skate

Skate Park Gets Official

March 1, 2015 by Charlie London

The Parasite Skatepark began getting used in late September, 2014.

It became “official” on February 28, 2015. No city funds were used to build the skate park.

The Parasite Skate Park is located under I-610 where Paris Avenue and Pleasure Street meet.

Stay up to date via the Parisite Facebook page! Check out their website too!

Did you know? Parisite Skatepark is the only free public skatepark in New Orleans, built entirely by skaters and volunteers, named for its location along Paris Avenue beneath I-610. Skaters and advocates formed the non-profit Transitional Spaces and partnered with the City of New Orleans to make Parisite a full-fledged skatepark, along with the great folks at NORDC and the St Bernard Recreation Center. Transitional Spaces cleans, maintains, and connects you to development at Parisite, while pushing for a skate-friendly New Orleans!

GUESS WHAT? Parisite Skatepark has launched a Kickstarter campaign. The goal is to raise $36,000 in 30 days. Every dollar raised goes directly to skateable ramps. The goal is to make the front of the park an amazing DIY flow-zone with master-crafted concrete ramps DESIGNED BY THE SKATERS OF PARISITE. Parisite exists because everyone chips in however they can, and this is no different – NO CITY FUNDING, just community support. Wanna watch the brand-new Kickstarter video? You may be in it! Click here to find out more, or visit bit.ly/parisite !

So much is happening! Celebrate wonderful sunny days at the park by donating via Kickstarter for great new prizes, or toss in a few hard-earned dollars in person and collect all the sick new merch we’ve been making! T-shirts, hoodies, caps, decks, posters, more.

Perhaps you read about Parisite in the latest Antigravity Magazine COVER STORY? Roll up your sleeves, spread the word however you can, and together let’s make this dream of NEW ORLEANS’ FIRST SKATEPARK become a reality.

BIG THANKS to Tulane City Center, who just finished Parisite's new entranceway, rain gardens, and seating areas... and it's all skateable! Along with Tulane's volunteers, skaters painted the entire underside of interstate -- it looks SO FRESH. Come by for a look at new Spring growth sprouting on the native plants! — BIG THANKS to Tulane City Center, who just finished Parisite’s new entranceway, rain gardens, and seating areas… and it’s all skateable! Along with Tulane’s volunteers, skaters painted the entire underside of interstate — it looks SO FRESH. Come by for a look at new Spring growth sprouting on the native plants!

NORDC Parisite Skatepark Rules:

Helmets are required of all users. Please ensure that your helmet fits properly and is certified for skateboarding and/or trick roller skating.
Users are strongly encouraged to wear properly fitting: elbow pads, knee pads, wrist pads, and mouth guards.
The only devices allowed in the skatepark facility are skateboards, roller skates, rollerblades, inline skates, BMX bikes, and non-motorized scooters. All motorized devices and vehicles are prohibited.
Children younger than 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
No glass containers, food, or beverages are allowed on the skating surface.
No littering. Please use trash cans.
No drugs, alcohol, firearms, or weapons will be permitted at this facility.
No loud music, profanity, or disorderly behavior will be permitted at this facility.
Be respectful of neighborhood; do not block driveways.
Be respectful of the park. No graffiti or tagging is permitted.
All organized events must have written approval from NORDC. If you wish to organize an event, please contact NORDC at (504) 658-3062.
Animals are not permitted in the skate park.
Users are prohibited from erecting unauthorized ramps, jumps, or making any other structural additions or changes inside or outside of the skate park area.
NORDC reserves the right to revoke privileges from any individual who does not obey these rules, demonstrated unacceptable conduct, or for any other just cause.

Skateboarders are People too

November 6, 2014 by Charlie London

The Mississippi Grind Street Course is installed and open!

The construction fencing around the Mississippi Grind came down today, marking a giant step for skateboarding in New Orleans — much thanks to Red Bull, Spohn Ranch Skateparks, Action Park Alliance, skaters who pitched design ideas, and everyone at City Hall who helped make this happen! We are stoked to see so many new faces at the park.

