SURF COLLUSION ZINE -News Release
News Release March 3, 2022
“PICKLEBALL AND DESTROY”- Ruby Hill Skatepark Update by Surf Collusion Zine After the Metro-Denver skateboard community’s continual riding of Denver Park and Recreation’s backside the past few years for not living up to the the promise of building a skateboard park per the Master Plan…. A small bit of success advocating for a Ruby Hill skatepark!…. During a public zoom meeting 3/1/2022, the contracted concept design rm, DesignWorkshop, announced that Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR) sta working on the nal build out of Ruby Hill Park, known as “Phase 3 Design”, have acquiesced and are going to construct a “beginner skatepark” (also described previously by DPR as a “kiddie skatepark”) as part of the last building phase for Ruby Hill Park. DPR’s intent is to build a small skateboard feature at Ruby Hill Park in the Phase 3 larger scope of work at one of the uppermost top areas of park. This skatepark will be designed for newbies to learn how to skateboard and to progress their skateboard skills with an increasingly more challenge aspect design of the skatepark. During the public zoom meeting, members of the skateboard community asked probative questions such as design, size, and other aspects of the Ruby Hill Phase 3 beginner skatepark. DesignWorkshop and DPR sta explained that the skateboard feature was just included into the Phase 3 design for Ruby Hill Park and DPR would be willing to accept any input on the design of the beginner skatepark. David Riordon- a long time skateboard advocate for over forty years (40 years) and still skateboarding to this date at 58 years old and residing in Denver since 2008- praised DPR for a late date change of including a skateboard park feature in Phase 3 of the Ruby Hill Park build out; however; the skateboard community reserved the right to further advocate for the promised regular skateboard park as stated originally in the Ruby Hill Master Plan. Riordon then raised a concern that there is no such thing as a “beginner or kiddie skateboard park”. Riordon explained, that there are skateboard parks with smaller features that can be used by those learning to skateboard; but, no such per se as a “beginner or kiddie skateboard park”. Riordon further stated, in order to avoid a failed municipality skateboard park project, that happens way too often throughout the nation that results in “bunk skateparks” (with a “b”) that are junk (with a “j”) that are a complete waste of taxpayer money, e ort, and are unusable for skateboarding; DPR must properly include the skateboard community in every step of building a skateboard park in the Phase 3 of Ruby Hill Park. Riordon explained that it is imperative that DPR for the Phase 3 of Ruby Hill Park, involve the skateboard community in: the design phase; selections of contractor(s) building the skateboard park; oversight of every step of the construction process; and then be included in the nal sign-o of the skateboard park as complete and meeting the intended requirements of the skatepark build.
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