Chesney Skate Park in Rough Shape

 by Cameron Manthe

Holes in Park
Photo by Cameron Manthe

While Chesney Skate Park is a great place to skate, it definitely shows its age. Like many skate parks  it will require some maintenance over time. The most common damage comes from skateboards and exposure to the elements. 

The concrete foundation that Chesney sits on is starting to crack and chip away. There is a significant portion missing from in front of one of the ramps. This leaves it practically unusable and can be dangerous for skaters not paying attention. Another area of concern is the grind box and the holes in the ground making this box less less than ideal to skate.

Broken Concrete in
Front of Ramp
Photo by Cameron Manthe

The ramps are showing common signs of wear. Many of these marks appear small dents  and scratches and do not affect the function of the ramp. The grind box has become detached from the side of the middle structure, leaving warped metal paneling exposed. This is something I feel is minor compared to the actual riding surface falling apart. Chesney skate park also had a flat rail stolen right out of the ground and has never received a new one.

Having these issues can make for the park to have poor regular attendance. They will end up just going to a better skate park across town. This leads to bad experiences and a mostly forgotten park. I think a nice revival of the space would be to have it be a D.I.Y. skate park like Edgewood park in Lawrence built by the skaters. It would generate a new excitement for the park itself and the skating community in Topeka as a whole.

Sources:

Shawnee County Parks and Rec

https://parks.snco.us/facilities/facility/details/chesneyskatepark-142

Edgewood D.I.Y. Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/edgewood_diy/?hl=en

Photos by Cameron Manthe