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News & ArtsTuesday, December 9, 2008
City City Says It Won't Replace Wall of Death Skatespot
Posted by Jonah Spangenthal-Lee on Tue, Dec 9, 2008 at 6:16 PM
Although the artist behind the Wall of Death—an art installation along the Burke Gilman Trail that's been used as an unofficial skatepark for the last decade—says he designed the sculpture to be used for skateboarding, the city says it has no plans to provide a new, covered space to skaters to replace the Wall of Death site.
Skaters have been lobbying the city for another covered skate spot after Seattle Department of Transportation employees installed anti-skate barrier at the site in October but, according to SDOT spokesman Rick Sheridan:
The city at this point is not exploring other potential areas for skateboarders.The city has a history of looking out for the interests of skateboarders. The Marginal Way Skatepark for example is one that’s currently operating on public right of way.
But at this point due to the changes made near the Burke Gilman Trail we're not looking for additional improvements elsewhere to facilitate skateboarding.
It sounds like skaters are SOL and as we head into another dark, rainy winter, skaters are now left with only one covered skate spot: the Marginal Way Skatepark.
The four-year-old Marginal Way Skatepark (MWS)—a completely DIY skatepark in SoDo built and maintained by volunteers—is open but is only about 75% complete and MWS board member Tim Demmon says his group needs about $50,000 to finish the park. "It’s the only covered skatepark in Seattle [where] it rains a lot," he says.
So far, Demmon says the MWS hasn't gotten any money from the city. Maybe that needs to change. While the city's strapped for cash right now and has canceled plans for several other skateparks around the city, this seems like an easy and relatively inexpensive way to make up for killing the Wall of Death.
It's incredibly unlikely the city's going to cough up any money for skaters in these tough economic times, but if you've got an piles of cash lying around, you can drop by one of the two MWS fundraisers this weekend and support your local DIY skatepark.
1
It is strange that politicians talk about people/youth being active because it is healthier than sitting around but when people are actually doing that in a way they like to be doing it, skateboarding being the most obvious one, they do not really get behind it 100% by supporting it. Like it is some deviant thing which it isn't, it is no more dangerous than most things that are active and most of the time less. Driving cars is far more dangerous. Skateboarding is a way many people get around and most are in great shape because of it. The city should be 100% behind this in every way by building parks everywhere and incorporating it into public spaces.
2
Kids today with their skate parks....when I was a youth (bones start creaking) we skated anywhere like punks and got chased by cops.
3
This is what Balden said (to you):
How does that compare to the actual use of the embankment under the University Bridge let alone the actual Wall of Death sculpture? My (possibly incorrect) perception is that people use the embankment as a ramp to skate across the Burke-Gilman rather than along it and it's hard (for me) to imagine how the sculpture itself is usable for skating.
I agree that the closure of a covered skatespot is unfortunate, but pretending that the artwork itself was meant for skating seems like a stretch.
“We thought it would be cool to make a ramp come down and bend with the trail so [skaters] could trick on it as they used the trail. We were making a work of art and we thought that we would make it skateable."
How does that compare to the actual use of the embankment under the University Bridge let alone the actual Wall of Death sculpture? My (possibly incorrect) perception is that people use the embankment as a ramp to skate across the Burke-Gilman rather than along it and it's hard (for me) to imagine how the sculpture itself is usable for skating.
I agree that the closure of a covered skatespot is unfortunate, but pretending that the artwork itself was meant for skating seems like a stretch.
4
Ok, I tried to stay out it...but since every 8th post is about this stupid Wall of Death -- here it is.
The Wall of Death is the beginning of the end for Seattle.
I began living in Wallingford in 1988 in a little one room house I rented on 1st Avenue NE. I used to jog and bicycle all the time on Burke Gillman Trail either towards Ballard or the U District.
What a gem to have a clean, fresh trail to play on after work. Parks, trees, nice neighborhoods, beaches -- oh, yeah, Wall of Death. I remember that thing being built there. Knowing this is Seattle, and seeing the installation, I couldn't tell if it was a guerrilla art piece (some fey Cornish students putting up) or some city inspired (we have to use 1% for art and this is all we could find) but it definitely was not pleasant to go from greenery to this pinkish-orange and black monstrosity.
If anything, it probably should stay there, because since then the entire city of Seattle has become one gigantic Wall of Death with overcrowding, heavy traffic, nasty mean spirited GenXers, robber barrons, real estate swindlers, out of control Californians, wangsters and all the others turning what was once the last tranquil neighborhood oriented middle class city into a hell hole.
The Wall of Death is the beginning of the end for Seattle.
I began living in Wallingford in 1988 in a little one room house I rented on 1st Avenue NE. I used to jog and bicycle all the time on Burke Gillman Trail either towards Ballard or the U District.
What a gem to have a clean, fresh trail to play on after work. Parks, trees, nice neighborhoods, beaches -- oh, yeah, Wall of Death. I remember that thing being built there. Knowing this is Seattle, and seeing the installation, I couldn't tell if it was a guerrilla art piece (some fey Cornish students putting up) or some city inspired (we have to use 1% for art and this is all we could find) but it definitely was not pleasant to go from greenery to this pinkish-orange and black monstrosity.
