Methownet BB

*original post from Sunday 1/25, included below*
For those who haven't filled it out yet... Survey closes this coming Sunday, Feb 8th.

Twisp Skatepark Survey:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd_LyIVPnE9hZj4a2szEoeVBuBUjlENpq4MCtV8UXSB2BFnwQ/viewform?usp=header

Thanks to everyone for filling this out and sharing it. 278 people have responded and 97.5% of responders are pro-skatepark. We have been reading every response, and there's been tons of good ideas. When the survey closes we will reach out to those who provided contact info. If you don't like the idea of a skatepark at all, this is an opportunity to voice your concerns. The biggest concern thus far has been taxes, and this will be a free public park, FUNDED BY GRANTS & DONATIONS with no tax levies on residents. Same is true of maintenance, our coalition will be committed to the park for the long-haul, meaning we will be the ones in charge of management.

F.A.Q.
Q: Have we thought about the role of visibility to the general safety of the user?
A: Safety of the user is our #1 concern, and visiblity is crucial. Lots of people have written-in Blackbirds, Blue Star, and TwispWorks as their choice locations because of visibility and accessibility, and we love these locations too, but these are all on private land. The park needs to be on municipal property in order for it to be grant-funded, but also for liability reasons, and we would need a flood of support specifically directed toward one of these locations to convince the landowner that it the Town should buy it.

Q: Will this be professionally done/ hold up to the elements/ skate well?
A: Most definitely. We've been working with Grindline Skateparks Inc since 2022. They're skaters themselves that have designed and constructed over 350 skateparks around the world since 1990. They're known for prioritizing the flow of a park first and foremost in design. They're also based in WA state, and the owners even have their own ties to the Methow. They're well known for building high-quality skateparks and have been incredibly generous and patient with us.

Q: Who is going to maintain this?
A: On a daily basis concrete in-ground skateparks are maintained by the user, making sure drains are clear and surfaces swept (brooms provided onsite). Any cracks or structural deficiencies usually appear in the first year of use, so all Grindline skateparks come with a 1-year warranty. Beyond that, our fundraising efforts will include funds set aside for an ongoing maintenance program. Grindline suggests an annual or bi-annual schedule for re-sealing the concrete and repainting the steel, which can be accomplished by volunteers (us and anyone else who wants to be involved). If technical work is needed such as filling cracks and seams on transitions, replacing/repairing coping, or concrete repairs, Grindline is available for consultation and/or hire. Once again, this will be funded by grants and donations.

Q: Is the skatepark replacing the pool?
A: No it is not! The Wagner Pool is operational and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. We have a good relationship with and support the decisions of Friends of the Pool. We have set our sights on the west side of the parking lot (opposite of the pool) near the playground, which is on Park & Rec's shortlist of things needing update/ replacement where necessary. We are (and have been) working closely with Parks & Rec on all aspects of this as a potential location.

Thanks again to everyone for your time and thoughts. Keep those written-in comments and suggestions comin! Once again, you can contact us directly at twispskatepark@gmail.com

--------------------------Original Message----------------------------

The Twisp Skatepark Coalition is a group of citizens gathering community input on the possibility of a skatepark in Twisp. This survey is not just for skaters, it's for everyone. Our intent is to gather information and opinions from the whole community. We believe that a proper skatepark in the valley would provide recreation and personal development opportunities to underserved and underrepresented members of our community.
Please fill out this questionnaire (link below) before Sunday Feb 8th, 2026.

Twisp Skatepark Survey:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd_LyIVPnE9hZj4a2szEoeVBuBUjlENpq4MCtV8UXSB2BFnwQ/viewform?usp=header

Spread the word and encourage people you know to fill out this form. Your thoughts are our first step. Most towns and cities have one, and when done well and thoughtfully the community benefits are proven and measurable. Skateparks create community and a “third place” for youth, promoting creative expression and self-motivation. Creating a high quality, world-class skatepark in the Methow will further promote tourism and economic opportunities for local businesses. A skatepark can be a work of art that showcases what makes a community unique.
We look forward to hearing from you.
You can contact us additionally at twispskatepark@gmail.com
_______________________________________________
The Value of a Skatepark:

“There are roughly 8.8 million skateboarders in the US (2021) and as many as 80 million worldwide (Atencio 2018, statista.com). These estimates put skateboarding alongside or ahead of conventional American pastimes such as softball (8.1 million) and tackle football 5.2 million (statista.com).” pg 67

