Skate & Hockey Complex Riverwalk Recreational Center

1. Skate & Hockey ComplexRiverwalk Recreational Center Carlsbad City Council Presentation

2. AgendaSkate & Hockey ComplexCity Council Presentation • Introduction & Preamble Don Purvis • Presentation by Skateboarders & Inline Hockey Youth • Benefits of Proposed Facility Gary Young • Proposal & Cost Estimates Gary Young • Key Issues Don Purvis • Conclusion of Request Kent Aveson

3. This is not a fad! • 10 million U.S. skaters; 4 million aggressive skaters; 1 million freestyle bikers • 6th largest sport; 3rd most popular among ages 6-18 • 1 in 10 teenagers owns a skateboard. • Over 200 skateboard manufacturers with 1998 estimated retail sales in excess of $700 million. • Combined U.S. trade of skateboarding and inline skatingindustries of $2 billion.

4. Benefits of Skate & Hockey Complex • Enhances existing youth programs at Riverwalk Recreation Center • Healthy sports-keeps the participants active & involved. • For parents-a safe, supervised facility • For adolescents-a safe place to socialize with their friends • Focal point for other teen activities • Local businesses-reduce worry about skaters on their sidewalks. • Skateparks draw families traveling with teenagers & young adults to our area • Inline hockey brings out-of-town teams overnight for tournaments • Implements #3 goal-Community Vision 2000 “Build a Skatepark”

5. Capital & Maintenance Requirements • Capital costs - $266,000 • Asking for support from state legislature/private foundations • Revenue neutral for city coffers-income will offset maintenance & operating expenses • Need city support-requesting grant support

6. Issues Identified • Liability & Insurance Considerations • Popularity in Surrounding Communities • Land use - Riverwalk Recreational Center • Access & Supervision

7. Liability & Insurance • Reviewed skatepark design with insurance industry Safety Engineer (St. Paul Insurance) • Desirable for Architect to design facility • Current design minimizes risk of injury • Safety Engineer confirmed lower injury risk than baseball, soccer and football • Safety Engineer will provide risk assessment report when needed

8. Liability & Insurance Considerations • Enough cash flow to pay for insurance • Three Insurance Options for Skatepark: • Incremental coverage with present City carrier • Stand alone policy-approx $10,000/year • Like hockey, skaters become members of an association --Skate Park Assoc. of USA • Private skatepark membership or supervised City Park- $40.00 per year - $1 million liability from SPAUSA for members while in the skate park .

9. Popularity in Surrounding Communities • Skatepark programs in:-Alamogordo 50-60 per day-Washington Prk & high school-Las Cruces Under construction-Roswell 35-40/per day; 100+ users -Tularosa 15-20 per day-Hobbs (new) 30-40/day good; 15-20/day bad weather-Albuquerque *700-900/day summer; 200/day winter • Anticipate 100 to 150 skaters in the community • Hockey programs in:-Alamogordo 90 players-Las Cruces 140 players-El Paso 400 players-Midland 270 players- Lubbock, Amarillo, Albuquerque • Anticipate 125 to 150 players in the community

10. Land Use-Riverwalk Recreational Center • Conflict with possible future Science Center facility • Two alternatives possible:- design complex to be integral part of Science Center- relocate complex when Science Center constructed • Cost to relocate facility (est. $120K) is small in comparison to overall cost of Science Center ($20 million) • Concrete pad is only permanent structure • Surface equipment can be relocated

11. Access & Supervision • Complex designed to restrict access - entry through Recreational Center building only • Allows supervision during regularly scheduled hours of the center • Eliminates many problems encountered by unsupervised facilities • Increases participation at Riverwalk Recreational Center

12. Skate & Hockey ComplexRiverwalk Recreational Center We respectfully request that the City Council approve the concept & location of the Skate & Hockey Complex at the Riverwalk Recreational Center so that funding may be pursued in the 2001 legislative session.

13. History of Skateboarding & Inline Skating • Skateboarding started in mid-60s from surf culture • Types of skateboarding: vert, street skating, stand-up downhill racing, luge • Inline skating started in 1980 – one of fastest growing sports • Types of inline skating: recreational, vert, aggressive, hockey, & speed

14. Skatepark Program • Local youth-use sidewalks since 70s; 80-100 active skateboarders • Anticipate 125 to 150 players if new facility is constructed • Skatepark programs in:-Alamogordo 50-60 skaters/day-Washington Park & high school-Las Cruces Under construction-Roswell 35-40/skaters; 100+ users -Tularosa 15-20 skaters/day-Hobbs 30-40/day good; 15-20/day bad weather-Albuquerque *700-900/day summer; 200/day winter • *Albuquerque - skatepark most widely used facility-Exposure to liability is less than feared – only 2 claims in 11 months • Skaters drawn to park-easier to enforce ordinances • Economic development draw for traveling families

15. Proposed Skatepark Facility • Skaters would pay $40 per year membership fee to Recreation Center to cover maintenance costs • Skaters may be able to provide their individual insurance at an additional $40 per year • Facility will be a draw for non-resident skaters traveling to the Carlsbad area

16. Inline Hockey Program • Youth hockey has operated for 6 years in Carlsbad-w/ no major injuries • Carlsbad Hockey Association (CHA) has 70 players and is a member of USA Inline Hockey • USA Hockey Inline provides insurance and rules governing play • Incidental contact only, like soccer, and games have officiating to enforce rules • Hockey programs in:-Alamogordo 90 players-Las Cruces 140 players-El Paso 225 players-Midland 270 players- Lubbock, Amarillo, Albuquerque • Anticipate 125 to 150 players if new facility is constructed

17. Proposed Inline Hockey Facility • CHA players would pay $30 per year membership fee to Recreation Center to cover maintenance • CHA would continue to provide its own player insurance • Facility also to be used for inline skating programs

18. Inline Hockey Facility

19. Skateboarding Local youth-use sidewalks since 70s; 80-100 active skateboarders Anticipate 125 to 150 -Alamogordo 50-60-Las Cruces New-Roswell 35-40-Tularosa 15-20 -Hobbs 30-40 -Albuquerque 350 Inline Hockey Youth hockey- 6 yrs-w/ no major injuries; 70 players & a member of USA Inline Hockey USA Inline insurance for players Anticipate 125 to 150 players -Alamogordo 90 -Las Cruces 140-El Paso 225-Midland 270- Lubbock, Amarillo, Albuquerque Popularity of Skating Sports

20. Liability Considerations • Skating is less dangerous than perceived • Soccer – 3 times as likely to be injured • Basketball - 5 times as likely • Baseball - 3 times as likely • Half of all injuries-irregular skate surface • Issues-signage, supervision, design, skatepath location, maintenance