Hearing Our Community
Community voices weren’t an add-on to this project, they were a foundation.
From the beginning, we understood that designing a skate park without listening to the people who would actually use it would defeat the purpose. Skaters, parents, younger students, and community members all brought perspectives we couldn’t have reached on our own.
Skaters talked about flow, repetition, and how a space should feel intuitive rather than overwhelming. Parents focused on visibility, safety, and how the park would function during busy hours. Community members asked broader questions about noise, lighting, accessibility, and how the skate park would coexist with other park activities.
Some feedback conflicted. That forced us to slow down and sit with discomfort instead of rushing to solutions. We learned that listening doesn’t mean agreeing with everyone, it means taking people seriously.
Two comments that stayed with us was from two skaters who said:
“I don’t want a park that looks impressive. I want one where I don’t feel like I’m in the way.” - Skater 1
"I don’t need the biggest feature — I need somewhere I won’t be kicked out of.” - Skater 2
That shifted our thinking. From that point on, we designed for dignity as much as for performance.