Lighting the skatepark is a terrific way of extending the facility’s hours. In warmer climates, particularly in the warmer seasons, skateboarders will be grateful for the opportunity to skate after sunset.
This skatepark has been covered with glow-in-the-dark paint. While it’s a creative solution to evening skating, it’s not practical for municipal use.
Skateboarders can be tenacious and will use a skatepark with even dim lighting, but if the Parks Department is going to sanction evening use, it may be obligated to meet recreational lighting standards.
The topic of lights can be a catalyst for public debate, particularly at skateparks proposed or built near residences. Ten-to-twenty horizontal footcandles (100–200 lux) should be ample illumination. The lights can be set to a 20-minute timer to reduce cost. Lights should be configured to warn park patrons that they will turn off so that they can stop skating. (Having the lights turn off abruptly and without warning can put park users at risk.) Advances in LED-based facility lighting provide better lighting at lower expense than fluorescent, halide, or incandescent solutions.
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