Author: Daryl Smith

Possibly Mark Foster…? Looks like The Comanderson in the background. A few weeks ago.
Photo – M. Welsh

Rennie points the way. Photo Blair

Div – The Dirt Swan, spreading his wings for a dirty wallride reentry.

He looksnothing like Jack… OK!Photo – M. Welsh

Lookslike Rod sketching a grind on the block, but perhaps it’s taken early,and he’s about to shralp and land a sweet nosegrind. Maybe it’s switch…dunno; all weez gotsis the photo evidence. Rod? Photo – Rennie

That’s Mr McCafferty, to you. Photo – Rennie

Traer’s gonna be a daddy; so despite our philosophical remit as a skateboarding site, we’ll let ’im have these shots up…:)

And he’s a nice guy too…

Keep’em coming peeps.

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Want to know if it’s dry in Dundee?

Check the webcam: http://www.dundeecity.gov.uk

Remember; the skatepark dries out very fast if given half a chance.

Bring a brush to be sure. There’s the odd puddle-patch to encourage along.

In fact; bring a brush anyway for the dust and small stones… it’ll be worth your while.

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Lewis: Happy Birthday.

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Need a skateboard? There are no skateshops in Dundee anymore, so please try one of the fine shops listed in our LINKS page. Most of them do mail-order.

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A quiet morning in the ’hood. 28-04-06

3 May- New paving ’round the bowl. Pity it stops where it does.Oh well more money sometime eh?

New slabbing in the ’street’ bit;benches and a funky new slab bank!Jack takes a trundle while Callum looks on.

Hot off the giraffe: a sniper’s view of the park.

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Want to know if it’s dry in Dundee?

Check the webcam: http://www.dundeecity.gov.uk
Remember; the skatepark dries out pretty fast if given half a chance. Bring a brush to be sure.

In fact; bring a brush anyway for the dust and small stones… it’ll be worth your while.

What’s the point in smooth ’crete if it’s covered in crap?(The wee neds LOVE throwing stones)

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Dundee City Council run event: localyoungbands, sports activities, skatepark and ’Multi-Use Games Area’ opening celebration.

So far the local bands lined up for the event are: Chromakeyer, AVX,3 Times Round, The Valentine Project. Plus another young band or two, still to be announced.

Activities for those not interested in skateboarding etc. will include ’Street Football,’ five-a-side coaching, basketball coaching, and …?

The Corner – a local youth project will be there providing “Fruit and water” for about an hour.

Focus faeGlasgow – will be there asa temporary roots skateshop, proving skate equipment gear to buy, should it be needed/desired. (since there are no real skateshops in Dundee anymore… no, don’t mention that place.)

Local Councillors will be present too discuss various issues. (Hmmm… I can think of some.)

Radio 1 will have a representative there in the park somewhere,but I don’t think any celebs willbe unpacked.

BRING THE FAMILY AND A PICNIC!

Please remember NO ALCOHOL ANYWHERE IN THE PARK (that means the skatepark too.)
-Dundee City Regulations.

Thanks!

***Responsible SkaterVolunteers needed for stewarding duties on the day! You can skate but you will need to be watchfull,help organize stuff,and get to wear some Hi-Vis!

please shout out below or email me: daryl@dundeeconcrete.com

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Please feel free to copy the jpg and print at leisure.

Event = self-explanatory. Hopefully we will also have outside DJs and a BBQ!

…No that’s NOT the real running order; just graphic name-length order.

Thanks to ’BishyB’ for the photo of Stu.

***I AM LOOKING FOR BITS OF HELP – SHIFTS OF MINDING THE DOOR ETC.
any volunteers?? please…?

All Doghouse bands please remember yer amp-heads etc.

Running order:6ish -12

1. Mercury Tiltswitch

2. Last Orders

3. Random Acts

4. Fragile

5. Vaarstraat 66

6. Mr Jinx

7. Uncle John and Whitelock

Stevie; there was never a comp planned anyway.

That’ll be in the summer proper.

It was always going to be a ’Fun Day’ for the general public most of all. We have the park all the time, but they need to see how it should be used. There will be time allocations to different groups; BMXrs etc. and also time for the wee ones to roll about without any danger of bodies larger than 4 foot tall slamming into them.

Let there be (a frontside )Rock.

Please feel free to copy the jpg and print at leisure.

Event = self-explanatory. Hopefully we will also have outside DJs and a BBQ!

…yes I know, that’s a FS wallride, but’s still pretty “Rock.” Stu G… of course.

…no that’s NOT the real running order; just graphic name-length order.

Thanks to ’BishyB’ for the photo of Stu.

