Math Concept Reader MCR g5 designing a skatepark

Designing a
Designing a
SKATE PARK
Math Concept Reader
Expedition:
Antarctica
by Aenea Mickelsen
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DIGITAL FINAL PROOF
by Amy Ayers
Designing a
SKATE PARK
Math Concept Reader
Copyright © Gareth Stevens, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Printed in the United States of America
ISBN 13: 978-0-15-360201-6
ISBN 10: 0-15-360201-5
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 179 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07
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Chapter 1:

The Skatepark
Committee

Where would you nd halfpipes, rails, curbs, and funboxes, right
next to picnic benches and a ight of stairs? If you said in a skateboard
park, you’re right! Skateparks are found in cities and towns all over the
world. They range in size from small to large. Larger skateparks serve
city-wide communities. Smaller skateparks sometimes serve just a few
neighborhoods. No matter the size, a skatepark takes careful planning to
design and build. It’s no small feat to get a skatepark built. The planning
process is long. It requires hard work and dedication from many people.
A skatepark committee often begins the planning process. This
committee is usually made up of people who support skateboarding.
Typical committee members include skateboarders and fans of
skateboarding. People of all ages come together to help plan skateparks.
Committee members may be young skateboarders, teenagers, parents,
and other adults. Although the committee members often vary widely in
age, they all have the same goal: to provide a safe place in the community
for skateboarders to skate. With this goal in mind, they work hard to plan
and build the skateboard park.
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
Construction on this skatepark is just beginning.
In the beginning of the development phase, the skatepark committee
holds meetings to develop a plan for the skatepark. They have many tasks.
They must plan a campaign to raise money to build the park. Skateparks
cost anywhere from $3,000 to $100,000 to build. With the average
skatepark costing around $25,000, raising enough money is no small task
for the skatepark committee. They must develop a successful fundraising

campaign in order to secure enough donors, or people who will give
money to build the park. The committee members must also decide how
they will gain community support.
As they plan the skatepark, committee members learn as much as
they can about building skateparks. The information they gather will help
them inform the community about the park. It will also help members
answer questions about the park. How do committee members learn
about skateparks? There are many resources. They can read books.
They can do research on the Internet. They may visit skateparks in other
communities. They may even interview professional skatepark builders.
Without solid information, it is hard to build support for the park.
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People sign a petition to support building a skatepark.

The skatepark committee may need to circulate a petition to gain
community support. A petition is a written request that community
members may sign. In this case, the petition would be a request to build
a skatepark. Each signature represents one person who supports building
the skatepark. Without a petition, many community members might not
even know a community skatepark is being considered. The petition is
also important because it provides solid, visible proof of the amount of
community support for the skatepark.
In order to gather signatures on the petition, the committee members
may go door to door to people’s homes. They may also ask local
businesses, such as skate shops and sport stores, if they may leave a copy
of the petition at their store for people to sign. Another way to gather
signatures is to ask local businesses for permission to stand outside their
place of business. Committee members ask customers to sign the petition
as they go into and leave the store. All of these are effective ways to

gather signatures on a petition.
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
Members of the skatepark committee
work on building plans.
After they collect as many petition signatures as they can, committee
members make a presentation to the city council. They present the
reasons why the community needs a skatepark. This presentation must
be done in an informed, professional manner. The committee must
demonstrate that sufcient thought and planning have gone into their
proposed skatepark. One way to do this is to show the city council the
signed copies of the petition to demonstrate support for the park.
The committee also brings any other important papers. These include
their ideas for the skatepark and a list of donors. The committee might
make suggestions for where the park could be located. Although this
location may not be approved by the city council, it is another sign that
the committee has put much thought into planning the skatepark.
The committee must prove there is strong community support for the
skatepark in order to get the city council to approve its plans. If there is
no proof the community wants a skatepark, there is no reason for the city
council to approve it. The skatepark committee does a lot of planning.
The planning, however, is just the rst part of the process.
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Chapter 2:
Designing the
Skatepark

Once their presentation is complete, the skatepark committee asks the

city council for approval of their plans. The city council votes to approve
the park and must approve the location of the park as well. Then the fun
begins! It is time for the skatepark committee to design the skatepark.
Designing the skatepark has several very important steps.
The rst design step is to gure out the size of the location chosen
for the skatepark. The committee determines how much surface, or area,
is available at the location. Suppose the city council donates an empty
lot for the skatepark. Designers must know the area of the lot in order to
gure out what elements, or parts, of a skatepark can t on the surface.
This will ensure a nice t for all the elements. If elements within a
skatepark are too close together, skateboarders can get hurt more easily
by skating into each other. If elements within a skatepark are too far
apart, the skate course can become boring.
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
This rectangular-shaped lot
will one day be the home of a
skatepark.
175 feet
125 feet
175 × 125 = 21,875
A = 21,875
P = 600
If the lot is square or rectangular, its area is found by multiplying its
length by its width. The formula for area is A = l × w. Suppose the lot is
175 feet long and 125 feet wide.
A = l × w
A = 175 × 125
A = 21,875