If anything, it probably should stay there, because since then the entire city of Seattle has become one gigantic Wall of Death with overcrowding, heavy traffic, nasty mean spirited GenXers, robber barrons, real estate swindlers, out of control Californians, wangsters and all the others turning what was once the last tranquil neighborhood oriented middle class city into a hell hole.
5
I want to be the first to admit that if an artist says he meant for you to skate on the Wall of Death, then obviously you have the right to skate on everything near the wall of death. Probably anywhere within one hundred feet becomes skater domain, right? Definitely fifty feet. Definitely.
Skaters are oppressed. End the oppression!
(Hello stalker guy. I know you're there.)
Skaters are oppressed. End the oppression!
(Hello stalker guy. I know you're there.)
6
The artist said it was intended to be used so skaters could trick on the wall as they were using the trail. That's now how most skaters used it -- they used it to trick across the trail. This is basically the equivalent of insisting on having a half-pipe that ramps perpendicular to I-5. That trail receives an insane amount of use and skaters, because of this retarded persecution complex, can be really stubborn about fucking up the flow of traffic on the trail.
I used to skate, I'm all for skate parks, but that was a stupid place for skaters to play and the city was right to block it off. The city should create other skate parks because there's a demand for them -- not because skaters ever had any right to block the BG trail, such that we now owe it to them to give them another public space.
Jesus. Talk about a manufactured crisis.
Although the artist behind the Wall of Death—an art installation along the Burke Gilman Trail that's been used as an unofficial skatepark for the last decade—says he designed the sculpture to be used for skateboarding,
The artist said it was intended to be used so skaters could trick on the wall as they were using the trail. That's now how most skaters used it -- they used it to trick across the trail. This is basically the equivalent of insisting on having a half-pipe that ramps perpendicular to I-5. That trail receives an insane amount of use and skaters, because of this retarded persecution complex, can be really stubborn about fucking up the flow of traffic on the trail.
I used to skate, I'm all for skate parks, but that was a stupid place for skaters to play and the city was right to block it off. The city should create other skate parks because there's a demand for them -- not because skaters ever had any right to block the BG trail, such that we now owe it to them to give them another public space.
Jesus. Talk about a manufactured crisis.
7
Here, here, Judah. The city does a pretty good job of reducing/minimizing bike traffic problems on the Burke - note recent additions of blinking trail signs, illuminated crossings, regular removal of wet leaves near UW - but the idea of skaters crossing the trail is asinine. And I'm NOT blaming skaters - if you've ever ridden a skate park, you quickly learn to give way to other skaters and BMXers. The biggest problem is with cyclists who don't anticipate the skaters ie those with poor bike skills, inability to communicate with bells/voice, and those wrapped in their aero-womb of a recumbent.
Skaters deserve more space. Give it (back) to 'em.
Skaters deserve more space. Give it (back) to 'em.
8
"The city has a history of looking out for the interests of skateboarders."
What the fuck is that guy talking about?
What the fuck is that guy talking about?
9
"The city has a history of looking out for the interests of skateboarders. The Marginal Way Skatepark for example is one that’s currently operating on public right of way."
We were interested in demolishing the old Ballard Bowl and building a lifeless husk 50 feet away. Also, we were interested in demolishing the downtown park for Bill and Melinda. We are interesting in also putting skatestoppers on every-fucking-thing.
FWIW: Marginal was renegade, they wanted to demo it but threatened the skaters that if they built even ONE renegade / concrete improvement skate-doohickey they'd demolish MW. THANKS SEATTLE!!! THANKS MAYOR MCFATTIE!
We were interested in demolishing the old Ballard Bowl and building a lifeless husk 50 feet away. Also, we were interested in demolishing the downtown park for Bill and Melinda. We are interesting in also putting skatestoppers on every-fucking-thing.
FWIW: Marginal was renegade, they wanted to demo it but threatened the skaters that if they built even ONE renegade / concrete improvement skate-doohickey they'd demolish MW. THANKS SEATTLE!!! THANKS MAYOR MCFATTIE!
10
hey jonah--you should let the folks at marginal way skatepark that they should apply for the opportunity funds that were allocated in the new parks levy.
11
Why does the city (and therefore me as a taxpayer) have fund the fucking skate-park? How about we take $50,000 and provide low income housing for a while? The city should use its money to help people who cannot help themselves not build parks for over-grown teenagers.
12
Here's nice diversion from all this skate park talk:
Look at this video of Richard Nixon playing the piano in 1961.
Look at this video of Richard Nixon playing the piano in 1961.
13
Skaters lose everything cool about skating, totally abandon DIY sensibilities, when they start asking for handouts and government sponsorship.
15
Why should the city be responsible for building a playground for every group of people with a hobby?
16
All told though, the Wall of Death wasn't that great of a spot, but it is in town and covered for christ's sake. It smells like piss too. Innerspace is right around the corner, but I done went and built a micro mini in the garage. Hassle free beer fueled sessions commence. Still haven't told the landlord though.
18
Just get a cold-rolled steel pry bar, the 1.5 meter kind, and a nice sledge.
Concrete accretion removed in about 2 minutes.
Fast, easy, hard to stop.
Concrete accretion removed in about 2 minutes.
Fast, easy, hard to stop.
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