While the 2008 Parks and Green Spaces Levy did not initially include any mention of a Delridge skatepark, it seems that construction funds for the park could be made available through the levy after all.

Design costs for a Delridge skatepark have been completely funded by Seattle Parks, but construction funds for the project were quickly cut from the city’s budget earlier this year.

Currently, funding from the 2008 voter-approved Parks and Green Spaces levy has been allocated to create skateparks at the Roxhill Playground and Myrtle Reservoir. However, the $250,000 allocated to Myrtle could likely be transferred and used to construct a skate park designed for Delridge Playfield.

Funding from the levy was allocated to different park projects months before voters approved it. In early 2008, a skatepark at the Myrtle Reservoir seemed like a strong possibility. But after a few public meetings Myrtle residents made it clear that they did not want a skatepark in their neighborhood.

Matt Johnston, a West Seattle resident and prominent skatepark activist, said he was ashamed of the Myrtle community’s response. Johnston described the behavior as both classist and racist, explaining that residents worried about illegal activity resulting from a skatepark and suggested that it belonged in the High Point neighborhood.

“I was overwhelmed by how rude an inappropriate the people there were toward me,” said Johnston. “Calling skateboarders criminals, delinquents and drug dealers.”

The Seattle Parks Department recognized this as well, and said they have no plans to construct a park in that community. But residents’ response to a Delridge skatepark has been quite different.

“The Delridge experience has been remarkable,”’ said Johnston. “I don’t think there’s ever been this much support for a skatepark on the west coast. The neighborhood is really remarkable in that way, they are adult enough to recognize the positive aspects of that skatepark.”

Dewey Potter, public information manager for the parks department, said it is likely they will be able to reallocate the funds “barring any serious upset.”

Furthermore, as announced at the Seattle Parks Board meeting on April 23, bids on many other projects in the levy are coming in under budget, creating a surplus of up to $500,000. The board has reported that the Delridge Skatepark is first priority to use those funds.
Grindline, a national skatepark design company based in West Seattle, has about two-thirds of the skatepark’s design complete, which makes a Delridge Skatepark ideal for further funding.

Lead designer Micah Shapiro said that his company is designing to a budget of approximately $440,000.