Photo Credit: Dave Brewer
Typically, when the word “skatepark” is mentioned, ”environmentally responsible” is not the first phrase that comes to mind. But in this eco-conscious age, sustainability is one of the most important factors in any municipal construction project. Even though concrete isn’t the “greenest” material, with proper foresight and planning, communities are finding ways to make skateparks more compatible with the surrounding environment.
1. Do it right the first time. The environmentally sensible way to approach a project is to do it once, and do it right. Consider working with a skatepark construction and design firm to help guide you through the process. Also, speak with local skaters to find out what skate elements they want to see. There are countless cities around the country that have installed steel-ramp parks, only to be forced to tear them down due to noise complaints and low usage. Listening to skaters and building a park they love helps avoid doubling the environmental impact of hauling away scrap metal when the park doesn’t work out.
2. Leave a small construction footprint. It is important to remember the goal is to disturb the surrounding environment as little as possible. In skatepark construction, the best eco-friendly solution is to use a combination of poured-in-place concrete and pre-cast concrete. Pre-cast concrete pieces are prepared in an off-site factory, which requires less earthwork and excavation than creating the complex forms on-site. And in the controlled environment of a pre-cast factory, concrete waste is cut by 66 percent. For example, extra-large pieces like a dock drop usually require large amounts of lumber to build forming structures with poured-in-place concrete, but with pre-cast, the same forms are used again and again.