quick drying surface, does not become to hot to use as metal ramps do. Also as concrete is an integral unit there are no nuts and bolts to come loose, so you gain minimal upkeep and minimal exposure to litigation.



Some good concrete skatepark building companies...

http://www.airspeedskateparks.com/ built Bushy park skatepark in Dublin and tendering for a number of other Irish skateparks.



http://freestyleramps.com/ built Lucan skatepark in Dublin and tendering for a number of other Irish skateparks.



http://www.duracrete.co.uk/skate_parks.htm built a lot of the new Scottish parks built over the last 5 years. Scotland now builds mainly concrete parks as they will stand up to the Scottish weather.



http://www.teampain.com/ One of the top U.S builders who builds parks in Europe too



http://www.placed-to-ride.com/ U.S company that has built some really good European parks



http://www.concrete-skateparks.com/ German based company distributed in Ireland by Irish Fencing Ltd http://www.irishfencing.com/



http://www.bowl.ch/ Swiss skatepark company



http://www.spectrum-sk8.com/ Canadian builders



wwhttp://www.grindline.com/ One of the top U.S builders



http://www.dreamlandskateparks.com/One of the top U.S builders



http://www.convic.com/home.html Austrlaian builders



http://www.skatedesign.com/ US builders



Modular Concrete skatepark companies.



http://www.bendcrete.com/skateramps/skateramps.htm UK based company



http://www.skatestone.de/skatestone-eng/index.htm distributed in Ireland by SPRAOILINN Ltd http://www.spraoilinn.com/



http://www.whiteskate.co.uk/index2.htm Scottish based company.



http://www.wheelscape.co.uk/street-ramps.htm UK based company

This is the info I have on grant allocations.....



Local Authority
Location
Date Application was made
Grant Allocated
% of Estimated Overall Cost




€
%

Carlow County Council
Carlow Town
15/07/05
—
—

Clare County Council
Ennis
14/07/05
90,000
60

Cork County Council
Ballincollig
13/07/05
100,000
62


Mallow
15/07/05
—
—


Carrigaline
13/07/05
—
—
Regards,

Michael Reidy.

rebelbmx

good work, have you got anymore replys from him

shagman

Yeah I got a reply it said...

"Thankyou for the information"

That was it.