Bikes moved out of new Bend skatepark

Opening last January, the new skatepark at Ponderosa Park in southeast Bend has been in operation for nearly a year. Bend Park & Recreation District has seen high use of the skatepark by a wide variety of ability levels and age groups, from beginner pre-grade school children to those with a bit of gray hair, or often referred to as the “old school” skaters.

To help manage skatepark use, the park district recently added a Skatepark Ambassador, Clare Gordon, as part of the district’s park stewardship program.

As an experienced skateboarder, Gordon’s job duties include promoting safe and positive use of the park, building relationships within the skate community and monitoring the use and maintenance needs of the skatepark. A part-time employee, Gordon will be on-site regularly including Wednesday afternoons from 2:30 to 5:30 pm, beginning in March.

Another change that was implemented last week is that user access was updated and bikes are no longer allowed in the new skatepark. Bikes are welcome at the old skatepark at the park’s northern end. Known in the community as “Pondi,” the old skatepark is multi-use and open to bikes, scooters and skateboards.

Permitted on a trial basis since the new skatepark’s opening, bikes have been found to create issues with other users’ safety and experience and result in excessive wear and tear on the park, the park district said Tuesday.

Because bikes travel different lines and speeds than skateboarders and scooters and require a large amount of space, park district staff found their use compromises the safety and experience of other skatepark users, especially given the popularity of the park.

In regards to wear and tear on the park, many bikes have metal pegs on the wheels despite not being permitted during the trial period. When these bikes fall over, are dropped or grind on the skatepark’s rails and edges, damage to the surface and features can occur.

The skatepark is open from dawn until dusk in dry conditions. The approximately 8,000 square foot main skatepark and 4,000 square foot skatepath includes: half-pipe section, multiple quarter pipe sections, two sets of stairs, pump bumps and a radius wave, and a variety of wedges, hips and ledges. In addition, there are restrooms, picnic shelters and other amenities close to the skatepark.

To learn more about the skatepark as well as watch a new aerial video of the skatepark, visit http://www.bendparksandrec.org/Parks__Trails/Park_Features/Skateboarding/