SeaSk8

Long road trip to Seattle, but I finally made it out this far up north of the West Coast. Instead of going up the Space Needle observation deck like any typical tourist would do, I just skateboard this park.
— It has a nice view of the metal behemoth (Space Needle)
— The layout is more like a skateplaza
— Hella smooth ground
— So where is the nearest cannabis store by this park?

I’m not a skateboarder. Or a BMXer. Nor do I play one on TV.
However, I am a designer who happens to really dig skatepark design… and I love watching the talented few as they effortlessly ride those crazy concrete forms, or crash into them. So when an article on SeaSk8 was published in the local journal «Arcade» a while back, I knew that it would have to be one of the stops on my next trip to Seattle.
Located on top of an auxiliary roof of Key Arena, the 10,000 square foot park is a replacement for the demolished skate park just outside the Seattle Center. It was designed with skateable streetscape features and skateable public art (the glass wall and panels by local artist Perri Lynch are gorgeous) and has a pretty fascinating construction technique. The primary material is foam, and while it’s a far cry from the concrete pools of Dogtown, the traditional earthen mounds of contemporary parks, or the piles of God-​knows-​what under the famed Burnside Park in Portland, it’s a method that makes sense for the location. Unlike compacted dirt that shifts and settles over time, rigid foam underneath concrete will keep its form without adding additional weight to the building below.
But you probably don’t really care about structural loads, huh?
The park feels small and narrow, though it appears to be thoughtfully planned. The space is attractive and ariy, with plenty of space to ride or watch. It feels like a quiet neighborhood hangout, unceremoniously tucked away from the the prying eyes of those passing by on their way to the Space Needle or other attractions. As is the plight of all outdoor skateparks in the northwest, come fall, leaves from the nearby trees cover the floor, and pools of rainwater make riding, or even walking around, a seriously soggy experience. But when dry, it’s a location for seasoned riders, novices, and cautious observers alike. SeaSk8 might not be the craziest or most extreme park out there, quite honestly, I’m sure locals have found many more outrageous, and illegal, spots to let loose. As I walked through Seattle Center in the rain this weekend, I could only imagine the serious speed one could get flying through the huge sunken fountain a few yards away. (But you didn’t get that idea from me!)
While I come from the town with citizens that rebelliously constructed Burnside Skatepark, and now officially builds parks routinely, I appreciate that it takes a strong community spirit and the dedication of riders and neighbors to make a skatepark truly welcomed. And like any good person, SeaSk8 takes a couple of ground rules to heart when striving for success:
1. Have fun.
2. Don’t be a jerk.
(And no bikes.)
Well, I know some folks who might disagree on that last one.