Colorado Coalition for Public Skateparks

[Ashley Mott]

So, I made up a name and we're going to have our first meeting at the Larimer Lounge in Denver Friday, August 12 at 6:30pm. $1 PBR's and skatepark advocacy will be on our to-do list. Maybe the city of Denver will take a "name" more seriously than a skater/college student, but I also want our scope to be greater than just Denver, hence Colorado Coaltion for Public Skateparks.

[Dan Hughes]

Maybe? This is how it works. Unless you're a representative of an organization, a city can ignore you much easier because you're only one person.

Good Job!

[Mark Servine]

Nice!

[Ashley Mott]

Maybe? This is how it works. Unless you're a representative of an organization, a city can ignore you much easier because you're only one person.

Ha, Ha. Dan, this is funny now, because I just had a meeting at the Parks and Rec dept. and told them about our group and they said that they cannot bow to every special interest group that comes along!!! But, then I told them this group was formed just recently as a response to the Department ignoring me for 7 months and then they felt like crap. They thought the group had been around for awhile or something. Shows you the power of just a "name."

[Dan Hughes]

EXactly!! Way to go! You get'm.

[seth_johnson]

Ash,

This is awesome! Keep up the good work and feel free to tap us for any stuff you might need. Like business card designs, etc. Kent should be able to print you up some for free. You'll also need a very simple website describing who your group is, what your goals are, contact info for the media, etc. Maybe someone less busy than myself can help you set that up?

I'm going up to Colorado in mid-August with my girlfriend for a 10-day camping trip. Will be all over the state, I expect. Maybe we'll bump into you.

Seth

[Chad Balcom]

I want a CCPS mesh hat.

[Ashley Mott]

Ash,
I'm going up to Colorado in mid-August with my girlfriend for a 10-day camping trip. Will be all over the state, I expect. Maybe we'll bump into you.

Seth, I will be in the NW from Aug. 13-20. If you'll be here at days outside of that, I' d be down to session. If I miss you, you should call the Conspiracy warehouse: 303-383-1895. I'm thinking you know Lindsey and Dana, right? Besides you know Mike$, that means you're our pal too.

[Ric Widenor]

Seth, I'll be around, unless Conspiracy wants to take me to the NW (PRETTYPRETTYPRETTYPLEASE?)and my sweetie doesn't kill me.
As far as the meeting at the Larimer, I know how that will go--talk of skatepark advocacy will turn quickly to hot talk as those $1 PBR's go down......

[Ashley Mott]

As far as the meeting at the Larimer, I know how that will go--talk of skatepark advocacy will turn quickly to hot talk as those $1 PBR's go down......

Haha, LBR... We are so self aware! I know that's probably how will it go. This is just an effort to get the ball rolling and maybe a few guys will step up and help. The bar room meetings will most likely be limited, as I want people under 21 to be involved also.

[Ashley Mott]

OK tomorrow...=Friday the 12th. If you're not pouring crete, you shouldn't be at Tuck's, you should be at the Larimer Lounge at 6:30pm.

[Ashley Mott]

Thanks to everyone that made it out...especially Tim G. and LBR! The meeting exceeded my expectations. A lot of guys stepped up and seemed genuinely interested in the cause. LBR pretty much mapped out the mission statement, a couple of dudes are down to build a website, Jared (from the Westword) established our course of action, and I just sat there amazed. 18 skaters showed.

[Tim Gordon]

It was a great showing of a really good core group.

Some of the goals of CCPS will obviously require funds. The website will require hosting, literature will have to be printed, banners will have to be made, a mesh hat screened for Chad, etc. I don't doubt that we'll be able to get the funds, and the grass-roots feel is nice. But is it worth considering some formalities?

I believe that other local skatepark advocates have incorporated into nonprofits, using 501(c)(3). Fellow SPS folks, what are the pros and cons of doing so? If you've done it, why? If you have not, why not?

If advisable, I might be able to take care of setting up a 501(c)(3). It's not exactly my area of law, but others in my firm could provide guidance I'm sure.

