The supervision solution: a public-private approach to skatepark management

Parks & Recreation, August, 2003 by Eric Lee

A major shifts has occurred in how cities think about skateparks. Communities once agonized over the cost and wisdom of building what they feared might become centers for juvenile deliquency or fads that might soon die out. Many of those same cities now have multiple skatepark facilities, both permanent and mobile, and are planning to build more.

While the fears of widespread problem behavior, injuries and lawsuits have thus far proven to be unfounded, the issue of liability to continues to be worrisome for cities. Many states have a law that classifies stunt skateboarding, inline skating and biking as hazardous activities. Cities are declared exempt from liability for accidents resulting from these sports if they enact ordinances requiring safety gear, post the law at the park and don't supervise activities there. The result is that a preponderance of city attorneys and risk managers discourage any kind of continuous skatepark supervision.

This development has created a real dilemma for communities that have discovered the potential that skateparks have as youth development centers. A park supervised by trained staff opens up all sorts of opportunities for sports training programs and special events. But the fear is that it also makes the city vulnerable to liability for injuries occurring there.

The Alliance Solution

Some publicity built parks have addressed this dilemma by partnering with the Action Park Alliance (APA). The APA is a private organization that operates parks designed and built by cities for sports such as skateboarding, BMX biking and inline skating--activities once termed "extreme" sports by the media and now more commonly referred to as action sports.

Through public-private partnerships, the APA joins with cities to provide complete supervision of municipal parks built for such sports. APA management reduces the cost and the risk cities once faced when supervising parks. APA supervision ensures greater safety; it also allows bikes to use the park during BMX-only sessions.

The APA program, which is in place at locales such as Lake Elsinore, Calif., and Lodi, Calif., involves these management features:

Insurance: General comprehensive public liability insurance coverage is carried by the APA and covers all activities at the park. As the primary insured, the APA serves as a layer of liability insulation for the municipality.

Staff: A trained, full-time supervisory staff is responsible for monitoring park activities and conducting programs at the facility.

Session Scheduling: Separate BMX-only sessions are scheduled in parks where equipment is designed for both skate boards and bikes.

Maintenance: A documented procedure of safety inspections and maintenance is carried out weekly. The park is also checked daily before opening for any obvious problems, and any debris in the area is cleaned up.

Membership Database: A computer database of park membership maintains records of who uses the park and when. A photo ID of each member is kept on file along with contact information from parents and guardians as well as signed waivers releasing APA and the city from liability in case of injuries.

Online Monitoring System: It's easy for parents to know when their kids are using the skatepark. A phone call to the pro shop can tell them whether their son or daughter has logged in for a given session, and they can also go online to see live views of the park.

Youth Programs: A variety of sports training programs such as individual coaching and lessons, classes, clinics, and camps are provided by trainers experienced at working with young people.

Events: An ongoing schedule of special events features pro demos, local and regional competitions, concerts, barbeques and other activities that help to promote the park.

Benefits to the City

According to APA, municipalities get these benefits from the public-private partnership:

Cost-effective Supervision: A primary advantage of APA management, advocates say, is that it makes possible a supervised, programmed park without ongoing costs to the city of staffing and sports structure maintenance. It relieves the city of the hassle of part-time employee turnover.

Reduced Liability: Also significant to the city is the increased protection from liability it enjoys by virtue of the operator's general comprehensive liability insurance policy. The APA, as the primary insured, provides a layer of protection to municipal entities from any personal injury or property damage claims. Providing a safer recreational environment with a supervised and well-maintained park is, in effect, additional insurance, in that it substantiates the city's due diligence to protect the welfare of its young citizens.

Increased Return on Investment: Programs and other features that APA management brings to a skatepark greatly enhances a city's return on its investment in creating the park by increasing the youth-development potential of the facility and magnifying its value as a community asset.

Reduced Street Skating: Any decent skatepark will reduce the negative effects of street skating to some degree. However, advocates say, all APA park will have a much more significant impact because it provides a rich array of amenities and programs in a friendly youth-oriented environment and this makes it a popular destination for kids.