Students, professors, and volunteers with Tulane City Center are almost finished with the entranceway and rain gardens! The street names “Paris” and “Pleasure” came out great, recessed into the concrete, while we will soon install native and edible plants such as cypress, magnolia, and satsuma trees to line the perimeter of the park! Funky skateable benches are already built and will be installed in the coming month!

Parisite Skatepark just received a $15,000 grant for skateable sculpture from the Arts Council of New Orleans! This is part of the Arts Council’s “Percent for Art Program”, which partners the Arts Council with community organizations across the city. We are running an open call for skateable sculpture ideas, so post your ideas to our Facebook page or send to transitionalspacesnola@gmail.com!

Red Bull’s “Quarter Critters” skate trick and photo contest is this weekend! Come out to the sign-up party on Friday, November 7 at the Dragon’s Den – free pizza and drinks for the first 30 participants! Not skating? Don’t miss the judging party Sunday night, also at the Dragon’s Den!

LET’S ADVENTURE!
Starting Thursday, November 20, we will partner with NORDC’s new Outdoors Program to take trips into nature! In this immersive afterschool program for Parisite and St Bernard Center, the Outdoors Program’s 15-passenger van will arrive at 4:00 every first and third Thursday to pick up participants for fun-filled trips to the area’s many natural sites. These excursions allow participants to explore, ask questions, and learn on their own terms. Swamps, wetlands, forests, canoeing — if there’s somewhere you or a child you know wants to explore, the time and space is available. Keep an eye out for Emily (Outdoor Programs Manager) handing out parent permission forms on Thursdays at Parisite! For more info, email transitionalspacesnola@gmail.com or ersnyder@nola.gov

GET INVOLVED!
Come out on Saturdays from 9am-2pm to help with Tulane City Center, or meet at the chalkboard at noon for cleanup crew! Contact John Coyle (jcoyle@tulane.edu) for more info on volunteer opportunities with Tulane.

Thanks so much to the volunteer groups that have helped over the past months. We really appreciate the efforts of Groundwork New Orleans, HandsOn, Sassy + Classy Social + Pleasure Club, Urban League College Track Students, GRoW, Health Nutz Nation, and all the individuals who pitch in!

Stay up to date via the Parisite Facebook page!

Skate Park

October 2, 2014 by Charlie London

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Welcome to the very first Parisite Skatepark newsletter, Mouth of the Parisite! A lot of action has happened behind the scenes over the past year as Parisite gets ready to grow with new skateable areas, public spaces, and an official partnership with NORDC.

Did you know?? Parisite Skatepark is the only free public skatepark in New Orleans, built entirely by skaters and volunteers, named for its location along Paris Avenue beneath I-610. Skaters and advocates formed the non-profit Transitional Spaces and partnered with the City of New Orleans to make Parisite a full-fledged skatepark, along with the great folks with NORDC and the St Bernard Recreation Center. Transitional Spaces cleans, maintains, and connects you to the development of Parisite Skatepark, as well as pushing for a skater-friendly New Orleans!

Crews will break ground soon to install two new phases for Parisite Skatepark!

The Mississippi Grind (above, right) was floated down the Mississippi River to Parisite, designed by Spohn Ranch Skateparks and donated by Red Bull. Tulane City Center will build an entranceway, seating, skateable features, and stormwater retention planters (above, left + center) designed through a collaboration between Transitional Spaces and the Tulane School of Architecture.

Construction will be phased so Parisite remains skateable. Expect the Mississippi Grind to open in October, with Tulane City Center’s portions opening throughout the fall, and an official ribbon-cutting blowout in January!

Parisite Skatepark started as a Do-It-Yourself project , and we still rely on YOUR creativity and dedication to make it an amazing park. Clean-up crew meets at the picnic table every Saturday at noon. Come on out, keep Parisite fresh, and show your love!

