All Aboard?

Rendering by Anthony Bracall Architecture

by Cory Frolik

At a meeting hosted by the Philadelphia City Planning Commission's Dave Schaaf, architect Anthony Bracali, SkateNerd president Brian Nugent and Scott Todd of Synterra Ltd. unveiled the two design concepts for the Schuylkill River Skatepark Project last Friday. On the eight floor of the University of the Arts' Terra Building, each discussed the city planning perspectives, aesthetics and how the schemes would work with the existing terrain. Also high on the agenda: "skatable opportunities."

The first design, called the "Shard Scheme" (at right, top), is a downward-sloping layout, with a variety of "skatable sculptures" concentrated in the lower areas of the space, which falls between the Art Museum and the Schuylkill River. There are grindable walls, tiers to join the different elevations, and pedestrian paths cutting through the center, allowing access to the bike path and West River Drive.

The second, the "Spiral Scheme" (at right, bottom), has a more centralized focus. In this design, a pedestrian path swoops around the area, circumscribing skating into the middle ground. There sits an elevated, skatable platform the design team has nicknamed "The Stage" for both its appearance and its potential for performances. The attraction here is a collection of edges and terraces that allow skaters and onlookers to be close to the action without necessarily participating in it. Unlike the "Shard Scheme," which points down towards the river path, this looks toward the center of the space.

When the meeting opened to skater feedback, general sentiment was positive, with suggestions for minor adjustments to allow for more gnarly maneuvers. The one repeated objection was to the amount of the public space reserved for skating (estimated at 50 percent).

"Skateboarding is here, walking is here," offered one skater. "I think skateboarding should be everywhere."

Another skater added: "The skate park is [largely] reserved for other people who aren't skateboarders."

Nugent was quick to address this complaint, explaining that the only reason the project has gotten as far as it has is because of its respect for the requisites of a public space. If it didn't have an equal distribution, it would just be a skatepark, and would be susceptible to the laws ascribed to them — such as requirements for helmets and a surrounding fence.

After reviewing skater feedback, the design team will move forward with the most popular concept. To view the concepts and register your own opinion, visit www.phillyskatepark.com.

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