Maclean Park Refresh

Footprint is too large

The design encroaches into green space in the park which is used for gatherings and small events. How will this be mitigated by other areas and then connected to the current pathways.

Stoked

I am impressed by the design and the changes are much more substantial than I imagined. I think the team are doing a great job. One main thing that I would get rid of is the spine in the mini ramp section. I find spines cut down on the fun of the ramp and don't really get used enough to justify building them. Also would love to see a slightly more sessionable bank to ledge feature in the street section or maybe a slappy curb thrown in there maybe on the eastern section. Overall, pretty stoked on the design. Great job Rich Landscapes and KCDC!

Areas for beginners and cruisers, not just skatepark areas.

Wide, flat spaces/paths for learners on skates or boards. Not everyone who wheels wants to risk life and limb in a park! The boardwalk along the beach nearby is pretty good, but getting across the carpark is tricky/dangerous for people on anything with small wheels. Carrying on the smooth paving through the carpark (and smoothing out some other rough patches along the boardwalk) would create a great resource for learners if there isn't space for such a thing in the new skate park.

Lighting

So excited about this park being built and pretty happy with the design. Would love to know if lighting has been factored into the budget. I know many skaters let younger kids have the run of the park during the day knowing that their turn will come after bedtime. Less chance of accidents between large and small people.

Rolling entry to the bowl

Adding a rolling entry to the bowl will allow less experienced users (actually the majority) to use it even if they are not capable of dropping in.

Rolling entry

For some of our kids, it is intimidating to drop in the bowl although they have the ability to carve it. Addin a rolling entry will drastically increase the number of potential users of this great feature of the skate park!

Flow

I love a bowl I can carve for days. I can't see an obvious line in the bowl to keep up momentum (roller skater). Probably just needs trial and error. But I hope flow has been a consideration.

Kidney bowl

Overall the design looks really good. I'm just concerned that the bowl is not a kidney shaped bowl. As a skateboarder, It looks like it would be difficult do get back and forth momentum on.

Having raised sections of the bowl stops flow. It is far better to have it sloping or a waterfall. Careful consideration to coping detail...

No raised sections, steepness & coping detail is important. Above is what I would choose, the current design looks like a version of upper hutts flow bowl.

Down Rail (with curve next to Hubba)

Unsure if this is going to be a wide thick rail like the one at the Masterton park. But the down rail should be skinnier than the one which is currently at Masterton. The thick wide rail doesn't work well for Bmx riders.

Mini ramp for teaching

One thing I'm always looking for as a feature at skateparks is a ramp with a low enough coping for teaching beginner agressive roller skaters to drop in, stall, and jump out. Most minis in the region are slightly too high for beginners so I'm really hoping this mini is at a good beginner height. To spread the joy of skating skate parks we need some features to not be intimidating. I hope this ramp will be inviting for newbies.

Provision of a 2m+ wide, 35deg+ banked section along northern length, on NE corner.

Skaters naturally seek out streetscapes to adapt their skills to, such as stairs, rails and banks. The addition of a banked section to the mini ramp to its NE end would be an amazing way to push riders' runs to new limits such that traditional ramp based tricks (rocks, grinds and smaller arials) are augmented with new and old skool street skating moves such as flips and no-complys, while remaining in a ramp context.

Beginniramp

Great to have a small miniramp in the region, and a little spine is a bonus. Nearest spines are Maidstone - which transitions from the bowl to the street section in a way that's hard to utilise, Newlands, which has a higher facing transition and Waitarere has a wee plastic one.

Spine

It will be good to keep the size of the spine the same as the current one. The one for example at Newlands park is too steep. The current spine at the Paraparaumu park works really well and it is probably one of the best spines to learn on.

Feedback from users at the skatepark on 17 June...

- Shade and seating are important. Include some shade/rain cover over part of the skatepark itself so it can be used in all weather. - The path between the skatepark and toilets isn't well lit. Please improve lighting in this area. - We should have an area dedicated to learners with gentle slopes and mellow transitions where learners can practice rolling and dropping in. Also should be connected to a grassed area to bail onto. - 'A very big ramp!' and a small nipple or hip. - 'A loop-de-loop!' - A graffiti wall or mural - A round rail - Storage for belongings isn't so important. Worried it might be a target for thieves.

Use companies who know good skatepark design and are experienced in building them

Lighting - helps extend skating hours in winter months and you can choose to avoid crowds by going late

Old school stand alone miniramp

Classic feature, the miniramp not included in the bowl makes it easier to have a focused ramp session with a group, without having to be aware of people using the entire bowl. also it could attract the possibility of a miniramp contest

reputable skatepark builders

the following companies are responsible for some of the best skateparks in the country. https://premiumskatedesigns.co.nz/ https://www.richlandscapes.co.nz/ https://www.instagram.com/acid_nz/?hl=en