I AM LOOKING FOR HELP – MINDING THE DOOR ETC. ETC.- any volunteers??

Dundee City Council run event: localyoungbands, sports activities, skatepark and ’Multi-Use Games Area’ opening celebration.

So far the local bands lined up for the event are: Chromakeyer, AVX,3 Times Round, The Valentine Project. Plus another wee band or two, still to be announced.

Activities for those not interested in skateboardingwill include ’Street Football,’ five-a-side coaching, basketball coaching, etc.

The Corner – a local youth project will be there providing “Fruit and water” for about an hour.

Focus faeGlasgow- will be there asa roots skateshop, proving skate equipment gear to buy, should it be needed/desired. (since there are no real skateshops in Dundee anymore… No, don’t mention THAT place, it’s NOT a real skateshop)

Local councilors will be on hand to discuss issues related to the area. (please feel free to mention the little 8- 15 year old yobos that are constantly troubling us at the skatepark!)

Please bring all the family and a picnic.

Remember NO ALCOHOL ANYWHERE IN THE PARK (that means the skatepark too.)
-Dundee City Regulations.

Thanks!

***Responsible SkaterVolunteers needed for Stewarding duties on the day! You can skate but you will need to be watchfull,help organize stuff,and wear some Hi-Vis!

please shout out below or email me: daryl@dundeeconcrete.com

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Want to know if it’s dry in Dundee? Check the webcam: http://www.dundeecity.gov.uk
Remember; the skatepark dries out pretty fast if given half a chance. Bring a brush to be sure.

In fact, bring a brush anyway for the dust and small stones…

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Josh -It’s a secret name change. Ssshh!, don’t tell anyone. Ok.

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A Bad Photo – for HB.

… if any of the fancy photographers who have come to the park (Ie: recently with the Harmony team etc (or most of them; ’The Jam’ where were you??)) would like to share any of the plethora of photos they have taken; esp because they are not sell-able to the mags… we would ALL be gratefull. Particularly HB.
-d

All photos to: photos@dundeeconcreteetcordaryl@dundeeconcrete etc (add the .com bit eh?)

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Without the senseless hordes, freedom is yours. A local early-bird enjoying spring with some unhindered worm-shaped carves. photo DS

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Want to know if it’s dry in Dundee? Check the webcam: http://www.dundeecity.gov.uk
Remember; the skatepark dries out pretty fast if given half a chance. Bring a brush to be sure.

In fact, bring a brush anyway for the dust and small stones…

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EVENTS on MAY 6th: See post 5-03-06 for details.

Potential line up below, timing to be arranged:
Bands:

Uncle John and Whitelock (confirmed)

Mercury Tiltswitch (confirmed)

Effigy

Vaarstraat 66

Forever Ends Tomorrow

Random Acts

Fragile

AVX

Chromakeyer

3 Times Round

General Addiction

Semay’s band – name unknown (maybe)

DJs:

Nick

Skate or Die Sound System

Plug n Play

We are thinking we may have enough bands now… there are a few more, not on the list, to be confirmed for the daytime. So….even with a few pullouts, we’re rockin anyway.

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Contractors will soon begin paving/adding concrete against the two worst muddy slopes. we will also get a bit of extra standing space too. The benches will also be put in permanently.

peas

d

Our first email submission. Thanks Alan.

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Want to know if it’s dry in Dundee? Check the webcam: http://www.dundeecity.gov.uk
Remember; the skatepark dries out pretty fast if given half a chance. Bring a brush to be sure.

In fact, bring a brush anyway for the dust and small stones…

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EVENTS on MAY 6th: See previous post for details.

Potential line up below, timing to be arranged:
Bands:

Uncle John and Whitelock (confirmed)

Mercury Tiltswitch (very unconfirmed, prob not)

Effigy

Vaarstraat 66

Forever Ends Tomorrow

Random Acts

Fragile

AVX

Chromakeyer

3 Times Round

General Addiction

Semay’s band – name unknown (maybe)

DJs:

Nick

Skate or Die Sound System

Plug n Play

?

We are thinking we may have enough bands now… there are a few more, not on the list, to be confirmed for the daytime. So….even with a few pullouts, we’re rockin anyway.

Do we want the Elvis impersonator? He’s fairly rad… your opinions please!

Noone is sending any photos in, and Fat Andy is setting up his own site with his photos from the park… so we here at Dundeeconcrete are officially sulking.

Alex Irving! Send us some rad photos!!!!!

Have spoken to the parks-maintainence people about the blockeddrain. This will be a problem until the ground at the entrance isstabilized with grass etc.

