PETITION: COMMITMENT TO MAKE CONDON PARK GRASS VALLEY THE BEST SKATEPARK IN CALIFORNIA

May 2025

Demand that the City of Grass Valley move to immediately cancel demolition of the original Condon Skatepark slated to begin on May 19, 2025, and that they commit to pursuing the phased proposal from the original skatepark’s preliminary concept designer that adheres to all existing contractual obligations, budgetary restraints, and established deadlines. 

It would ultimately consist of completing construction of the approved new Grindline park by the end of Summer 2026, some thirty feet behind the original park, while at least trying to save the existing skatepark by installing new perimeter drainage. Next, inspecting, repairing, and modifying the original park. And then, adding to and connecting between the new park and the old park, utilizing the roughly 30-foot wide buffer zone between them, a portion of the hillside between the existing park and bocci courts, and the concrete track around the fenced perimeter of the existing park.

NOTE: An exploratory funding proposal for Phases Two and Three as well as the French drains is forthcoming.

ONE COMMUNITY, NOT TWO SIDES:

Everyone loves our skatepark. No one “wants” to see it demolished. We have seen our loving community crumble into hateful vitriol while losing sight of this shared core truth. 

We should not let a single ineffectual government meeting decide the fate of a beloved NorCal landmark, all while reducing the final size of skatable concrete when there is a reasonable path to doubling it instead. A so-called “community” meeting that opens with an accusatory “Where were YOU?” and closes with an exculpatory “We could have done better but this is where we find ourselves now.” Where opposing monologues into a void are encouraged, but meaningful dialogue is forbidden. Where many questions are raised and very few answered. A motion to stand still, seconded by none.

THE REALITIES:

The drainage (or lack thereof) around the perimeter (exterior) of the park is such that the soil underneath is becoming repeatedly saturated and causing the slabs to move up and down. It would not be advisable or effective to grind and patch the surface (or to otherwise attempt to replace the flat-bottoms) if the soil remains saturated and the slabs continue to move. As-is, the park is unsafe, and poses a real liability to the city and to taxpayer money. However, temporarily improving and maintaining the fencing around the existing park would be a far more responsible option to prevent unwanted access and injury than would immediate demolition.

According to the City Manager, new French drains around the perimeter of the existing park could possibly alleviate the underlying problem of saturation and might cost as little as $50k to install, potentially stabilizing the soil (and slabs) for inspection under the flat-bottoms, and lasting repairs and alterations to the existing park.

The city has identified “acres and acres” of defensible space around the existing skatepark available for new expansion(s). 

Grindline has the contract for whatever happens at Condon Skatepark Phase One as it stands; they will get the full $1.4M in grant funds no matter what they design and build between now and May 2028. Most of the construction documents for their final design that was approved by the City Council on September 13 of 2024 are currently under review. Grindline does not want to build a park that many would hate. 

Despite what anyone says about being in a hurry due to the risk of losing grant funding, there are three full summers (2025, 2026, and 2027) remaining between now and the deadline of April 30, 2028, the point at which any skatepark project by Grindline at Condon park must be complete and all grant funds spent (paid to Grindline).

THE PROPOSAL:

The following three-phase proposal consists of completing construction of the new approved Grindline park some thirty feet behind the existing park by the end of Summer 2026, all while at least trying to save the original skatepark with new perimeter drainage. Then, inspecting, repairing, and modifying the original park (if possible). Then, adding to and connecting between the old and new parks.

It adheres to all existing contractual obligations, budgetary restraints, and established deadlines. It also guarantees that during the first phase (Summer 2025 or, at the very latest, Summer 2026) a new skatepark (identical to or very similar to the present final design that Grindline has presented and the city has approved) will be complete.

Whatever work from subsequent phases that might exceed the allotted budget would be done by others (including volunteers where feasible) in the future after Grindline’s contract is fulfilled. 

NOTE: An exploratory funding proposal for Phases Two and Three as well as the French drains is forthcoming.

PHASE ONE:

1. (Spring 2025)

Design French drains (and retaining walls as required) around the perimeter of the existing skatepark site to alleviate ongoing saturation of the soil underneath. Give serious consideration to donated labor and materials. 

2. (Spring 2025)

Continue a streamlined design modification, review, and approval process for the new Grindline park, to be situated adjacent to the existing park (with a buffer zone between the two where additions will connect the two in a future Phase Three). Approve the three-phase concept plan proposed by the original skatepark’s preliminary concept designer, and ensure final design and site placement and orientation of new park are compatible with all phases of overall plan. Use any savings from cancelling demolition toward any new costs for additional topographical, geotechnical, environmental impact, grading, and drainage plans, and toward the French drains mentioned above if possible (if done by Grindline).

3. (Summer 2025)

Construct the new French drainage at the existing skatepark (Grindline and/or Volunteers) concurrent with construction of the new adjacent skatepark (Grindline).

*NOTE: The time saved from cancelling demolition may not offset extension of the design phase, in which case the new site plan adjacent to the original park will be developed for construction and completion in Summer 2026.

PHASE TWO:

1. (Spring 2026)

After regular monitoring through Fall and Winter, assess the effectiveness of the new French drains and the condition of the soil beneath the original park. If the drainage is working to alleviate the saturation (see 2 below), streamline a process for exploratory demolition of the flat-bottoms at problem areas (Grindline or others), and for design review and approval of repairs and alterations/improvements to the existing skatepark, including any additional fill, substrate, and compaction under the demolished flat-bottoms as required (Grindline or others).

**NOTE: If new French drains are not substantially affecting the condition of the soil and slabs, see 1.5 below.

2. (Summer 2026) *

Construct repairs and alterations to the original skatepark (Grindline or others).

**1.5. (Spring 2026 if required)

Facilitate process to select and approve a course of action for 2.5 below to either; A. Improve or further bolster drainage; B. Wait and monitor conditions through another season; C. Proceed with Phase Three construction (Grindline or others) either with or without total or partial demolition of existing original skatepark. 

(If course A or B above is taken and it is determined in Spring 2026 that either the remaining phases can proceed or that course C above is the only viable option, the total project, Grindline contract, and full grant funds will be complete, fulfilled, and exhausted by no later than Summer 2027, well within established deadlines).

**2.5. (Summer 2026 if required)

Construct course of action determined in 1.5 above (Grindline or others).

PHASE THREE:

1. (During Phases One and Two and/or immediately following Phase Two in Fall 2026)

Streamline design, review, and approval process for the new additions uphill from original park and between original and new parks. (Design by Grindline or others).

2. (Summer 2026 or future)*

Construct new additions outlined in 1 above (Grindline or others).

NOTE: An exploratory funding proposal for Phases Two and Three as well as the French drains is forthcoming.