A new skate park project at Lower Woodland is set to move forward with construction next summer.

Progress was made when a hearing examiner determined the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation has correctly assessed the potential adverse environmental impacts of construction.

The examiner affirmed that a Determination of Non-significance issued by the parks department was consistent with the requirements of the State Environmental Policy Act.

Some Woodland Park residents had challenged the project, concerned about the environmental impacts and aesthetics, along with impacts on open space and recreation.

Matthew Lee Johnson, chair of the Seattle Skateboarding Advisory Committee told the News-Tribune last fall that skaters were receiving tickets or were harassed because they skated under bridges, at schools or anywhere they could find. The committee advises the parks department on skating issues.

The skate park will be built between Lower Woodland Park's soccer field and the cloverleaf shaped softball fields where the Ballard High School fast-pitch softball team plays its games.

An area 18,000 square foot in size will be devoted to the skate park.

Ballard resident Scott Shinn, president of Parents4Skate parks is pleased with the design. Shinn provided input on the design during public meetings.

Wally Hollyday, considered a skate park legend, created the design. He has designed skate parks in California and around the country.

"He was one of the first people ever to build a skate park," said Shinn.

Every style of skateboarding is represented in the design. "I like it. It has something for everyone. It's a park that does not cater to just one group," said Shinn.

The park will have an area for street-type skateboarders, a couple of skate bowls and features to accommodate skaters of all levels. A flow area will be included. Shinn described it as a series of banks with sloped surfaces.

This project is being funded through the city's Cumulative Reserve Fund at a cost of $850,000.

A citywide skate park planning process is now in the works. The plan will help build a network of safe and accessible skate parks to serve 20,000 skateboarders in the city.

A Skate Park Advisory Task Force is coming up with recommendations on size, range of types and identifying neighborhoods to build skate facilities.

The task force began looking at a number of different size parks in June.

Skatedots are the smallest parks being proposed at 1,500 square feet or less. This would be a non-park area already being used for skating. Skatedots could be as simple as adding a bench or railing to a place where skateboarders already come to or just removing a "No skating boarding" sign.

A Skatespot would be 1500 to 10,000 square feet. The Ballard Bowl fits this category at 4200 square feet. A Skatespot could be as small as a basketball half-court area to a little larger than a tennis court.

The District Skate Park option would be in the 10,000 to 30,000 square foot size to serve a range of skill levels and terrain.

Fourth is the Regional Skate Park. It would be larger than 30,000 square feet and likely be the size of a football field at 56,000 square feet.

The Skate Park Advisory Task Force is holding a public hearing on their plans at Town Hall, 1119 8th Avenue, on Thursday, Dec. 14, 6 p.m. People can sign up to provide public testimony starting at 5 p.m. Written testimony can be emailed to Sandy Brooks at sandy.brooks@seattle.gov no later than 5 p.m.

Dean Wong may be contacted at 783.1244 or dino@robinsonnews.com