Casselberry Redevelopment Should Include Skatepark

As Casselberry works hard at redevelpoment to draw millennials as residents, one of the aspects they continue to miss is the need for a skatepark.

Nearly every upwardly mobile city that is creating its own renaissance has invested in one.

Here are some facts:

Skateparks are for more than just the neighborhood kids.  They do create a diverse social space for active youth to enjoy their sport, but more over, they are a vibrant space where the community as a whole is welcomed, crossing generations and cultures.

If Casselberry is serious about distinguishing itself from surrounding cities in a positive way, a world class skatepark will be a big step forward.


 

Skatepark Economics 101

Casselberry is in the throws of a revitalization effort that has been decades in the making.  Much of the recent growth in the city has been the addition of more housing, both mutli-family and single family residential.  There is promise for more retail and dining, yet the community is left longing for more.

Zephyrhills Recognized The Need For A Community Skatepark and Took Action

Public works projects are focused on the curb appeal, spending loads of cash on "complete street" projects, replete with enhanced street lighting, landscaping and brick intersections.

In order that the City of Casselberry reach its full potential to be a "Great Place to Live, Work and Play" there needs to be a shift in focus on placemaking that attracts a younger generation that wants to call our small city home.

Over the past year or so the community has banded together in large part to advocate for a city skatepark.  Despite the grassroots effort, little has been done.  In fact, $75,000.00 is about to be spent to develop a parks master plan, all while looking past the public's calls for a specific project; The Casselberry Skatepark.

If the Casselberry City Commission took time to investigate the issue, they would understand how answering the public's call for action would most certainly be a catalyst for civic engagement on an unprecedented level.  They could then very easily leverage the support for more projects.

A skatepark would benefit the community greatly.

Its economic impact would be far reaching in supporting the restaurants and retail that must also come to ensure a bright future.

Case In Point:

On a recent family trip, instead of going and staying in the town where we had plans, a choice was made to stay an hour away in a town that has a skatepark and commute to the event.

The result:  Two nights of lodging, several meals at local restaurants and money spent shopping in their downtown.

Our skateboarding family is not unique.  Travel and spending plans are often steered by the presence of a skatepark when family time is planned.

Conversations with people at the skatepark often reveal out of town visitors who are there solely because of the presence of it.

As our city moves forward in its redevelopment, they will be wise to carefully consider how much its costing our community to delay the construction of a skatepark, there are lots of families who would like a reason to visit or move to Casselberry.

Casselberry Downtown & How Skateboarding Would Spur Growth

Currently the conventional wisdom around the Casselberry City Hall complex is to disallow skateboarding.

This policy is due to poor planning policy and a disconnect with the community at large.

Skateboarding continues to grow as a sport and lifestyle within the younger generation that Casselberry seeks to entice into calling the city home.

While all of the current development in the "Downtown District" is geared towards transient (rental) residents, the hope is to have them fall in love with Casselberry and put down roots when they're ready to purchase.

The seeds of change have been sown with the growing art component the city is supporting via the Casselberry Art House and the installations of art rotating through City Hall, but beyond that, there is little that distinguishes us from any other suburban community along 17/92.

The expansion of the park space around City Hall will include a "passive use" park that is set to be the home of more benches and sculptures.

Planning that would inspire the renaissance that is being sought should at minimum include benches and sculpture that would allow and encourage skateboarding in the public space.  By its very designation, true public space is welcoming to everyone.

If the City of Casselberry is serious about providing planning that will sustain it into the future, it should start including skateboarding in its pathways and parks plans.

To better understand, take a look at how skateboarders have influenced planning and the success it achieved in Philadelphia.

 Its time for Casselberry to embrace the future.  A future that will be filled with young families that want to put down roots in an inclusive and hip city, one that welcomes skateboarding.