Creston Park Skatepark Project

Parks
In Planning
A new, covered skatepark is being planned for Creston Park. This will be the very first covered skatepark in the PP&R system.
A birds eye view of the final rendering of Creston Park Skatepark. Skatepark is 15,000 square feet with 10,000 square feet of covered and lighted space.
Anticipated completion: Spring 2026
On this Page

Stay Informed and Involved

Whether you are just learning how to skateboard or you're a life-long skater... We want to keep you in the know! 

Creston Park Skatepark Project news and updates will be provided on this page every 30-60 days. Enter your email address at the link below and we will include you in an email alert every time we post a project update. 

Add your email to the Creston Park Skatepark contact list

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Project Updates

May 2024 - Final Concept

Portland Parks & Recreation is proud to present the final concept for Creston Park Skatepark.

The final design concept for Creston Park Skatepark. Overhead view shown, as well as multiple ground level views of the skatepark.
View the full PDF files of the final design concept below.

These skate features and elements are a result of robust community workshops over the course of three different community gatherings. We received strong participation and feedback from many different project stakeholders. The culmination of this feedback has led us to the final concept design that will provide a 15,600 sq ft skatepark with a 10,700 sq ft covered area for skaters of all abilities.

We anticipate beginning construction in the fall of 2025 with completion in summer 2026. As we move through the final design, permit and bidding process we will continue to provide updates here.

May 2024

On May 16-17, 2024, the area around the skatepark will be closed due to additional geotechnical drilling work. The work will affect the skatepark area, a northwest section of the park, a section west of the pool, and a section adjacent to the stairs to the southeast of the pool.

Geotechnical drilling, also known as geotechnical boring, is a method of evaluating the physical properties of our construction site by investigating subsurface soils. It's a fundamental part of any construction site evaluation and helps our project and construction teams better understand the properties of the soil on our project site. 

April 2024

On May 2, 2024, the area around the skatepark will be closed due to geotechnical work.  The work is necessary to move forward with improvements to the park and, in addition to the skatepark area, the work will affect a northwest section of the park, a section west of the pool, and a section adjacent to the stairs to the southeast of the pool.

Geotechnical drilling, also known as geotechnical boring, is a method of evaluating the physical properties of our construction site by investigating subsurface soils. It's a fundamental part of any construction site evaluation and helps our project and construction teams better understand the properties of the soil on our project site. 

January 2024

JOIN US FOR OUR FINAL CRESTON PARK SKATEPARK COMMUNITY WORKSHOP! 

  • What: Creston Park Skatepark Community Workshop 
  • When: Wednesday, January 31, 2024  5:30pm-7:30pm 
  • Where: East Portland Community Center / 740 SE 106th Ave Portland, OR 97216 
  • Why: Our design team is refining the previous design concepts based on the robust feedback we received in the most recent engagement phase. The final design concept will be unveiled at our January 31, 2024 community workshop. Please join us to help us create the next great Portland skatepark!
Full proposed design concepts for Creston Park Skatepark - Jan 2024
The final proposed design concept for Creston Park Skatepark. Note: The final design for construction is contingent upon community feedback in our final round of community engagement (Jan. 31-Feb.14).

December 2023

We are pleased to share a summary of what we have learned about your priorities for the future Creston Park Skatepark. Big thanks, again, to everyone who made our recent phase of community engagement so robust!

When we engage such a wide array of individuals who use our Portland Parks & Recreation skateparks, we know we are going to have a diverse set of priorities, hopes, and dreams. That said, there are always several key themes that rise to the top and are repeated by a majority of participants. The following are the priorities that have been at the center of every PP&R skatepark project in recent years:

  • Provide more safe and welcoming spaces to skate, ride, and roll
  • Cover it!
  • Light it up! 
  • Maximize the budget
  • Build elements and amenities for people of all skills and abilities
  • Make it awesome!

Throughout the community engagement phases of the Creston Park Skatepark Project, several key themes rose to the top of the priorities expressed by the majority of participants. The following is a good reflection of the majority of feedback shared throughout the year-long Creston Park Skatepark project:

  • Option D (from our Nov. 8, 2023, Community Workshop event) was easily the favorite design concept thus far
  • The skate amenities are all about the flow
  • Make it a place to gather as much as it is a place to skate
  • Pay homage to the Creston Park DIY skatespot
  • Diversify the elements
  • Focus on street-style elements with plenty of ledges and rails.
  • When and where there is a bowl, go deep!
  • Control the water run-off from the roof 

Our Creston Park Skatepark project team will now put all of the above at the center of re-shaping the final design concept. We'll gather one more time to share the final proposed design concept and look for your feedback one more time.

November 2023

Thank you to everyone who was able to join us at Mt. Scott Community Center on Wednesday, Nov. 8 for our Creston Park Skatepark Community Workshop event. Our Community Workshop survey closed on Nov. 27, and our project team is busy compiling all of the feedback and priorities that we heard from the community in this most recent phase of engagement.

