PROJECT  Reid Menzer Memorial Skatepark

LOCATION  York, Pennsylvania, 

PROJECT COMPLETION DATE  

ARCHITECT  Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects

ASSOCIATED ARCHITECT  

OWNER/CLIENT  Eric Menzer

CONTRACTOR  Arment Concrete

PHOTOGRAPHER  N/A

DESIGN TEAM  Frank E. Dittenhafer II, FAIA, LEED AP, Bruce R. Johnson, AIA, LEED AP, Patrick Ness, Associate AIA

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT:

WHAT? Expand an existing skatepark originally built as a living memorial after the tragic accidental death of a teenager street luging. The 13,000 square foot expansion provides area for more “beginner” skating and stabilizes all existing park perimeter edge conditions with skateable/non-eroding surfaces - and provides lighting at all areas of the existing and new skatepark for safe nighttime use. WHERE? The available site area is adjacent to the existing skatepark within a County park - in a very oddly configured unusable trapezoidal zone between the outfield fences of two softball fields and a municipal recycling center. WHY? Skatepark usage is very high 365 days a year and increasing - as the park has become a regional destination. There are not enough obstacles, ramps and areas for skaters of all ages and skill levels to safely coexist. Lighting of the skatepark has been requested by skaters for years so that available skate hours can be extended. Heavy usage, rain, snow and harsh climactic conditions have eroded/damaged the park perimeter - requiring repairs and “design resolution”. Current “seating options” at the park are limited – with continued requests for new enhancements to provide additional (skateable) seating. HOW? Working directly with local skaters, a skatepark committee, community leaders and municipal officials – a skatepark expansion was designed to address the expressed needs – within a very creative and engaging layout. The new expansion will incorporate large and small concrete rollers, 4’ quarterpipes and miniramps, bank ramps, concrete box platforms, steel rails, gaps, pockets, and a prominently featured concrete pyramid for use by younger or beginner skaters. Edges will be “cleaned up” via the installation of “found objects” such as granite curbing, concrete slabs and brick pavers from municipal scrap piles and manufacturer’s overstock. One sixty foot central light pole with ten fixtures will provide lighting for 90% of the skatepark with supplemental LED light standards at only a few locations to provide full coverage. The insertion of a twelve foot diameter twenty-one foot long section of a (cleaned) oil storage tank for skaters to “flow through” will reinforce the green theme of “reuse”. Local graffiti artists will contribute their talents at the park by painting the steel surfaces of both the 60’ light pole and oil storage tank – rebranding one of the best places to skate on the east coast – as one of the coolest as well.

IMAGE CAPTIONS & CREDITS

IMAGE 1  File Name: 01_Reid Menzer Memorial Skatepark_high res ext, Caption: Skatepark Expansion – Transition from Existing Skatepark, Photographer Credit: Not Applicable

IMAGE 2  File Name: 02_Reid Menzer Memorial Skatepark_high res int, Caption: Oil Storage Tank (cleaned) for Skaters to “Flow Through”, Photographer Credit: Not Applicable

IMAGE 3  File Name: 03_Reid Menzer Memorial Skatepark, Caption: Skatepark Expansion Entrance, Photographer Credit: Not Applicable

IMAGE 4  File Name: 04_Reid Menzer Memorial Skatepark, Caption: Skatepark Expansion, Photographer Credit: Not Applicable

IMAGE 5  File Name: 05_Reid Menzer Memorial Skatepark, Caption: Skatepark Expansion, Photographer Credit: Not Applicable

IMAGE 6  

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Media For Download
Project PDF