Places to Play

from Boyd Street Magazine March 2020

Vicki Davis NORMANITE IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Norman Builds Parks for Bikers, Skaters

Norman is adding some new features to its community parks. Creekside Bike Park, located at Lindsey Street and 24th Avenue SE, opened last fall. And, if that’s not enough fun, the city will build an expanded skate park within Andrews Park later this year. Construction of these parks was made possible with funding from the city’s hotel and motel tax, which contains funding earmarked for parks and recreation, said James Briggs, Norman’s city park planner. “We’re so excited to be able to offer this type of facility and we hope they are the first of many,” said Briggs. He said the bike park project was prompted by suggestions from the city’s Bicycle Advisory Committee in 2015. The city has hired Missouri-based park design and construction company American Ramp Company to do the work. The company built Andrews Park’s first skating area nearly 20 years ago, and it has maintained contact with the city ever since. The company was new at the time, but its resume now includes projects in 42 countries. “I am really proud to say that Creekside Bike Park is one of the best of its kind in the state of Oklahoma,” said company co-owner John Hunter, who described himself as a former mountain biker. “Norman is one of the first in Oklahoma to feature this kind of cutting-edge set-up.” Hunter and his staff met with members of the Norman community to understand what they wanted . They also created a logo and a brand identity for Creekside. The new bike park includes a biking playground designed for children ages 8 and under and the rest of park is composed of a tree-lined loop with different obstacles and a jump line for more adventurous riders. “Generationally, playing in this way is not something we always consider safe in our society. It used to be that people built ramps like these in their yards,” Hunter said. “Today, these parks are built by professionals as a way to get kids more excited about outdoor play.” In an age when doctors are prescribing outdoor play for kids, parks are an important community asset. “All of this type of recreation and activity answers a lot of really big problems that we deal with, like getting kids engaged and figuring out how to reduce time staring at screens,” said Hunter. “Competition for time and attention being what it is now, we know that video games and multimedia stuff is super engaging, especially for teens. Biking is basically like a video game that can be done on your own. You don’t have to wait for a group practice. “There’s a natural progression and you have to build up your skill level. There are areas you can see you shouldn’t attempt because it’s obvious you’re not ready yet. That’s a life lesson.” Unlike bike and skate parks from the ’90s, and even the early 2000s, overall access has improved, and people of all ages can find an activity to enjoy. The ability to enjoy the parks’ green space,

read a book on a bench, picnic and meet friends and neighbors offers a much broader, more inclusive picture. “When you open up spaces, communities get safer. What we’re doing is bringing people together, away from computers and screens and creating a safe place to come together,” said Hunter. “One of the cool things about (a bike park like Creekside) is the terrain doesn’t have to be flat. Some of the undulating patterns found in Oklahoma are naturally here already, which makes it a really good spot to

have a bike park.” Construction at Andrews Park will get started later this spring and American Ramp Company is finalizing the design, working out important details. “The design is architecturally very cool. It’s right by a busy intersection, so even just driving by, you can say ‘that’s a really pretty thing.’ You can look into the park, see the skaters and hopefully decide to give it a try,” said Hunter. The skate park’s remodel will include a variety of terrains, a bowl, a plaza and a mini-ramp. It will serve all skill levels, from beginners to professionals, and possibly even as a place to host professional competitions. “Skateboarding will be included for the first time in this year’s summer

Olympics. It’s really cool to see action sports recognized as a legitimate option for kids. Now that it’s an Olympic sport, there’s almost an obligation for cities to provide a place for families to get involved,” Hunter said. “It’s awesome to see Norman investing in infrastructure. Parks are for the whole community, whether it’s kids on scooters, small kids on strider bikes or older kids jumping a ramp.” Hunter also owns Atlas Safe Rooms, which has a location in Norman, a connection that deepens his ties to the area. Hunter started Atlas after a tornado that hit Joplin, Mo, in 2011. Using his experience in outdoor construction and metalworking, he designed an above-ground, tornado-safe shelter as an alternative to the tradition underground option. Find more information about the parks and the construction progress at www.normanok.gov/parks/ parks-and-recreation. – BSM