The Halifax Skatepark Coalition - Spectrum Skatepark Creations

Facts
Our city’s view on this project,
“{We} agrees with the skater’s vision of a single, high quality
Skatepark. The commons is the centre of our municipality,”
he adds, “it makes sense”.
– Blair Blakeney, Coordinator of Parks Capital Projects for HRM
On the skaters being a worthwhile investment,
“The kids were worth the investment. The fact that they
don’t have uniforms on and play soccer on Saturdays was
not a reason why we shouldn’t invest some resources in
their well-being.”
–Jim Lawson, City Councilman, Milpitas, CA
Comparing the building process to basketball and baseball,
“Building a skateboard park is not that different from
building a basketball court or a baseball field.”
– Jim Skeels, Parks and Recreation Director, San Carlos, CA
On Financial Success of the Santa Rosa Skatepark,
“Dollar for dollar, we’ve never had anything so successful.”
– Bill Montgomery, Deputy City Parks Director, Santa Rosa, CA
On Insurance Claims,
“We’ve never had a claim since the park was constructed.”
– Mike Alvarez, Parks & Recreation Director, Benicia, CA US
On liability,
“Liability is not a problem... ...skaters accept the risk of
injury as part of the sport...”
– Bill Montgomery, Deputy City Parks Director, Santa Rosa, CA
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HALIFAX SkATePARk COALITION
SUPPORT
Figures
There are over 900,000 skateboarders in Canada, as
compared to only 200,000 Canadians who participate in
organized hockey – Statistics Canada 2001
% of active participants are in the 12-19 year old age
category – American Sports Data, January 2001
Skateboards and skateboard-related products from about
300 manufacturers of professional-level equipment generate
1.4-billion dollars in annual retail sales. – IASC
The Skateboard industry (hard goods, apparel, accessories,
etc.) is a $12 billion dollar industry. – Board-Trac/ National
Sporting Goods Association 2003
Average annual household income of skateboarders is
$9 ,000 - $110,000 – Thrasher Magazine Survey
Skateboarding remains to be safer than other recreational
choices available to today’s youth. The following data is
compiled by the National Safety Council and the Consumer
Safety Commission (based upon data from 199 ).
Sport Participants Injuries Percentage
Baseball 3 , 00,000 43 ,20 1.2 %
Basketball 29, 00,000 1,358 2.5 %
Football 14, 00,000 409,29 2. 8%
Ice Hockey 1, 00,000 1,2 4 3. 0%
Soccer 10,300,000 14 ,409 1.42%
Volleyball 20,500,000 112,120 0.54%
Skateboarding ,200,000 2 , 18 0.49%