Skate Park Pool Coping Explained

Skatepark Pool Coping

To understand the use of pool coping in skate parks, it’s important to understand the history of this skateboarding terrain. In the 1960s and 1970s skateboarders began skating empty swimming pools. Today’s design build skatepark contractors replicate and/or mimic that skating experience including pools as part of the terrain, so long as the budget, site and public input allow for it. The term ‘coping’, in regards to skate park pools, refers to the the material at the top of a transition that provides a reveal used to grind or slide skateboards on. The two most common materials used for coping in skate parks are steel tubing and pool blocks.

Implementing

It’s important to determine from the community, during the course of the skate park public input process 1) if the user group would like to implement pool coping in the skate park pool and 2) if so, to what extent the pool coping is used. Additionally, the City must also be knowledgeable of the expectations that go along with the implementation of skate park pool coping.  Skate park pool coping is considered a wear part, and a plan should be in developed to repair or replace broken pieces of pool block coping. A professional skate park designer will take many factors into consideration in terms of location and the extent of pool coping usage.

Expectations

SPA Skateparks enjoys providing skate park terrain that improves the experience of all users, including bmx bikes. In order to mitigate the potential of any needed repairs due to bmx peg usage, we encourage skatepark signage stating no BMX pegs are to be used on areas with skate park pool coping. This is generally considered common courtesy among all user groups and further builds stewardship towards the skate park’s ongoing condition and well-being.

In Summary

Proper implementation of pool coping in a skate park starts during the design process. With open communication between all parties and the expertise of a professional skate park contractor, skate park pool coping can improve the users’ experience and add to the success of any skate park project.

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