[James Willis]

A 501c3 can tke a while, consult an attorney, a non profit corporation will probably be easier.

[Ashley Mott]

Jared from the Westword wanted me to post this up.

First annual meeting of Colorado Coalition for Public Skateparks
Friday, August 12, 2005

Overview of meeting:

The initial meet-up took place at the Larimer Lounge in Denver. We had
an awesome turn-out with about 18 skaters showing up from all across
the metro-area to talk shop about this new group, and drink cheap beer
and chow on hot dogs. Since the issues surrounding public skateparks
are so varied and complex, we tried to focus on establishing a rough
foundation on what we felt the purpose of the group should be. These
are intended to serve as a simple framework that we can build on in
future meetings.

Who are we? We are teachers, construction workers, students, artists,
business owners, parents, city employees, journalists, service
employees and professionals - in essence citizens, voters and
tax-payers of Colorado - who skateboard.

What is our purpose? Though this will certainly get fleshed out as
time progresses, we see ourselves as activists that are lobbying to
ensure that Colorado communities provide safe, quality skateboard
facilities that will provide challenges for kids now and into their
adulthood. We seek to educate and be a resource for cities that are
considering establishing public skateboard parks. We will work with
officials to find real, practical solutions to the problems that they
face, and aid anyone in avoiding the pit-falls and follies that too
often accompany skatepark design and production. Generally, we
advocate against pre-fabricated ramps in favor of concrete skateparks
except in very special circumstances, and we are steadfast proponents
that skateboard parks are built and designed by (or at least are in
heavy consultation with) skateboarders who are knowledgeable about the
production of skateparks.

What now? We decided that we need a website, and Chris and Tim are
working on that. We also need flyers advertise the group, which
Lindsey volunteered for. There was also discussion of developing a
pamphlet that could be sent out to every Parks and Rec Department in
the state, as well as the different landscape architecture firms that
are consulting on and designing these skateparks. Once we are more
established, there was also talk of initiating our own endorsement
system, where we selectively grant our stamp of approval to firms that
meet the standards of CCPS as a way to provide guidance to cities.
General operating funds will soon be needed also (printing and URL
costs,) so some type of fundraiser may be in our future.

Skatepark News: We will also be passing along info on different
skatepark projects in the works so we can ensure that none of these
slip under the radar until it's too late. Longboard Ric brings us
news of Steamboat Springs and Winter Park skateparks in the early
planning stages. On the small-town front, the Edwards skatepark is
almost done and Fairplay is said to be somewhere near completion by
Grindline. The skaters of Nederland in the mountains outside of
Boulder are reported to be working hard to get a skatepark in their
town. Also in Northglenn, the city council has been holding hearings
on a future skatepark. Longmont is still trudging along on theirs.

Linkage:

http://www.eastbayexpress.com/Issues/20 ... story.html
Check out this article on how the skaters of Oakland persuaded their
city to not demolish the DIY concrete park they'd built below a
bridge. It's a continuing saga being reproduced all up and down the
West coast and gives Denver skaters something else to think about: a
Denver Burnside. Think under a bridge and in an area that no one else
gives a crap about (economically depressed or industrial) on unused
land that is not privately held, meaning it is owned by the city or
the state. Start scouting locations and bring ideas and pics
to next meeting.

http://www.skatersforpublicskateparks.org/
Don't forget to point and click on CCPS's partners in crime, Skaters
for Public Skateparks. This is a national group of skaters that is sprouting its highly-efficient organizing tentacles
into all fifty states. Until we get our site up and running,
correspondence can be found on this website on the forum page. Click
on "USA-Southwest".

Next meeting: We are currently figuring out a time and place for our
next meeting, stay tuned.

Jared is into it!

This part we got to talk about though:

Once we are more
established, there was also talk of initiating our own endorsement
system, where we selectively grant our stamp of approval to firms that
meet the standards of CCPS as a way to provide guidance to cities.