You can view the two design concepts that were provided at the Nov. 8 gatherings at the links below:

Here’s a look at one of the design options that was shared at our Nov. 8 event at Mt. Scott Community Center:

A design rendering of a covered Creston Park Skatepark shown from a low perspective.

October 2023

JOIN US TO HELP CREATE THE NEXT GREAT PORTLAND SKATEPARK! 

A birds-eye view of a design rendering of a covered Creston Park Skatepark.
  • What: Creston Park Skatepark Community Workshop 
  • When: Wednesday, November 8, 2023 5:30pm-7:30pm 
  • Where: Mt. Scott Community Center / 5530 SE 72nd Ave 
  • Why: We want to build the skatepark that you want to see in Creston Park! Join us to review revised design concepts and help us create the next great Portland skatepark!

August 24, 2023 

Community Workshop Update - We're building Portland's next great skatepark!

Community members talk to members of the Creston Skatepark design as they look at one of the design concepts unveiled at the Thursday, August 24, 2023 Community Workshop event.

Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) would like to thank all who joined us on Thursday, August 24 and the hundreds who took the time to offer thoughts and feedback on the Creston Park Skatepark Survey. The survey closed on September 7. Our Community Engagement team is busy compiling all the data collected to share with our larger project team. We will take all the feedback and priorities shared through this survey, and at Community Workshop #2 to revise designs for presentation in the Fall of 2023 at Community Workshop #3. 

Add your name and email to the Creston Park Skatepark Contact List to make sure you stay in the know about future events and opportunities. 

 Download and review the full set of Community Workshop #2 design concepts (A, B, and C)  here:

August 2023

Join us for the Creston Park Skatepark Project Community Workshop Event Thursday, August 24, 2023 4:30pm-6:30pm at Creston Park.

Portland Parks & Recreation is building a new skatepark at Creston Park! Join us to review early design concepts and let us know what features and elements you would like to see at your skatepark!

  • What: Creston Park Skatepark Community Workshop
  • When: Thursday, August 24, 2023 4:30pm-6:30pm
  • Where: Creston Park (near the Creston DIY skate spot)
  • Why: We want to build the skatepark that you want to see in Creston Park! Join us to talk about the flow, elements, and obstacles that you want to see included.

Additionally, on the day of the event, PP&R will also launch a community survey to better ensure we're hearing from all interested parties. The survey link will be sent out through all channels and will be posted on the project page on August 24.

June 2023

Our project team has reviewing all feedback and priorities from the Community Meeting and Community Survey. The design team is busy preparing multiple design options for our next Community Meeting. 

We anticipate the next Community Meeting will occur in August at Creston Park. Please add your name and email to the Creston Park Skatepark project contact listto receive all the latest news and information. 

Creston Park Skatepark Survey Summary (survey was open from May 3 through May 19, 2023)

  • We received 669 survey responses (this is triple the responses we have received on other skate projects) - Big thanks to all who shared the survey on Instagram! We appreciate you!

While our participants have a diverse opinions about the individual features of their preferred skatepark, there were some clear and common themes in the sentiments shared: 

  • Great support and excitement for Creston Park as the site selection 
    • Many of the most involved participants felt this was an homage to efforts of the skateboarding community at Creston Park 
  • Overwhelming support for a covered skatepark for year-round access 
    • On average there are 140 rainy or snowy days each year in Portland, OR 
    • A cover would make it safe and accessible in the rainy weather 
  • Overwhelming support for a lighted skatepark 
    • A lighted facility would increase the capacity of a Portland, OR skatepark by several hours each day October through March 
  • Clear support for a hybrid style skatepark, with features and amenities for skaters of all abilities 
    • There is a clear preference to keep a DIY look and feel where possible 

May 2023

The first Community Meeting for project engagement was held virtually on May 3, 2023.  Participants had an opportunity to hear about the selection criteria and methodology for the decision on the optimal skatepark location. 

A Project survey was made available for community to share input on skatepark features and elements from May 3rd through May 19th. If you were unable to attend the virtual meeting, or complete the survey, there will be another engagement opportunity at our 2nd Community Meeting in early summer.   Please add your name and email to the Creston Park Skatepark project contact listto receive all the latest news and information. 

Project Overview

In December 2022, PP&R City Commissioner Carmen Rubio announced $5 million in Parks System Development Charges (SDCs) for a new Skate Park in Southeast Portland.

  • The Level of Service Guidance Developed Parks and Natural Areas Study (LOS) identifies that every household in the city should be within two miles of a skatepark. Sixty-five percent of households are not currently within two miles of a skatepark in the city. That's the largest percentage gap of the 13 assets in the LOS study. 
  • Staff reviewed the LOS study and the Skatepark System Plan and identified three possible sites for the next Southeast Portland skatepark.

