Study of potential Skate Park in Danville to be presented Wednesday night

DANVILLE – The Town of Danville’s Parks and Leisure Services Commission will examine findings of a feasibility study regarding a possible skate park in Danville at their upcoming February 14, 2018 meeting.

Discussion of a skate park facility arose after it was suggested by residents during the 2017 Parks, Recreation and Arts Strategic Plan Update. A skate park was one of the amenities requested by those residents who participated in the community outreach portion of the update.

In September 2017, the commission hired Spohn Ranch Consulting to examine potential locations in Danville for a skate park facility. Soon after, the town’s Parks and Leisure Services Commission chose the fountain/pond area of Sycamore Valley Park as the focus location of the study. Two other locations were also discussed: Osage Station Park and Diablo Vista Park.

As part of the study, Spohn Ranch considered details like population of the town and distance to other skate parks in the drivable area. Based on their findings, Spohn Ranch recommended the skate park be sized at 14,000 and 15,000 square feet, nearly twice the size of San Ramon’s skate park. They also determined Sycamore Valley Park was the optimal location.

Spohn Ranch also held a workshop in December 2017 where residents were able to discuss what amenities such a facility should provide to the skate community.

Plenty of local skater dudes and dudettes were in attendance and shared their opinions and experiences of other surrounding skate parks, including the quality of the “transitions,” “snake runs,” “bowls,” “two stairs,” “six stairs,” “spines,” “table tops,” “bang wall run-ups” and “loveseats.”

Aaron Spohn, Spohn Ranch’s president and founder, addressed complaints about non-skateboards at other skate parks. Henry Perezalonso, the Recreation, Arts, and Community Services Director for The Town of Danville made it clear they were considering the inclusion of as many sports and riders as possible for Danville’s skate park.

During the meeting, several residents also expressed concern the Sycamore Valley Park was not accessible to enough west side residents. They noted that kids that live on the west end of town can easily access Osage Park via the Iron Horse Trail, but parents would have to drive those kids if the site was at Sycamore Valley Park. Spohn assured them those concerns were considered, but there were a number of factors that made Sycamore Valley Park the most favored location in Spohn Ranch’s study.

During the January Town Council Meeting, Vice Mayer Storer noted the behavior of the skateboarders at the December workshop, “The room was packed… at the end of the meeting… all the kids got up, got their chairs and put all their chairs away, and thanked the parks commission for hearing them.” Concilmember Stepper also noted that attendees of the meeting ranged from ages 8 to 40.

Perezalonso said the feasibility study is simply the first in a series of steps before such an amenity would move forward in Danville.

“We received feedback from residents that this was something they wanted to see in Danville, so we are looking to see if it is even possible,” Perezalonso said. “If the commission chooses to move forward, there is still a lot to do.”

Perezalonso emphasized that this is still in the theoretical phase, with no design or budget in place. If the commission determines the project is feasible, it would next go to the Town Council for possible inclusion into the Town’s Capital Improvements Program.

You can view Spohn Ranch’s full report to be presented Wednesday here.