Skate Park Research Questioned

To the Editor:

I’m writing this as a rebuttal to the letter “Skate Park Has Been Well Researched” [Letter Hive, 3/19/10]. There are some points in the article that are misleading, and I would like to take this opportunity to bring in some truths along with my opinion backed with personal knowledge.

After speaking with Amy Mangold of Parks & Recreation, expressing concerns about building a precast skate park, I was passed along to American Ramp Company (ARC) President Damon Schuler. We talked about precast construction lasting in New England’s climate and the town’s desire of the 15-year warranty with their precast modules. He agreed with my points that poured-in-place skate parks are more skater friendly and had mentioned that precast parks are in fact more expensive.

We spoke how ARC offers a one-year warranty on their poured-in-place skate parks; this struck me as wrong. The foundations of their precast parks are poured in place! Does this mean the foundation could fall apart after one year, while the heavy precast ramps hide the deteriorating infrastructure for the remainder of the 15-year warranty? After learning about the one-year warranty and Damon stating how it’s industry standard because, many elements are done on-site and they can’t guarantee the quality of work, I did some research.  I spoke with Brian Moore, director of SITE Design Group, Inc, a firm specializing in community development of skate parks around the world, found that a five-year warranty is typically industry standard. Companies offering this warranty include Grindline and California Skateparks.

The points made how “Newtown skaters chose precast concrete” and “Neither of the critical letter writers attended” are irrelevant.  From the information I’ve gathered, the skaters that voted are still teenagers. To make an analogy, if you told a teenager you were going on a trip to Hawaii, it wouldn’t matter to them how they got there, just that they do. They don’t understand the planning and organization it takes in order for a successful trip. The president of ARC came to Newtown and told the skateboarders they could have a skate park. Do you really think any of them would tell him or the town no?

More points made I would like to dismiss, “At no cost … and with no assurance of receiving the bid, ARC President Damon Schuler came to Newtown … to hear what Newtown skaters wanted.”  Let me ask, when was the last time someone charged you to talk about something costing more than $20k? That’s simply business. Also, “Jason Stouder … said that ARC didn’t build the Texas skate parks … which the letter writers referred” is incorrect.  The precast examples I sent to Amy were in Connecticut.  My article “Precast Skate Park” states how precast construction is a method inferior to poured-in-place.

It is my firm belief as a student studying engineering with construction experience in swimming pools that precast construction in an inferior method. The examples of the precast skate parks I provided to the Parks and Recreation Department all have flaws from long-term exposure to extreme temperature changes. These issues are not exclusive to only one company. A poured-in-place skate park, like a swimming pool, will endure the harsh New England climate.

Lyle Murphy

4 Clearview Drive, Sandy Hook                                   March 24, 2010