*This statistic does not include all the other users of the skatepark including scooters, BMX, inline skates etc*

Links for more information:

The Skatepark Platform - Why skateparks are becoming increasingly important: https://publicskateparkguide.org/advocacy/the-skatepark-platform/

Public Skatepark Guide - Everything about developing a skatepark from the Skatepark Project (Tony Hawk’s non-profit for skateboarding): https://publicskateparkguide.org/

Skatepark project YouTube Channel - Lots of content related to the value of skateparks, how other skateparks have been developed, stories of why people value their local skateparks.
https://www.youtube.com/@TheSkateparkProject/videos

Town of Twisp Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Plan: https://cms5.revize.com/revize/twispwa/services/public%20works/Development%20Standards/Town%20of%20Twisp_2022%20P&R%20Plan%20FINAL.pdf

Shred Central: Estimating the user benefits associated with large public skateparks: https://www.anserpress.org/journal/jea/4/1/90/pdf

Exploring the Role of Skateparks as Places for Young People: a case study of skateparks in Prince George, B.C: https://atrium.lib.uoguelph.ca/server/api/core/bitstreams/6e9329fe-4212-4829-8953-d0c73b618a87/content

I hope people pass this survey on to friends and family and the community pulls together around this. I have seen skateparks play such an important role for youth in small towns like Twisp. It gives me hope to think of our town making space for more of our kids (and adults!) to feel like they belong.

This is a great idea! We filled out the survey and you should too!!

You can also find the survey on flyers around town - they have QR codes on them so they are easy to scan and fill out on the spot. Next time you’re waiting in line, take a few seconds to share your thoughts!

bumping this to the top. some good questions answered here.

*More updates and FAQ. Original post from Sunday 1/25, included below*
For those who haven't filled it out yet, here it is... Survey closes this coming Sunday, Feb 8th.

Twisp Skatepark Survey:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd_LyIVPnE9hZj4a2szEoeVBuBUjlENpq4MCtV8UXSB2BFnwQ/viewform?usp=header

HUGE thanks to everyone for filling this out and sharing it. 245 people have responded in one week and 98% of responders are pro-skatepark. We have been reading every response, and tons of good ideas have been put forth, opening lots of doors. Our advocacy group is growing immensely too. When the survey closes, we will reach out to those of you who gave your contact information asking what you'd like your role to be, whether it's more advocacy-based, or on the coalition board itself. Once again, if you don't like the idea of a skatepark at all, this is an opportunity to voice your concerns. The biggest concern thus far has been taxes, and we cannot stress enough that while this will be a FREE public park, it will be FUNDED BY GRANTS & DONATIONS with no tax levies on residents. Same is true of maintenance, our coalition will be comprised of individuals that will be committed to this park for the long-haul, meaning we will be the ones ultimately charge of management and upkeep.

Additional frequently-asked questions:

Q: Have we thought about the role of visibility to the general safety of the user?
A: Safety of the user is our #1 concern, and visibility is of paramount importance to our eventual location. Lots of people have written-in Blackbirds, Blue Star, and TwispWorks as their choice locations because of their visibility and accessibility, and we love these locations too, but these are all on private land. The park needs to be on municipal property in order for it to be grant-funded, but also for liability reasons, and we would need a flood of support specifically directed toward one of these locations to convince the landowner that it the Town should buy it.

Q: Will this be professionally done/ hold up to the elements/ skate well?
A: Most definitely. We've been working with Grindline Skateparks Inc since 2022. They're skaters themselves that have designed and constructed over 350 skateparks around the world since 1990. They're known for prioritizing the flow of a park first and foremost in design. They're also based in WA state, and the owners even have their own ties to the Methow. They're well known for building high-quality skateparks and have been incredibly generous and patient with us.

Q: Who is going to maintain this?
A: On a daily basis concrete in-ground skateparks are maintained by the user, making sure drains are clear and surfaces swept (brooms provided onsite). Any cracks or structural deficiencies usually appear in the first year of use, so all Grindline skateparks come with a 1-year warranty. Beyond that, our fundraising efforts will include funds set aside for an ongoing maintenance program. Grindline suggests an annual or bi-annual schedule for re-sealing the concrete and repainting the steel, which can be accomplished by volunteers (us and anyone else who wants to be involved). If technical work is needed such as filling cracks and seams on transitions, replacing/repairing coping, or concrete repairs, Grindline is available for consultation and/or hire. Once again, this will be funded by grants and donations.