Area is measured in square units, such as square feet. The area of this
lot is 21,875 square feet. This is larger than the average skatepark, which
has an area of about 10,000 square feet.
It is also important to nd the perimeter, or distance, around the lot.
Start by multiplying its length by two, and then multiply its width by two.
Last, add these two products together. The formula for perimeter is
P = (2 × l) + (2 × w).
P = (2 × l) + (2 × w)
P = (2 × 175) + (2 × 125)
P = 600
This lot has a perimeter of 600 feet. You must know the perimeter in
order to build anything around the park, such as a fence.
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
Street
Course
Area =
10,000
square feet
Beginner
Area
Area =
6,250
square feet
125 feet
50 feet 80 feet
125 feet
The next step in the design process is for the skatepark committee to plan
the layout of the park. A very popular skatepark design has three sections: one

for beginners, one for intermediate and advanced skaters, and a street course. It’s
important for beginners to have their own area so that they do not have to worry
about being injured by intermediate or advanced skaters who might skate faster
than them. To nd the area of each section, the committee must know the length
and width of each section. Suppose the committee designs the beginner area to be
125 feet long and 50 feet wide.
A = l × w
A = 125 × 50
A = 6,250
The beginner section area is 6,250 square feet. This is a good size as it is
generally recommended that beginner areas be between 5,000 and 8,000 square
feet.
Suppose the street course is 125 feet long and 80 feet wide.
A = l × w
A = 125 × 80
A = 10,000
The street course area is 10,000 square feet. This is a fairly small street course
as street courses usually range in size from 10,000 to 20,000 square feet.
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
Intermediate/
Advanced
Area =
5,625
square feet
125 feet
45 feet
The skateboard park will use 6,250 square feet for the beginner area
and 10,000 square feet for the street course. This leaves an area of 5,625

square feet for the intermediate and advanced section of the skatepark.
You can nd this number by rst adding the areas of the beginner area
and the street course.
6,250 + 10,000 = 16,250
Then, you subtract that sum from the area of the entire skatepark.
21,875 – 16,250 = 5,625
The difference equals the area of the intermediate and advanced
section. You can also nd the area of this section by multiplying its length
by its width.
A = l × w
A = 125 × 45
A = 5,625
Once the committee knows the size of each area, members can
decide what each section will include. Each section will include different
elements that support different skill levels and course types.
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10
This skateboarder rides a rail element.
Experts agree that a skatepark beginner section should have different
elements than the intermediate and advanced section. A beginner section
should have slow sloping elements that do not allow skaters to gain too much
speed. Beginning skaters are not skilled skaters and, by skating slowly, can
stay safe on the skate course. This section might have elements such as small
hips, moguls, banks, curbs, and rails no higher than four feet tall.
The skatepark’s intermediate and advanced section can include faster
sloping elements that allow skaters to gain higher speeds. Intermediate
and advanced skaters are more skilled than beginners because they have
had more practice skating, and can therefore skate faster without collisions or
injuries. This section might include larger hips, moguls, banks, curbs,

and rails.
The street course contains elements typically found on city streets. This
includes stairs, ledges, curbs, rails, and even picnic benches. Skateboarders
should only use street elements in skateparks and never on real streets
because skatepark street elements have been designed with the skateboarder’s
safety in mind. In addition, skating on these types of elements on real
city streets can injure pedestrians as well as damage the reputation of
skateboarders.
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11
This skateboarder does a trick in a halfpipe.
When designing a skatepark, designers must make sure that planned
elements will t in each section. This will help them avoid wasting time and
money by building elements that are too large for the section they will be in.
Designers make sure each element will t by nding the area each element
covers. This way, they can make sure the area of each element is smaller than
the area of the section in which it will be placed.
The area for the halfpipe is 1,500 square feet. The area of the
intermediate and advanced section is 5,625 square feet. The dimensions of
the halfpipe are 50 feet by 30 feet. The dimensions of the intermediate and
advanced section are 125 feet by 45 feet.
A = l × w
A = 50 × 30
A = 1,500
This halfpipe will easily t in the intermediate and advanced section of
the skatepark.
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1