Stay tuned to our Facebook page for upcoming events this fall, or get in touch (transitionalspacesnola@gmail.com) if you have other ideas! Spread the word to anyone and everyone!

If you want to support Parisite Skatepark financially, you can donate via parisitediy.org or talk to us in person. Donations are tax-deductible and go towards maintenance and future phases of the park.

Thanks and see you soon,
Parisite Skatepark/Transitional Spaces

Day Tripping

December 29, 2011 by Charlie London

article and photos by Charlie London

Those over 50 likely remember the Beatles’ song Day Tripper.
If you don’t, click on the video below.

My day trip started with my wife giving me a ride to City Hall so I could participate in the public commentary on the location of the Skate Park that drink manufacturer Red Bull is donating to New Orleans.

Mr. Vincent Smith, Capital Projects Administrator for the City of New Orleans basically repeated the information you can find in my previous blog post in the link below:
https://fsjna.org/2011/12/skate-park-meeting-at-city-hall-wednesday/

There were large poster boards explaining the selection criteria which you can see in the link below:
https://secureservercdn.net/198.71.233.167/end.894.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Skate-Park-Site-Selection-Criteria.pdf

I asked if the Skate Park would have a fence built around it. Mr. Smith replied that it would not and added that the preference for the Skate Park is for an area that already is “secure”. Meaning that parks that already have gates and regular opening and closing times would have preference.

That would almost certainly disqualify the Lafitte Corridor as it is open 24 hours each day. So, if you are interested in a Skate Park in Mid-City you should likely get busy asking for it.

I asked about better public input. I work at night so I have the luxury of attended a few daytime meetings. Most people don’t. With meetings that begin at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. that leaves most folks out of the planning process for the Skate Park. Mr. Smith indicated that people should be able to comment by phone and on the internet soon.

There were about 10 people who attended the meeting. Michael Homan, his son Gil and myself were there on behalf of the Lafitte Corridor. Councilmember Jon Johnson and several others were there to promote the Skate Park going in at Joe Brown Park in New Orleans East and a couple of people were there to try to get the Skate Park in Martin Behrman Memorial Park in Algiers.

Regardless of whether you are for or against a Skate Park make your opinion known to Councilmember Guidry at sgguidry@nola.gov *** Follow Gil Homan’s lead and make your voice heard.

My day trip continued with a walk from City Hall down Loyola where I encountered this new and innovative bus stop at Tulane and Loyola. It’s been there about one week.

I continued my day trip to Canal Street where I waited for the streetcar to take me all the way to Esplanade Avenue by the museum. The newly restored Joy Theatre was across from the streetcar stop and the first performance will be by Irma Thomas tonight.

If you have the time, I highly recommend riding the streetcar downtown from or to the museum. And, don’t forget you can get on the Esplanade Bus at Fortier Park which will take you right to the French Quarter. Both the busses and streetcars are very clean.

It’s only $1.25 each way and sure beats paying much more to park your car, that is… if you have the time. The streetcar and bus schedules are getting better but aren’t quite up to running exactly on time.

(courtesy youtube user kouran92)

Skate Park Meetings

December 21, 2011 by Charlie London

The City and the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORDC) announced that three public meetings will be held to review proposed locations for a skate park. In October 2011, a skateboard ramp was donated to the City and NORDC.

The proposed locations for installation are Joe Brown Park, Behrman Memorial Park, or the Lafitte Greenway.

The three public meetings will be held in the New Orleans City Council chamber, 1300 Perdido Street, 1st floor, on the following dates:

Wednesday, December 21, 2011; 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011; 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Wednesday, January 4, 2012; 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Citizens are encouraged to attend and provide their input. Please write to Councilmember Guidry at sgguidry@nola.gov

Skate Park Site Selection Criteria

Map of NORD Parks Recreation Facilities December, 2011