Since first construction in July 2002, SK8 Cary has not undergone any major renovations to the skate park. In addition to the recommendations from the Master Plan, an advocacy group consisting primarily of SK8 Cary users and parents has attended City Council meetings for several years. As these action sports continue to develop and grow in popularity, the Town of Cary staff decided that it would be necessary to develop a master plan report to define potential expansions to the SK8 Cary facility.
The parks most visited by SK8 Cary users are Marsh Creek Skatepark (Northeast Raleigh), Central Park Skate Plaza (Durham) and Daniel Dhers Action Sports Complex (Holly Springs). SK8 Cary, on the other hand, offers a staffed facility that is more focused on 'Flow Style' driving. After considering these differences, it is clear that SK8 Cary is a unique type of skate park, offering options for users who otherwise cannot be found locally.
A facility that capitalizes on the skatepark's existing successes and provides the equipment and ramps necessary to enhance this experience will further set SK8 Cary apart from other skateparks in the area.
GODBOLD PARK ANALYSIS
A comprehensive analysis of Godbold Park was completed, examining all elements of the existing park. Because of the proximity of park amenities, there is a "causal relationship" between the park's programmatic elements and surrounding properties, stakeholders, and community members. Because the park is nestled within an established, built-up area of Cary, expansion of the facility will need to be carefully selected to limit impact or disruption to surrounding properties and community members.
Any consideration of expanding SK8 Cary must be limited so that they do not affect other facilities in the park. The remaining 20 acres are a mix of dense, mature hardwood forest and scattered intermittent and permanent streams that traverse the park's lower elevations. The program features are built on the highest, flattest elevations of the property, while the lowest elevations remain largely undeveloped.
Steep slopes prevent low-impact expansion of the SK8 Cary facility into areas farther from the existing facility.
SK8 CARY ANALYSIS
The various programs that SK8 Cary offers have greatly enhanced the facility's reach and standing within the local community. As previously mentioned, the number of visitors to SK8 Cary has decreased over the past five years. Currently housed in the Pro-Shop, SK8 Cary has the ability to sell limited concessions to the general public.
As mentioned, the concessions sold at SK8 Cary are not limited to SK8 Cary users. SK8 Cary has uniquely positioned itself among skate parks in the Triangle area as a revenue generating skate park. Overall, expansion efforts will increase the amount of potential revenue generated by SK8 Cary.
The SK8 Cary staff is actively involved in the creation and production of a series of events held at the facility.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Attendees were asked for input on how these skateparks are successful and how SK8 Cary could implement some of the skatepark practices discussed. The meeting was instrumental to both city staff and the design team, as it represented both the kick-off of public participation in the master planning process, as well as the culmination of grassroots efforts by dedicated parents, users and staff to solicit. and understand the long-term vision for the City of Cary regarding SK8 Cary. Meeting participants discuss the SK8 Cary Master Planning process, share concerns and complete the questionnaire.
The questionnaire was comprehensive, asking the public for opinions and input on all aspects of the existing facilities, as well as thoughts on the expansion of SK8 Cary. 76% of respondents indicated a 'high increase' in their visits to SK8 Cary if the facility was covered. One section of the questionnaire was specifically aimed at determining the master plan elements that would be included as recommendations in the SK8 Cary master plan.
The following charts show the results of a questionnaire regarding possible expansion elements of the SK8 Cary. The elements considered for implementation within the master plan helped both the design team and city staff determine the direction of the SK8 Cary master plan. With such a large number of responses (166), both the City of Cary and the design team were able to view the results as true representations of the concerns and ideas of visitors to SK8 Cary.
As the group responsible for spearheading the grassroots effort to bring an expansion effort to SK8 Cary, a small group of the more dedicated parents was brought together to act as a liaison between the City of Cary and the SK8 Cary users in sharing and outreach of information related to the master planning process. During this meeting, the SK8 Cary parents were asked to provide feedback on the process. In considering expansion efforts for the SK8 Cary facility, the Town of Cary and the design team established specific goals that would assist in the assessment decisions for the master plan.
To enable SK8 Cary to host demonstrations and competitions appropriate to its location and size. The design team unveiled an updated "Niche Statement," which is essentially a mission statement for the SK8 Cary facility.
MASTER PLANNING A. Master Planning Process
These discussions focused on more specific information related to the various layouts, such as cost ranges, implementation strategies, and opportunities or limitations associated with each. In consideration of all involved in the master planning process, a number of expansion options were created for the SK8 Cary Master Plan. The following pages describe these options, including their horizontal layout, estimates of total design, permitting, and construction costs, and their relationship to the current site layout.
Also presented in this section are renderings, completed by Town of Cary Staff, showing possible layouts of specific areas of the ramp to help better visualize layout options. The layouts presented in this section are intended to be used as a guide for future endeavors and are not intended to be taken as a final design. More detailed studies would need to be carried out, with specific construction documents, based on the selected option.
It has recently been noted that the facility is slightly outdated, has not been renovated, or is behind in keeping up with the skate parks recently built in the area. An expansion will also meet the City of Cary's goals for the facility, continuing its operation as a safe, staffed, city-operated sports venue. The proposed layouts respond to the defined goals and research as defined in the Master Plan.
There are three different options; each is shown with an area map and an opinion on the total planning, permitting and construction costs for each option. The following images are examples of layouts that can be suggested with each option as described on the previous pages. These renderings are not intended to represent any final designs and should only be used as a means of showing the different types of ramps, layouts and equipment for the SK8 Cary.
Each of the above layout options has unique elements that would contribute to a better performing SK8 Cary. These options were explored by the Design Team and Town of Cary Staff before final recommendations were considered.
RECOMMENDATIONS A. Plan Recommendations
As previously mentioned, when considering a master plan for SK8 Cary, the city had to evaluate the recommendations through a series of filters designed to help guide the development of the master plan. This section will be valuable in gaining the confidence needed to move onto the more specialized slopes of the 'Intermediate-Advanced' area and can be used for both BMX and skaters. To enable SK8 Cary to organize demonstrations and competitions appropriate to its location and size. o The expanded square footage of the skate park will allow for more specific use of certain areas, without.
Given the expansion efforts, it's clear that the facility's master plan will be able to offer a greater variety of programming than SK8 Cary is proposing. A better understanding of the brand strategy of the facility will increase visibility in the community and improve the perception of the park as an established facility. Other similar social media sites can help quickly spread photos, contest information, professional gigs or retail sales to thousands of people, increasing the opportunity to promote the SK8 Cary.
The City of Cary is requesting your feedback regarding the creation of a master plan for the possible expansion of the Sk8 Cary skate park facility located at Robert V. The information and results gathered in this questionnaire will be used to assist in the creation of the master plan. As a park user, you must rate the following elements of the current Godbold Park facilities according to their importance.
Compared to other skate parks you visit in the region, how would you rank the quality of Sk8 Cary. What are your short-term (1-3 years) priorities for improving the quality of the Sk8 Cary facility. The following questions are about the SK8-Cary shop and bath building.
As a Sk8 Cary user, express the importance of additional storage space for personal items, such as small lockers. As a Sk8 Cary user, you use the equipment repair area in a light-hearted manner. If there was a roof structure over certain parts of the skate park elements, would you use the facility more than you do now.
Thank you for taking the time to complete this Sk8 Cary Masterplan questionnaire.