Bah humbug.

-d

EDIT: 30-03-06

Here’s a new park sign; with a picture of Rune Glifberg in the background.

The new-recycled metal fence. I hope the neds aren’t so radge thatthey manage to destroy this one… At least it isn’t so flammable. 🙂

Here’s the lovely flood.

This was like this on Tuesday, then Wednesday it dried up apparently, only to flood again today (Thursday.)

Lots of rain though…

adios,

-d

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Want to know if it’s dry in Dundee? Check the webcam: http://www.dundeecity.gov.uk
Remember; the skatepark dries out pretty fast if given half a chance. Bring a brush to be sure.

In fact, bring a brush anyway for the dust and small stones…

---

EVENTS on MAY 6th: See previous post for details.
Potential line up below, timing to be arranged:

Bands:

Uncle John and Whitelock (confirmed)

Mercury Tiltswitch (very unconfirmed, prob not)

Effigy

Vaarstraat 66

Forever Ends Tomorrow

Random Acts

Semay’s band – name unknown (maybe)

Fragile

DJs:

Nick

Skate or Die Sound System

Plug n Play

?

IF YOU WANT TO PLAY DURING THE DAYTIME PLEASE MAIL ALL LYRIC SHEETS /CDs to:

Dudhope Park Celebration

C/o Karen Clifford

Leisure and Communities Dept

Dundee City Council

Floor 13 Tayside House

DD1 3RA

More details postedSOON!

In fact, bring a brush anyway for the dust and small stones…

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Send your photos of the park to: photo@dundeeconcrete.com

summer IS coming…

A big carve from a wee guy; Alan in full control.

Above: Chuck checks Cam’s seagull technique.

Below: ’Mr Norris,’ as we are affectionately allowed to call him, dueting with Mr Graham.

Send your (real) photos of Karate in the skatepark to: photo@dundeeconcrete.com

Phone-cams to Pro-SLR; “It’s all good.”

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EVENTS on MAY 6th: See previous post for details.
Potential line up below, timing to be arranged:

Bands:

Uncle John and Whitelock (confirmed)

Mercury Tiltswitch (very unconfirmed)

Effigy

Vaarstraat 66

Forever Ends Tomorrow

Random Acts

Killer Angels

Semay’s band – name unknown (maybe)

Fragile

DJs:

Nick

Skate or Die Sound System

Plug n Play

?

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click image above for link to Skateboard Scotland article.

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Send your photos of the park to: daryl@dundeeconcrete.com

(no larger than 700×700 pixels, and less than 100k please)

Compton contemplates the way down.

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Want to know if it’s dry in Dundee? Check the webcam: http://www.dundeecity.gov.uk

Remember; the skatepark dries out pretty fast if given half a chance. Bring a brush to be sure.

---

EVENTS on MAY 6th: See previous post for details.
Potential line up below, timing to be arranged:

Bands:

Uncle John and Whitelock (confirmed)

Mercury Tiltswitch (very unconfirmed)

Effigy

Vaarstraat 66

Forever Ends Tomorrow

Semay’s band – name unknown (maybe)

Fragile

DJs:

Nick

Skate or Die Sound System

Plug n Play

?

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click image above for link to Skateboard Scotland article.

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(no larger than 700×700 pixels, and less than 100k please)

Skate photos wanted!

Send your best snaps of the new park to: photo@dundeeconcrete.com

I’ll post some of them up here,with credits, until we get another page set up for them.

Don’t send HUGE photos though! Make’em no larger than 700×700 pixels and 120k

and JPG preferably.

This sequence is off a wee digi movie so the quality is rubbish:

Can’t remember this guy’s name either… ooops. Speak up peeps!

Shots by John M:

Above: Skate zombie, ’Panit’ has it in the colddarkwet.

Below: Blair lofts.

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’Fat Andy’ asked me to post these for the sound system:

He says to just shout out your answers in the the ’comments.’

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Parkness:

We are attempting to get some paving done around portions of the park; mud retention, stand-about space.

The vandalism issue is becoming more and more serious.

IF ANYONE HAS ANY TROUBLE WHATSOEVER, GETS THREATENED IN ANY WAY, OR WITNESSES VANDALISM; PHONE THE POLICE ON: (01382) 223200.It may not be ’cool’ to do, but it’s the only legal way we have ofshutting down these idiots who are making the park an unpleasant placeto be.

The more calls they get, the more the police will take it seriously.

Stay tuned.

-d

Edited 7-03-06

EVENTS: MAY 6th

1: Council run event, 12 – 4pm
To celebrate both the skatepark and the Multi Use Games Area (M.U.G.A.) opening for use.

