Waterfront Skatepark Plans Irk Local Skaters

The $6.2 million includes a skatepark along the riverfront that is designed to be a key component to the area's growing sports destination market. But it has to be done right.

Not everyone can agree on what doing it right means, however.

During a meeting of the Downtown Development Authority on Tuesday, the general contractor for the Riverwalk project said that he has heard from members of the skating community who are unhappy with his choice to use Hardcore Skateparks to design and build the park.

Ron Allen, president of NDC, the general contractor for the project, said his company chose Hardcore because the company offered more activities for the same price and would provide insurance the other skatepark construction companies would not. The contract for construction of the skatepark alone is about $290,000. NDC will provide the groundwork for that park.

"Hardcore gave us 25 percent more service," Allen said. "The company is bonded. We feel comfortable that we have a good deal. The skateboard community may come protest, but we feel we're making the right choice."

But proponents for the skatepark have complained that Hardcore, owned by American Ramp Company, can keep the costs low because it makes prefabricated parks and the construction is inferior. Because the concrete isn't as smooth and the lines don't all fit together well, the skaters say that the skate experience is subpar.

They say quality is more important than quantity or size.

Chris Cantwell, one of the leaders in the push to get Hardcore taken off of the project, said he was uncomfortable with the process the moment he heard that Hardcore had been invited to bid even though skaters never suggested the company.

"We're really not trying to pick the builder, we just don't want the city to pick a bad builder for such a high profile park," he said. "A Walmart sort of skatepark ends up feeling like a waste."

Cantwell and Geza Darrah, both of Bradenton, said they and other skaters have been sending emails to NDC, city council members and DDA board members abut Hardcore's reputation and about the options for a high quality skate park on the waterfront.

"We're not trying to point fingers at NDC," Darrah said. "We're trying to make sure due diligence is done and that the city gets what it wants: a quality waterfront park. We want a park that will be desirable to ride and will draw people from around the region."

The pair are so passionate about getting it right that they have started a Facebook campaign and are enlisting followers to support the cause. They are also calling for a protest at the August 17 City council meeting and asking skaters to sign up to speak.

Cantwell and Darrah, along with other skaters, attended preliminary meetings about the park design. Once a concept was drawn, NDC sent the ideas out to five companies that design and build skateparks.

The skaters thought they would be invited back to vet the final designs and to evaluate the bids. Instead NDC picked the contractor and then went to the DDA with the overall budget for Riverwalk, including the Skatepark contract, the only contract awarded so far.

The DDA board on Tuesday voted 6-0, with Jason Bartz abstaining, to approve the $6.2 million budget for the entire Riverwalk project. Board members directed Allen to be proactive in keeping the lines of communication open with the skate community in regards to the skatepark.

Allen said NDC is planning to have more design meetings with the skaters next month.

"We want the skateboard community to have input for tweaking the plan," Allen said. "We're not trying to avoid the subject. We want to make sure we're doing the right thing."

Skaters have an ally on City Council

While members of the skatepark community did not attend the meeting — Darrah said he was not told the issue was coming before the DDA on Tuesday — he said they will continue to advocate for the best park they can get. And they have Councilman Bemis Smith on their side.

Smith, who attended the DDA meeting on Tuesday, had a lot of questions for NDC and the DDA about the park's design and construction.

"Skateboarding is of interest to me now," Smith said. "My physique isn't conducive to skateboarding, but my kids skateboard, and we build skateboards together. If we're going to do something on the waterfront, lets do something that can bring national recognition."

Smith said that the DDA and the city need to consider the park as another piece of the area's sports tourism market. The decision, he said, shouldn't be about the lowest bid, but about who can provide the best overall skatepark at a reasonable price. He said that a $10,000 cost difference shouldn't prevent the DDA from getting the best builder.

"I don't want a skate park out here that can be stamped out with a rubber stamp," he said. "I would rather see us spend money on quality things and not have as much at first. I just want to be sure that the skatepark that gets built here is one that we are proud of and not just another waterfront area that doesn't get used."

Smith said given the city's mission, the skatepark is more than just another place for local kids to play.

"To me this is more about the sports-oriented promoting of our area for what we want it to be," he said. "I see the day when we can tie in the beach volleyball tournaments, skate competitions and rowing competitions," he said, adding, "maybe not all on the same day.

"Have you see the plans? Do you think this is a notch above?"

Allen said he and others who chose Hardcore believe the company can provide the city with exactly what it is looking for. David Gustafson, executive director of the DDA, urged the board to "stay on track with the recommendations we have so far."

"We are confident with NDC," he said.

While Darrah doesn't have the same confidence in Hardcore, he said he is not giving up on getting the best park possible.

"I am dedicated to the process no matter who builds the park," he said. "I have made myself available to NDC and am going to the City Council meetings. I have been part of the process for going on three years now. I wanted to see the right thing done here. I wanted a quality park with such a high profile on the riverfront."

He said he wants to see Bradenton build the kind of park that is the envy of every other city in the state.

"We have a shot at making something amazing, something that could be a case study for the state," he said. "A skatepark, if you do it right, it's amazing. If you mess it up, it will fail everyone."