Our Mission

We would like to see the construction of a 5-6,000 square foot public skatespot built at Rustin Park in the area next to the existing basketball courts. The plan is to have a mixture or ledges, rails, quartepipes and banks with an organic design meant to blend in with the park. Accessibility is paramount in the design making it easily used and enjoyed by all skill levels and physical ability.

What’s a skatespot, don’t you mean skatepark? Skateparks are generally larger footprints in the 10-20,000+ square foot area many times with plazas and bowls. A skatespot would be more in the 3-6,000 SF range and be more for the local community rather than a destination park.

First and foremost, accessibility. Rustin Park is skating distance from the heart of the Borough and accessible via public transportation. located at the south end of park on Rosedale Ave.

Additionally, Rustin Park is one of the more underutilized parks in the Borough and is relatively flat so minimal grading would be needed. We are parents as well as skaters so understand the importance of greenspace and there is limited amount in the Borough. This is why footprint spot and not a full blown skatepark. Our proposal would leave a majority of greenspace available for play. We feel we are adding to the park and community, not taking away.

The goal of the spot is to be fun but simple. We have received input from skaters in the Borough and that’s where we came up with the idea of a skatespot not a large skatepark. We would also like to fave some features designed with accessibility in mind to include adaptive athletes.

Basic ledges preferably granite, much like the courthouse benches everyone has seen locals skate.

A simple, yet fun flat bar which is just what it sounds like, a long flat rail about a foot or so off the ground.

A quarterpipe wall that escalates down to ground level making it enjoyable by all skill levels and ability

Whenever a new skatespot is brought up the number one response is “there’s already a skatepark next to WaWa.” There’s one key word in that statement, “a” as in single. So while yes it is true there is “A” skatepark, it’s in West Goshen and only accessible by car.

This park is also approaching 20 years old and was built by a company (skate wave) that is no longer in business. Additionally it is constructed out of metal and composite materials, two surfaces that are not normally used by skaters.

West Chester native Bayard Rustin was one of the most influential and effective organizers of the civil rights movement. While the park is named in his honor we would like to do more. We would like to have the design include a quarterpipe wall which the backside could be used to incorporate a mural paying tribute to Bayard Rustin.

Funding for skatespots and parks can be done through a combination of grants, donations and fundraising.

A great example of grants is the Delco Skatepark Coalition, they recently received a $250,000 grant for the Upper Darby Skatepark! We have been working with the Skatepark Project and have been encouraged to apply for a grant through them once the time comes.