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To the delight of skateboarders throughout the region, Asheville Mayor Leni Sitnick has announced that Food Lion has entered into a partnership with the City of Asheville as the primary sponsor for the greatly anticipated new SkatePark. To be known as the Food Lion SkatePark, this 1,700 square foot state-of-the-art facility is scheduled to be ready to skate in early fall. The remaining components of the park, including the building (which will house the offices, shop, concession area and bike racks) and landscaping, should be completed by late fall. The park will feature three distinct areas, including a beginner's bowl, a street course (designed for intermediate and advanced skaters), and a deep bowl for advanced skaters. Although there are areas designed for all skill levels, Tim Payne and his associates at Team Pain have designed the skating area so that all of the features of the park will be of interest to experienced skaters. This will assure that the park remains challenging to skaters for many years to come.
Food Lion has two vendors participating as co-sponsors in the park: Mountain Dew and Doritos. Phil Shope and his team at Superior Grading, and Perry Bartch Construction are handling the early construction of the park. The property was made available to the City of Asheville for use a skatepark by the NC Department of Transportation. Local artist Lorraine Plaxico rendered the conceptual drawing of the park. The announcement and celebration were held at the site of the new park, located at the corner of Flint and Cherry Streets in Montford, across I-240 from the Asheville Civic Center. The celebration featured a demonstration by professional skateboarder Mike Frazier, a meet and greet with skatepark design guru Tim Payne, and the first glimpse of the conceptualized park and its logo. In spite of the pouring rain, the crowd of approximately 200 skaters, parents, and city officials enthusiastically cheered the unveiling of the conceptual drawing, logo, and the featured speakers from the City of Asheville and Food Lion.
The Food Lion SkatePark is the result of many years of work, primarily by the City of Asheville's Parks and Recreation Department. For many years, a local ordinance has banned skateboards from the streets and sidewalks of downtown Asheville as a means to protect the skaters, pedestrians, and prevent damage to streets, curbs, sidewalks, walls, benches, steps and railings. In May, 1997, a public meeting brought together over 150 skaters, parents, downtown residents and merchants, law enforcement, and Asheville Parks and Recreation to begin a dialogue on skateboard interest and needs in Asheville, As a result a Skateboard Task Force was created to find solutions. After much research and planning, the Task Force presented their ideas to the Asheville City Council, and a temporary location was designated on the top level of the Civic Center parking deck in downtown Asheville. Parks and Recreation provided the materials, and a group of energetic skateboarders raised $850 to help fund and construct ramps, rails, and jumps. The park opened in August, 1998. Attendance has averaged 50 skaters per day, and police incidents have been eliminated.
A professional interdisciplinary team of architect, landscape architect, and skateboard designer-builder will complete the final design and construction. The team selected to fill this role is composed of the architectural firm of John S. Fisher, Architect, P.A., with the project led by Associate John Murrell-Kisner; the skateboard park designer-builder firm Team Pain, a Tim Payne Corporation; and the landscape architecture firm Design Associates. When the new skatepark is complete, it will feature a skateboard arena, restrooms, concessions, spectator seating, and attractive landscaping. The skateboard arena will feature a variety of ramps, jumps, rails, stairs, pipes, curbs, and bowls, and offer a challenge for skaters at all skill levels. Asheville's skateboard park will offer a safe, challenging, clean, and attractive facility as a showpiece for Asheville, and will serve as a model for other cities to follow.
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