We've heard the questions — about noise, safety, crime, cost, and more. Here's what the research actually says, and what we believe about building this right.
A skatepark is a specially designed, purpose-built space for action sports: skateboarding, BMX riding, wheelchair motocross, roller skating, inline skating, and scootering.
When built and planned correctly, a skatepark is a public asset — not a liability. The difference between a skatepark that works and one that doesn't comes entirely down to location, design, and community integration.
We're proposing a permanent, professionally-built concrete facility — not temporary wood or prefabricated metal. Contemporary professional concrete skateparks last 20+ years with minimal maintenance.
Skatepark noise, according to every study conducted on the subject, consistently falls well below ordinary recreational standards. A comprehensive Portland, Oregon study found skateboarding noise was negligible at 50 feet, with peak sounds reaching only 65–71 decibels — about the same as a bat hitting a baseball, and quieter than a normal street conversation.
Overall, a skatepark is about as "noisy" as a playground. Our proposed location within the Community Field recreation zone will further minimize any impact to neighboring properties.
Source: Portland, Oregon Municipal Noise Study; Portland Sheriff's Department Chief Noise Officer, 2001
The opposite tends to be true. The Skatepark Project interviewed 102 law enforcement officers from 37 states. Their findings: 91% reported no major issues of behavior or crime at their local skatepark. 85% reported a significant decrease in skating-related complaints around town after a park opened.
A well-used, visible, active park becomes self-policing — the mix of families, spectators, and users of all ages creates natural social accountability. Visible location is key, which is why we're advocating for a Community Field site.
Source: The Skatepark Project Law Enforcement Survey (n=102 officers, 37 states)
According to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, skateboarding is statistically safer than basketball and football — activities Amherst already provides dedicated facilities for. Basketball has 10x more injuries per 1,000 participants than skateboarding (224 vs. 20).
Critically: the vast majority of severe skateboarding accidents involve a motor vehicle. A dedicated skatepark gives riders a safe surface away from traffic — it actively reduces risk. One-third of skate injuries happen in the first week, which is addressed through beginner programming and safety gear education.
Source: U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission; American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
Municipal insurers generally categorize skateparks similarly to basketball courts, playgrounds, and athletic fields. They don't invite liability suits any more than those existing facilities. Nearby towns — including Northampton, Belchertown, Greenfield, West Springfield, and Westfield — all operate public skateparks without reporting unusual increases in liability premiums.
Source: Municipal insurance industry practice; regional town reports
Professional concrete skatepark construction typically runs $50–75 per square foot. A 10,000 sq. ft. park — appropriate for Amherst's size — is estimated at $500,000–$750,000 total. That sounds significant, but compare it to the cost of a standard public swimming pool or athletic field renovation.
Phase 1 (site study and design) is $20,000–$40,000, funded through CPA. For full construction, we'll pursue: PARC grants (state recreational funding), private and community sponsorships, town capital budget, and further CPA funding.
Contemporary professional concrete skateparks have a lifespan of 20+ years with minimal maintenance — they require no staff, no seasonal setup or breakdown, no nets or equipment, and no resurfacing for many years. Routine maintenance is comparable to a paved parking lot: periodic inspection, occasional crack repair, and litter collection.
This is significantly lower than a sports field (mowing, irrigation, seasonal aeration) or pool (staffing, chemicals, heating).
Experience in other towns consistently shows that skateparks do not create significant traffic issues. The vast majority of users — especially the students and youth who are the core demographic — will arrive on foot, by bike, by scooter, or from the nearby high school. This is inherently a self-propelled-transportation facility.
Source: AWA research; comparable facility reports from Northampton, Greenfield, Easthampton
The site hasn't been selected yet — that's exactly what Phase 1 funding will determine. We'll study two candidate sites rigorously, evaluate utilities, environmental conditions, geotechnical stability, permitting requirements, and community access, and hold a public meeting to gather community input before any final decision is made.
We expect the site will be within or adjacent to the Community Field recreation complex, which already hosts the War Memorial Pool, playground, and sports fields.
Skateboarding is the third least expensive sport out of 21 popular youth activities — behind only track and field and flag football. The biggest predictor of youth sports participation is family income, with children from lower-income homes participating significantly less. A free, unstructured, no-equipment-required public facility directly addresses this equity gap.
Additionally, the park is designed for ALL wheeled activities: skateboarding, BMX, scooters, inline skating, wheelchair use. It's a facility where mobility devices are participants, not obstacles.
Source: Aspen Institute / Utah State University 2019 National Youth Sports Survey; Aspen Institute income data