Lynndale Skatepark - Lynnwood WA.

(See the Skatepark Listing Here)
Hi! I'm the Park Planner for the City of Lynnwood. I found your website and thought I'd give you more info on the Lynndale Skatepark in Lynnwood, WA. The following is from a presentation to the Washington Recreation and Parks Association who gave the skate park an Outstanding Facility award. Some pictures are attached and I've included directions at the end.

The Cities of Lynnwood and Edmonds collaborated for 6 years to build this skate park, in response to a need expressed by skaters who were frustrated by local skateboarding restrictions. In 1993, local skaters began lobbying the Cities for a place to skate legally. Community leaders supported the Washington State Legislature statute listing "skateboarding" under the Recreational Immunity Act. Both Cities committed to the project and contributed equal funds to develop it - and a site was found in Lynnwood's 40-acre community park, Lynndale Park. MacLeod Reckord Landscape Architects from Seattle was contracted to design the park. We also had the expertise of a professional skater, Scott Yamamura, and an advisory panel of local skaters. The goal was to design a park that would be challenging and fun for both beginning and experienced skaters. Construction began in the summer of 1999. The most difficult part of the project was keeping anxious skaters off the surface during construction. They hung out with their boards on the perimeter of the construction site, eagerly observing the progress.



This is an outdoor facility and constructed entirely of concrete for the most durability and least maintenance. MacLeod Reckord worked with the Contractor, Precision Earthworks in Lynnwood, to ensure that all the seams and transitions were flat and smooth, and the edges were reinforced with angle irons and steel coping. The completed, almost 5,000 square foot Skate Park has a 6' deep bowl, a snake run, a quarter pipe, banks, hips, ledges, rails and curbs - all of which were suggested and approved by the team of local skaters. The total cost of construction was approximately $110,000.



Opening day was on September 24, 1999. The same skater who six years earlier had initiated the approach to the Cities, was given the honor of breaking the ribbon held by both Mayors. He whipped through on his in-line skates. Following the ceremony, hundreds of kids who waited so patiently flooded onto the surface.

The Skate Park continues to be extremely popular and heavily used. Early involvement in the design of the park created a sense of ownership for the skaters. They encourage each other to follow the rules they helped create and they continue to help maintain the skating surface. There have been a few maintenance issues - we will be extending the size of the landing zone and replacing some of the landscaping around the edges. But to our knowledge there have been no serious accidents and the skate park has remained almost graffiti-free.

In summary - the project was 6 years in coming, but the partnership between the 2 cities and the local youth, symbolized how we can work together as a team, and enhance the quality of life for everyone.



Directions: North (of Seattle) on Interstate 5 to Exit 181; north on 44th Ave W; west on 188th St SW; across Hwy 99; north on Blue Ridge Drive; west on Olympic View Drive to Lynndale Park north entrance.

- Laurie Cowan
Parks Planner
City of Lynnwood
PO Box 5008
Lynnwood, WA 98046-5008