Skatepark Design Build : PILLAR DESIGN STUDIOS

[Recently we did an interview with Greg Taylor of TMC Interactive for an upcoming article on digital marketing and the action sports industry. The following is an except from the interview. We wanted everyone to get to know our company a little better  - so with permission we decided to publish a portion about skateboarding and skatepark design.]

Pillar Design Studios was founded in 2006 by Brad Siedlecki. Pillar Design’s reputation has been built on integrity, quality of service and the ability to delivery progressive skatepark designs.

Pillar Design has employed the simple philosophy of creating skateparks that blend with its current surroundings while incorporating local culture , hiring local labor when appropriate and engaging local skateboarders for design input.

Siedlecki is someone who shuns the spotlight took a couple of minutes to answer some questions about is background, his skatepark design firm and the future of skateparks.

Where did you grow up? “I grew up in Oswego, NY – which is located in central NY on Lake Ontario.”

How long have you been active in skateboarding? “This year marks my 20th year as a skateboarder.”

What was the skate scene like growing up in Oswego? “There were only about 10 of us who skated. So, as you can imagine our scene was very small.”

Coming from such a small skate scene – what made you want to pursue skatepark design? “We had nothing to skate growing up so we had to build everything ourselves.  There’s something about building something then skating it…it’s more rewarding.  I still say that building ramps as a kid was one of the main things that led me to Arizona State University to study Architecture.”

What is your favorite part of skatepark design? “There are multiple parts that I enjoy when it comes to skatepark design build projects. I enjoying be able to strike a balance when designing a park between my background as a skateboarding and my formal training as a landscape architect. Pillar Design Studios, as a company, really enjoys the community interaction and getting input from local skaters about design elements and what they want in their local skatepark. Other parts that are rewarding are when I actually get to skate something that once only existed on paper as a design and then there’s the grand openings and watching the  local skaters enjoy the park – which is always cool.”

Do you have a favorite design from over the years? “My favorite park is always the one we’re building. Currently the Falling Creek Skatepark in Bedford, VA is under construction and close to completion.”

Where do you see skatepark design and skatepark build going? “I see skatepark design and build going in many different directions, but we try to stay true to where we came from and where we want to go. We try to provide something for every style of skating in every park Pillar builds.  Skateboarding is not one dimensional for me.”

Brad, thanks for your time and giving everyone a little bit of insight into Pillar Design Studios.

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We’ll post the article in its entirety when it’s published here on skatepark-blog.com.

Pillar Design Studios can also be found on Twitter and Facebook. For more information on getting a skatepark for your community or the skatepark design build process, please contact  nicole@pillardesignstudios.com

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[About us: Pillar Design Studios, based in Tempe, AZ is a design/build landscape architecture firm specializing in both public and private skatepark facilities. Led by Brad Siedlecki, Pillar Design’s reputation has been built on integrity, quality of service, the ability to deliver progressive designs and impeccable skill in construction document production.]

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.