Construction on this skatepark is
almost done!
7 feet
4 feet
7 feet
4 feet
7 + 4 + 7 + 4 = 22
P = 22
Sometimes designers want to know the perimeter of a park element,
as well as its area. For example, designers might place reective tape
around the base of an element. This helps skateboarders see elements
more easily while skating at night and helps them prevent collisions with
fellow skaters. To nd out how much reective tape is needed around the
base of an element, the designer must know the perimeter of the base.
Suppose a designer wants to place reective tape around the base of a
rectangular launch ramp in the street course. The ramp is 7 feet long by
4 feet wide. The designer would need to gure out the perimeter of the
base.
P = (2 × l) + (2 × w)
P = (2 × 7) + (2 × 4)
P = 22
The perimeter of this launch ramp’s base is 22 feet. The designer
needs 22 feet of reective tape to go around the base.
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1
Chapter 3:
The Final Product
After much planning and calculating, the skatepark designer
completes the plans for the park. The skatepark committee reviews

the designs to make certain that the park will meet the needs of the
skateboarders in the community. They also make sure the park design is
safe.
Finally, it is time to build the skatepark. Often, skatepark committees
give their nal park designs to a professional skatepark construction
company. The company is responsible for actually building the skatepark.
Although skatepark construction companies may be more expensive than
regular construction companies, they will often have the skate experience
to know which design ideas will work best. Skatepark designers often
look for a company that includes skateboarders on its work crews.
Working with actual skateboarders makes certain that the
construction company builds a skatepark that skateboarders will like.
Having skateboarders on the work crews also helps make sure any design
problems that pop up during construction are easily solved. Skatepark
construction companies tend to build the best skateparks around.
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1
It’s opening day at this community’s skatepark.
When the skatepark is complete, it’s time to celebrate! The skatepark
committee hosts a grand opening celebration at the newly built skatepark.
They decorate with balloons. They plan refreshments. They invite
skateboarders and members of the community to the new park.
The celebration is a way to thank the city council, the community,
and others who were part of planning and building the park. It is
especially important to thank anyone who donated money to help build
the park. It is a chance for all of these people to see the completion of a
large project that was once only an idea.
The grand opening celebration also is an opportunity for local
skaters to showcase their talents. The skateboarders can demonstrate

to the community that the skateboard park was worth the time,
money, and effort it took to build. The grand opening helps bring the
community together. It also helps make the community safer for the local
skateboarders.
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1
This skateboarder gets a lot of air on this trick.
Although designing and building a skatepark may sound like a lot of
fun, it takes months of planning and hard work. The skatepark committee
manages many details and has many obstacles to overcome. The nal
result is worth the effort, though. The nished skatepark provides a safe,
fun place for skateboarders to skate. Planning a skatepark also provides a
way for community members to work together to make their community
a better place.
If you would like a skatepark in your neighborhood, start by forming
a skatepark committee. Talk to anyone you know who is interested
in skateboarding, including other skateboarders you know, family
members, and friends. They might like to join your committee. Once
you have formed a committee, do as much research as you can to gather
information about building skateparks. Visit nearby communities who
have a skatepark. They will be happy to share their experiences.
Most of all, remember that knowledge, dedication, and planning are
important if you want to reach your goal. Designing a skatepark will
result in years of fun, recreation, and enjoyment.
Now, it’s time to skate!
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1
Photo credits: cover, title page © Mike McGill/Corbis; pp. 3, 5

(both), 7, 12, 14 courtesy of Space2place Design Inc.; p. 4 © Mark
Richards/Photo Edit; p. 10 © Edward Bock/Corbis; p. 11 © Tony
Freeman/ Photo Edit; p. 15 © David Young-Wolff/Photo Edit. With
special thanks to Jeff Cutler of Space2place.
Glossary

area the number of square units needed to cover a surface
banks any sloped areas under 90 degrees
campaign a series of activities designed to bring about some result
committee a group of people who work together to take some kind
of action
curbs low barriers usually found along the edge of a street
halfpipe a type of ramp that is shaped like a “U”
hips the spots where ramps or obstacles come to a point
intermediate a person whose talents are between those of a beginner
and those of an expert
launch ramp a ramp used to propel a skater into the air
moguls bumps on a slope
perimeter the distance around a gure
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Think and Respond
1. Suppose you are part of a skatepark committee and are
helping to design a new skatepark for your neighborhood.
The location donated by the city measures 110 feet long by
160 feet wide. What is the area of the location?
2. Your skatepark design committee decides to put reflective
tape around the base of a pentagonal pyramid located
in the advanced section of the park. At the base, two edges
measure 6 feet each, two other edges measure 8 feet each,

and the fifth edge measures 10 feet. How many feet
of reflective tape are needed to go around the base of the
pyramid?
3. The new skatepark in your city is divided into two
rectangular sections—a beginner section and an
intermediate section. The beginner section is 140 feet long
by 55 feet wide. The intermediate section is 140 feet
long by 115 feet wide. Find the area and perimeter of the
intermediate section.
4. The area of the beginner section in the skatepark you are
helping to design measures 3,600 square feet. This
beginner section of the skatepark has a square shape. Your
design team wants to include a quarterpipe in this section
that covers a surface 20 feet long and 50 feet wide. Will
the quarterpipe fit in the beginner section? Why or why
not? How did you figure this out?