Group aims to save skate park

New land owner was unaware of homegrown park; County issues notice of code violation

Skater Ryan Williams at the homegrown park in Glacier. Photo by Jared Smith.

GLACIER – Tucked away in the woods of Glacier is a skate park created by local residents over the last four years, unbeknownst to Whatcom County and the current landowner. The homegrown park has become a haven for local skaters and supporters who are now trying to form a nonprofit group to save and operate the site.

The land, formerly owned by Crown Pacific, was part of an approximately 25-acre parcel auctioned off in November. Whatcom County resident Joe King purchased the site – unaware the homegrown skate park was included – and shortly after was informed by the Whatcom County Planning Department of county code violations due to the park’s construction.

Construction of the skate park, according to lead organizer Jeremy Miller, began in 2005. A lifelong skateboarder and Glacier resident since 1997, Miller said he would often go to a makeshift skate park in Portland under the Burnside Bridge. “It was built in the same style (as the Glacier skate park) – without permission, there were always junk piles and cars,” Miller said.

While hanging out in a friend’s garage, Miller decided Glacier should have the same do-it-yourself type of park and began putting up new obstacles at the coal pads just south of Glacier along Coal Creek Road, already a popular place for locals to skate. The obstacles went up, barriers were moved to make corners, and “it just kind of evolved from there.”

“I’d go to the coal pad and know that people would be there to skate. It’s kind of like the meeting spot,” Miller stated. “We’d show up daily and try to work.”

Miller said a lot of the work and upkeep has been done by skaters, but said the community supported the efforts as well. “When we needed money, all we had to do was ask and we had our concrete paid for. We were pouring yards and yards of concrete and no one said anything, but ‘Wow! Really cool.’”

As the park itself has grown, so has its reputation, as skaters have come from all over Whatcom County, as well as the Seattle area. Miller is most excited, though, about the kids who come with their parents. “It’s really cool having new parents show up with their kids,” he said, adding word about the park has made it into local schools, and they are seeing more youth from other towns in Whatcom County.

Miller said those who built and used the site were unaware of any land owner and didn’t believe the land was “owned” by anyone. “It was a total shock when we found out the land was foreclosed and [Mr. King] bought it,” he said.

Out of compliance

When Whatcom County resident Joe King became the new owner of the land on Nov. 20, he said he was aware the property came with coal pads, but had no idea a skate park was included. After a visit to the planning department on an unrelated matter, King said he was informed of the park and the fact it is out of compliance with Whatcom County code. He declined to elaborate about the property.

According to Senior Planner Suzanne Bosman, of Whatcom County Planning and Development, the department was unaware of the park’s existence until a fire inspector visiting Glacier went up Coal Creek Road to turn around and then saw the structures.

Bosman later investigated the skate park herself, saying, “This isn’t good,” upon arrival. She added, “I was impressed in the sense that it was clean. There weren’t broken bottles and they had notes up there to clean up after yourself.”

The Planning Department recently issued a letter to King, stating he had 30 days to submit a letter of intent regarding his plans for the property. According to Bosman, the two options are to dismantle the park or go through the necessary permit process to keep it.

While King has a 30-day window to determine his actions, Bosman noted the department is tentatively looking at a spring timeline before any action is taken – giving King and the skate park organizers time to potentially work out an agreement. “Right now, we’re going to

give them enough time to work through the situation,” she stated. “We understand that it’s important to the community – the kids are doing something fun and productive.”

Should King and the skate park organizers work out an agreement, a conditional use permit is needed to maintain the skate park. The process concludes in front of a hearing examiner who determines if the permit should be issued. If and when granted, stated Bosman, organizers will potentially need a building permit to bring the park up to code.

If a resolution is not worked out and the structure is torn apart, Miller said it will not be easy. “We’ve been putting lots of metal in the concrete,” he stated, “so if they do rip it out, it’s going to be really hard.”

Non-profit forming

Following recent communication with King, Miller said he and other organizers are forming a non-profit group in order to make the skate park legitimate. The group, which will include Glacier residents Gary Graham, Joseph Garcia, Paul Engel and Anne Baker on the board, is in the process of organizing the paperwork and has begun working with a Bellingham-based lawyer.

According to Miller, the idea of a non-profit had been discussed when they learned of King’s purchase. While King has given the group the go-ahead to form a non-profit, the parties are not sure how or if the site will be transferred. “Who will own the land has not been addressed,” Miller stated.

In the mean time, the group will begin fundraising. Organizers are also working on potential sponsorships and soliciting advice from skate park experts, including a Bellingham resident who is a project manager for the Seattle-based Grindline Skate Parks and one of the organizers of the Marginal Way DIY Skate Park, also of Seattle.

As the park issue has become publicized, some have criticized park organizers for building on land they did not outright own.

“We knew very well the consequences of building our spot on land we did not own, which is why it was very small for the first few years,” organizers posted on their blog. “But it was a DUMP on logging land zoned forestry. We only had the best intentions and were trying to clean up and make use of the spot by turning an unsightly trash heap into something we need. Glacier is a secluded mountain town, there is a real need for this project. We were always aware of the fact that we could get shut down. We are only hoping for the best, we didn’t mean to disrespect property rights…”