Skatepark Design Build : PILLAR DESIGN STUDIOS

In today’s society were children and adults live a sedentary lifestyle filled with T.V, video games, computers and cell phones why the negative connotation regarding Skateparks? Skateparks are an important part of recreation facilities and promote a healthy, active lifestyle the whole family can enjoy.

With childhood obesity and the rise of diabetes becoming an epidemic in America today, why not support and aid your local Skatepark. “Skateboarding is the sixth largest participant sport in the United States, more than 9.3 million skateboarders will take to the streets in the U.S. each year,” American Sports Data and RAND Youth Poll. Yet there are more communities without a Skatepark then with one. How times have you driven past an empty football field at your local park, now think of how times you have driven past an empty Skatepark. Children are crying out for activities to get them off the couch and outside. Unfortunately for many Skaters the only place they can practice their sport is in parking lots and city streets. This not only is illegal in most cities, it is dangerous for the users and not advantages to the local business.

Skateparks are not just for your local youth, it can provide recreational fun for all family members and be a great way to spend together. When a Skatepark is designed and built correctly it can and will contribute to a healthy and active community. Does your community have a Skatepark, does it meet the needs of the people in your community? If not, get involved and make it happen. Skateparks only happen with organized local advocacy.

Skateparks support a healthy and happy family! Get involved and play a role in creating skateparks where you live!

If you are thinking about a skatepark for your town, city, municipality or backyard? Let us help! Contact Nicole at nicole@pillardesignstudios.com for more information.

The Tony Hawk Foundation awarded a $25,000 grant to Atlanta BeltLine, Inc for construction of The Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark in Atlanta, GA.

Here’s an excerpt from a press release found on The Tony Hawk Foundation’s website (www.tonyhawkfoundation.org)

5/4/10 (Vista, CA) – The Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark is a key component of Atlanta, Georgia’s downtown redevelopment effort, the Atlanta BeltLine. It’s also been a long time coming for a city that is one of the country’s major skateboarding hubs, and will help redefine an historic community that is lacking in public recreational space. For those and many other equally compelling reasons, the Tony Hawk Foundation Board of Directors voted last week to award Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. (the implementing entity of Atlanta’s comprehensive urban redevelopment initiative) $25,000 to help complete the 15,000-square-foot skatepark.

“The Atlanta BeltLine is honored to be selected by the Tony Hawk Foundation for this generous grant,” said Brian Leary, President and CEO of Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. “This is an endorsement of the amazing collaboration between the City, Atlanta BeltLine, and our incredible local skateboard community. The inspiration came from the vision, will, and determination of the community. Combined with the City’s strong support, and now this outstanding gift, the new park—Atlanta’s first fully designed skate park—will be one of the best skate facilities in the U.S.”

“We are proud and honored to support the Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark project in Atlanta,” said Tony Hawk. “It represents everything we stand for at THF—community involvement that benefits at-risk youth in an area that traditionally has had very little support for sports like skateboarding. We are excited to be attached to a project that will be such a vital and vibrant part of the Fourth Ward community.”

Pillar Design Studios is proud to be a part of this historic project. We feel we have designed our most progressive park to date to meet the needs of the Atlanta skate community. Groundbreaking is scheduled for late June / early July. Keep checking this site for periodical updates.

Are you thinking about building a skatepark for your town, city, municipality or backyard? Let us help! Contact Nicole at nicole@pillardesignstudios.com for more information.

[Pillar Design Studios received this letter from Chris at The A-Skate Foundation. We are happy to help this foundation however we can. Please take a moment and read the letter and see how you can help. There is a link at the bottom so you can download and redistribute the letter in its entirety- Thanks!!!]

To Whom It May Concern:

Skateboarding has always been counterculture. Even as it edges closer to the mainstream, skateboarding remains on the fringe. It’s still an emblem of rebellion, still a little outlaw. Skaters don’t follow the herd. They’re often thought of as different. Those of us who skate view skateboarding as an outlet to express our individuality and creativity.

What better sport to represent kids who are too often thought of as outsiders?

Autism is a severe developmental disability that affects speech and social interaction. Children with autism have a difficult time communicating and relating to others socially. They may also suffer from a heightened sensitivity to sensory input–which can cause them to retreat even further into isolation.

The A.Skate Foundation is as 501(c) 3 non-for-profit that was created to introduce kids with autism to the world of skateboarding. It’s our belief that skateboarding can help autistic children connect with the greater world around them. Playing team sports is out of the question for most children with autism. They find it very hard to follow directions and because they struggle with language, communicating with coaches and teammates can be difficult. Skateboarding and autism are a great fit: no team, no coaches, no rules!

A.Skate Foundation holds free skate clinics for children with autism. Raising kids with autism can be expensive; A. Skate offers grants to those who can’t afford skateboard gear. We also help promote autism awareness in the skate industry.

One of our major initiatives this year centers on Go Skateboarding Day. On June 21, skateboarders around the globe will celebrate the pure joy of skateboarding by dropping everything to go skate. On that day, we would love to see skateboarders everywhere make the day even more special by taking a child with autism skateboarding. It’s a crazy idea, but one that’s perfectly suited to skateboarding.

Here’s where we need your help. We have a campaign in place ready to implement but we don’t have the means and resources to take this idea national. That is our ultimate aim—to see skateboarders in towns around the country invest part of their Go Skateboarding Day taking a child with autism skateboarding. Please take a moment to consider being a part of this fledgling but important movement.  You can contact Autism Speaks to find your local chapter by going to this link: http://www.autismspeaks.org/community/chapters/index.php

or you can contact us directly to find out how you can help. Visit askate.org to find out more about who we are.

Five years ago, approximately 1 in 150 children were diagnosed with autism. Today, the number has risen to 1 in 100 children, with 1 in 70 of those being boys. That’s an alarming number. Autism might even have touched someone close to you. For us, autism is a daily reality—both of us are parents of an autistic child.

Children with autism can flourish given the right circumstances–they are bright, creative and sensitive individuals who need venues where their uniqueness can be celebrated. Let’s help them find a place to express themselves through skateboarding.

Sincerely,

Chrys Worley Founder, A.Skate Foundation chrys@askate.org

John Pike Co-Founder, A.Skate Foundation john@askate.org

www.askate.org

[To download this letter as a .pdf to redistribute please click here]