Q: Is the skatepark replacing the pool?
A: No it is not! The Wagner Pool is operational and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. We have a good relationship with and support the decisions of Friends of the Pool. We have set our sights on the west side of the parking lot (opposite of the pool) near the playground, which is on Park & Rec's shortlist of things needing update/ replacement where necessary. We are (and have been) working closely with Parks & Rec on all aspects of this as a potential location.

Thanks again to everyone for your time and thoughts. Keep those written-in comments and suggestions comin! Once again, you can contact us directly at twispskatepark@gmail.com

----------------------Original Message-------------------------

The Twisp Skatepark Coalition is a group of citizens gathering community input on the possibility of a skatepark in Twisp. This survey is not just for skaters, it's for everyone. Our intent is to gather information and opinions from the whole community. We believe that a proper skatepark in the valley would provide recreation and personal development opportunities to underserved and underrepresented members of our community.
Please fill out this questionnaire (link below) before Sunday Feb 8th, 2026.

Twisp Skatepark Survey:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd_LyIVPnE9hZj4a2szEoeVBuBUjlENpq4MCtV8UXSB2BFnwQ/viewform?usp=header

Spread the word and encourage people you know to fill out this form. Your thoughts are our first step. Most towns and cities have one, and when done well and thoughtfully the community benefits are proven and measurable. Skateparks create community and a “third place” for youth, promoting creative expression and self-motivation. Creating a high quality, world-class skatepark in the Methow will further promote tourism and economic opportunities for local businesses. A skatepark can be a work of art that showcases what makes a community unique.
We look forward to hearing from you.
You can contact us additionally at twispskatepark@gmail.com
_______________________________________________
The Value of a Skatepark:

“There are roughly 8.8 million skateboarders in the US (2021) and as many as 80 million worldwide (Atencio 2018, statista.com). These estimates put skateboarding alongside or ahead of conventional American pastimes such as softball (8.1 million) and tackle football 5.2 million (statista.com).” pg 67

*This statistic does not include all the other users of the skatepark including scooters, BMX, inline skates etc*

Links for more information:

The Skatepark Platform - Why skateparks are becoming increasingly important: https://publicskateparkguide.org/advocacy/the-skatepark-platform/

Public Skatepark Guide - Everything about developing a skatepark from the Skatepark Project (Tony Hawk’s non-profit for skateboarding): https://publicskateparkguide.org/

Skatepark project YouTube Channel - Lots of content related to the value of skateparks, how other skateparks have been developed, stories of why people value their local skateparks.
https://www.youtube.com/@TheSkateparkProject/videos

Town of Twisp Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Plan: https://cms5.revize.com/revize/twispwa/services/public%20works/Development%20Standards/Town%20of%20Twisp_2022%20P&R%20Plan%20FINAL.pdf

Shred Central: Estimating the user benefits associated with large public skateparks: https://www.anserpress.org/journal/jea/4/1/90/pdf

Exploring the Role of Skateparks as Places for Young People: a case study of skateparks in Prince George, B.C: https://atrium.lib.uoguelph.ca/server/api/core/bitstreams/6e9329fe-4212-4829-8953-d0c73b618a87/content

278 responses. Last day to say your piece! Go Hawks!

I think that is a capital idea provided you can pull it off with no tax levy the way you say you can.your choice of site is spot on.if you do this it needs to be top shelf with destination qualities as it will promote tourism in twist and perhaps take the load off Winthrop and mazama but certainly be a place to drop the kids as it will be the reason kids wanna go on vacation.with that it must be advance level with below ground level half pipe pool like for kids to challenge themselves.theres plenty of graffiti laced boring skate parts in towns above ground with nothing special.this needs to be California quality serious destination quality and it will pay for town of twist shop owners.picture a swimming pool drained with skateboards hanging a wheel in deep end above the coping or holding their board until they touch down again in exhilaration.with that it also needs an inclusive less experienced area for kids to skate.but hear me on the fact it needs upper A quality destination planning.something that makes Skateboarder magazine.it will promote dollars to twisp and keep kids off the street

The soccer/ball field area by the Twisp Airport is the best site IMO. The convenience of being in town can backfire, Too much congestion with all the summer activity for starters.

Maybe they would have to dig a well and put in a public bathroom, but it is a short walk or bicycle ride from Blue Star coffee. The ball field/airport is also a Trango bus stop. There is plenty of open space which is important. Convenience is not everything.