The Tony Hawk Foundation seeks to assist communities in developing successful skateparks that benefit the whole community. A significant portion of our work is helping communities identify the optimal location for the skatepark.
Although we are located in San Diego, we had someone canvass Brattleboro. This volunteer is not a skateboarder and has nothing to gain from one site over another. She neither works for nor benefits from the Tony Hawk Foundation.
To clarify, the volunteer assessed sites in Brattleboro based on what I understood to be the top sites being considered. She used siting criteria developed by Project for Public Spaces, an urban studies consultancy. She herself has her minor degree in urban studies.
She reinforced our recommendation.
We appreciate the concerns of Barry Adams [“Debate 'not about a skateboard park',” Voices, Jan. 25] but feel that several of his assertions regarding the behavior and activities of skateboarders are exaggerations based on stereotypes and unfounded fears. We would challenge him to produce sound studies to support his claims.
We have sound studies conducted by the (former) noise officer for the city of Portland, Ore. measuring concrete skateparks at 52 decibels at its center. (Source: Portland Online.)
Another sound study conducted in Seattle measured an average of 55 decibels from across the street. (Source: Skaters for Public Skateparks.)
For more information on those criteria you may visit Project for Public Spaces' website.