Original Candidate Sites

  1. Creston Park (4454 SE Powell Blvd.)
  2. Powell Park (2500 SE Powell Blvd.)
  3. Glenwood Park (SE 87th Avenue and SE Claybourne St.)
  • Creston Park is located off SE Powell Blvd. adjacent to Creston Annex Head Start. The park currently includes a community pool facility, a new, recently constructed playground area, tennis courts, large open lawn area, picnic table area, a restroom building, and a parking lot. The tennis courts have been converted into a community-built skatepark with various street skate features all built up on the existing tennis court surface. Creston has the largest number of individuals in a two-mile service area, along with a higher number of youth and people of color than the other candidate sites. The LOS study identifies a gap in service for skateparks in the Creston Park area. The closest skatepark is Ed Benedict (2.8 miles), a small skate spot is under construction at Errol Heights Park (2.8 miles), and a larger skatepark (about 5000 square feet) at Berrydale Park is currently in design (3.6 miles away).
  • Powell Park is located off SE Powell Blvd. between SE 22nd Avenue and SE 26th Avenue. The park currently includes a baseball field, basketball courts, playground area, wading pool (that requires decommissioning), restroom building, and an open lawn space. Many of the large mature trees are located on the east side of the property and around the perimeter of the park. Powell Park has the largest number of households within the two-mile skatepark service area, the highest percentage of households in poverty, and the highest number of households below poverty. Powell Park is 1.2 miles from Creston Park and does not include onsite parking.
  • Glenwood City Park is located adjacent to Kelly Elementary School. The park currently includes a baseball and soccer field, tennis courts, playground area, and a restroom building. There is a large mixture of mature and newly planted trees, mostly within the northern portion of the site. There are also variety of trees around the perimeter of the site, including street trees. There is no onsite parking and there are residential single-family homes along three sides of the park. 

Site Selection Methodology

Choosing a site for the skatepark is best approached by nominating a group of possible locations and then prioritizing them based on their strengths and weaknesses. Each site was ranked based on the five following qualities:

Accessibility: How accessible is it (walks, curb ramps, grades)?
Visibility: How visible is it (what visual access is afforded to proposed skatepark location?
Activity: How active is it (what type of use currently exists on site and are uses compatible)?
Comfort: How comfortable is it (is the site safe, well-lit, and does it have areas for rest?                Feasibility: How practical would development be (what permitting requirements and non-conforming issues may need to be factored into project budget and schedule)? Is the existing infrastructure on site compatible with proposed use (i.e., parking)?

The five qualities used to rank the location (Accessibility, Visibility, Activity, Comfort and Feasibility) are critical for the skatepark’s long-term health.

The most logical location for a new skatepark is at the existing tennis court area. This area is east of the community pool and occupies a large area for a significant sized skatepark. The community pool lacks Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access from the existing parking lot. This project proposes to integrate a new accessible pathway that will provide ADA access to both the community pool and new skate areas, which solves a long-standing access issue at this location.

Skatepark selection criteria include selection of a site that:

  • Is managed and operated by Portland Parks & Recreation.
  • Fills the two mile skatepark level of service gap.
  • Is conducive to skate park development.
  • Requires little to no tree removal to maximize protection of the urban canopy.
  • Has residential uses that are a significant distance at 500 feet from the suggested skatepark location.
  • Is in the lowest elevation of the park to buffer the sound.
  • Has an existing parking lot in place for cars and that meets code.
  • Can accommodate new ADA paths for access.
  • Has existing community interest such as a community driven skatepark that could minimize development improvement triggers and land use review.

Based on site selection methodology for skateparks noted above, Portland Parks & Recreation staff recommend Creston Park as the optimal location.

Community Engagement Timeline

Community Meeting 1: Wednesday May 3, 2023 Virtual Meeting – Project Overview and site selection decision based on Site Selection Methodology. View and discuss vision boards. 

Community Meeting 2: Summer 2023 at Creston Park (exact date TBD) –Present skate park design refinements and show alternative designs. The design options will be based upon what we learned from survey results and community members at meeting #1 on May 3, 2023, as well as feedback from internal staff and other city Bureaus.

Community Meeting 3: Late Summer/Fall2023 –Refinements to designs we heard during meeting #2. We aim to cultivate community support for a final design. 

Community Meeting #4: If Necessary

Planning and Construction Timeline

This timeline is subject to change based upon the number of community meetings that may be required.

  • Conceptual Design and Analysis – Spring 2023 to Fall 2023
  • Construction Documentation – Winter 2023 to Spring 2024
  • Permitting and Bidding – Summer/Fall 2024 to Winter 2024
  • Construction – Fall/Winter 2025
  • Grand Opening – Summer 2026

Proposed Skatepark Location

The future Creston Park Skatepark will be located in the area of the current tennis courts, just east of the Creston Park Outdoor Pool.

An ariel photo of Creston Park with an illustrated outline of the proposed skate area in the area that used to be the tennis courts.

Location

Park Location or Entrance
SE 44th Avenue and Powell Blvd
Portland, OR 97206

Contact

Ken Rumbaugh

Senior Community Engagement Coordinator