NEWS RELEASE Mike McGinn, Mayor Christopher Williams, Acting Superintendent For Immediate Release: June 11, 2013 Contact: Joelle Hammerstad, 206-684-8020 email [email protected] Seattle Parks and Red Bull to continue collaboration on identifying suitable location for skate-able public art Seattle Parks and Recreation and energy drink maker Red Bull will continue to work together on finding a suitable location for a skate-able public art work in Seattle’s public parks. An initial public meeting on the issue focused on Myrtle Edwards Park as a top proposed location. After hearing input from stakeholders and interested parties and listening to all issues and concerns, Seattle Parks Superintendent Christopher Williams determined that skate-able art is not suitable for that location. “We are excited by the proposal to add skate-able features in Seattle’s public parks, and look forward to continuing our conversations with Red Bull,” said Christopher Williams. Parks makes this decision in response to concerns raised through the public process about: The linear nature of the park and the challenges of accessing the site (access to the park is available only from the Thomas Street Overpass or the corner of Broad Street and Elliott Avenue), Potential conflicts with people who use the park for walking, running, cycling and dog walking, Its proximity to the Seattle Center skatepark The sensitive waterfront beach and salmon habitat, The possibility that skaters would also skate on and damage other surfaces that appear skate-able, but are actually public art, such as the Michael Heizer sculptures, Adjacent, Against, Upon located within Myrtle Edwards Park. Background In April of this year, energy drink maker Red Bull proposed to the City the creation of a unique skate experience – a skateable art piece – within Myrtle Edwards Park on the Seattle waterfront. The proposed piece would be about 1,500 square feet. Red Bull, with the help of 4Culture, the King County arts public development authority, issued a Call for Artists to produce the work. The deadline for submitting a proposal was Monday, June 3. To get public input on the Red Bull proposal for Myrtle Edwards, Parks held a public meeting on Wednesday, May 29, at the Belltown Community Center. In 2006, Seattle Parks and Recreation adopted the Citywide Skatepark Plan, which identifies a network of safe, legal places throughout the city for people of all ages, races and genders to enjoy skating. Since 2002, Seattle Parks and Recreation has constructed nine new skate features and skateparks, including: Ballard Commons Park Crown Hill Park Skatedot Dahl Skatepark Delridge Skatepark Jefferson Park Skatepark Judkins Park Skatespot Lower Woodland Skatepark Roxhill Skatespot Summit Slope Skatedot Two more new skate features are in construction, including a new skatedot at Benefit Park in South Beacon Hill and a new skatespot at Hubbard Homestead Park in Northgate. This press release is posted on Seattle Parks and Recreation’s Parkways Blog. parkways.seattle.gov/2013/06/11/seattle-parks-and-red-bull-to-continue-collaboration-on-identifying-suitable-location-for-skate-able-public-art/
Posted on: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 02:00:00 +0000
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