East Woods Skate Plaza

In the Fall of 2005, seven members of the Eastwood Neighborhood Association gathered for the first meeting of the Skateboard Research Committee to discuss the potential for a skatepark in Eastwood. Since then, the committee has grown and made large strides in achieving their goal. The Skateboard Research Committee has teamed up with Syracuse City Parks, Crissey Architectural Group, Pillar Design Studios, Appel Osborne Landscape Architecture, Twin Oaks, and the community to prepare for, design and ultimately build a park that will be ideal for local skateboarders, and an overall asset to the neighborhood. The East Woods Skate Plaza will be a multi-purpose recreation site that is safe to use and commute to. The design plan allows for the preservation of the natural trails and old oak trees that gave the Village of Eastwood its name.

The future site of East Woods Skate Plaza is Huntington Park. The Committee, consisting of members of the ENA as well as skaters and parents, decided on a streetscape design. A group of skaters met with an interior design class, led by Eastwood Architect, Rotarian and SU professor Peter Crissey, to share their vision for what the skatepark should include. In the Fall of 2006, the designs were presented for public comment, the skaters selected a design option, and Crissey Architectural Group began the construction drawing. In the Spring of 2007, soil tests were completed by Twin Oaks and the grant writing and fundraising process began. Later that summer, Brad Siedlecki, founder of Pillar Design Studios, visited the site and provided 3D simulations of the proposed park. It has been a long process thus far, but the East Woods Skate Plaza dream is becoming a reality. Construction is scheduled to begin this fall!

The project team would like to reach out to the community and those who will use the skatepark, to gather your ideas, input, and desires for what a great skatepark should include. We want to hear from you! If you have been unable to attend a meeting or provide your input for the park, please comment and offer your suggestions. The goal is that with the integration of ideas from the community and the design professionals, a spectacular end result will come to fruition. Once the project is underway, be sure to check back for updates about the construction!