This will be a large, advertised, community-wide event involving a lot more than skateboarding.

People are welcome to DJ etc. A large staging area is being plannedfor the tennis courts, so expect some wacky ’youth’ performances,facepainting, extreme frisbee-disk, cake and balloons. If we can getthe Elvis impersonator I saw at another event, we’re totally set torock.

Apparently Radio 1 may be interested in tying into the event, due to the fact that their ’Big Weekend’ is in Dundee the following weekend.

Anyone who wants to play a gig or DJ, please start shouting out.

***The council will need to hear samples of your music, and see lyrics sheets…

So far we have :

DJs:

’Plug and Play’ – “head-bursting Drum and Bass”

Fat Andy, Smod Etc. – ’Skate or Die’ soundsystem

Nick J. – Eclectic tings.

Bands:

maybe Semay’s band – name unknown

Fragile

Effigy

Vaarstraat 66

Anyone else?

2: Later that Evening at TheDoghouse (pub and venue) 6pm – 12 (?)
Thisis aimed at the over 18’s, and hopefully could even raise money for thepark.Or at least break even with the PA and bands…Maybe a barbequeand sketchy wooden ramp if the weather is good?

So far we have:

Uncle John and Whitelock (confirmed)

Mercury Tiltswitch (very unconfirmed)

Semay’s band – name unknown (maybe)

Fragile

Effigy

Vaarstraat 66

DJs: See above, but hey DJs… you guys can just show up fight it out at the decks.

Are there any more BANDS that are interested?

peas.

d

Want to know if it’s dry in Dundee? Check the webcam: http://www.dundeecity.gov.uk

…and remember; the park dries out pretty fast if given half a chance. Bring a brush to be sure.

Opening; Ribbon cutting etc. took place in only slightly wet conditions.

Councilors all pleased, local skaters pleased, etc etc.

http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/output/2006/02/27/story8072151t0.shtm

Also see:

http://www.skateboardscotland.com/news.php?id=060302

The Throng waits…

Overview of the park with the throng in the background…

The throng and lots of curves and angles…

Nice air over the hip (Note, these bike pics were taken when it was a bit wet, so that’s why there’s no skateboarding pics!)

X-up over the hip.

A huge round of applause to all those people involved in the parks construction:

Allthe Dundee City Council employees who worked tirelessly to make sure the park was out of the ordinary, and actually delivered.

Clachan and Duracrete for makingsuch a good job of it.

Anybody that supported the project in anyway whatsoever!

THANKS!!!

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THE SKATEPARK IS NOW LEGAL TO RIDE.

I have been asked to officially post the park rules here:

*This facility is provided solely for the use ofskateboards, BMX bicycles and roller /inline skates, andshould beused for its intended purpose only.(ie: Mountian bikes, weemoterbikes etc.area no-no.)

*These wheeled sports are high-risk activities. Use this site at your own risk.

*You are strongly advised to wear protective clothing,including a helmet, knee and elbow pads, gloves, and appropriatefootwear.

*Users should not attempt to use sections of the park that are beyond their capability.

*Parents and guardians of young children should becareful of where their children go, and ensure that their children donot obstruct the activity of more expert users.

*In the interests of safety; do not bring dogs, glass containers into the skatepark.

*Consumption of alchohol is illegal in all of Dundee’s parks and open spaces.

*Please don’t drive cars into theDudhope Park grounds, there is plenty of nearby street parking: St. Mary Place etc.

Sorry to have to be be so boring…

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DundeeConcrete.Com sez:

Respect the park!

Show respect and encourage others to show respect for it too.

If someone is doing something they shouldn’t: TELL THEM OFF.

It’s your park too! Don’tbe afraid to feel some ownership for it, and be protective of it!

Littering is forsmall-brained neds… use a bin, or take it away with you.

The park should be a COMMUNITY, and we should look after ONE ANOTHER, as well as the SKATEPARK itself.

Irepeat: Respect the park.

Thanks.

LET THE SHREDDING BEGIN! (for real)

See you there.

dundeeconcrete.com 27-02-06

Yay!

I’d like to quote a famous philosopher:

“Happy Happy Joy Joy”
-Stimpy

It’s all organized… and Chuck is gonna show up and shred

***Photocall / ribbon cutting with local councillors etc. on MONDAY 27th Feb at 12 NOON!***

…after that the park will be legally available for use!!!

Please show up if you can! ( but don’tditch school for itplease, sorry to sound so boring)

Even if it’s wet, it would great to have loads of skaters representing in the localpapers!

Big public opening celebration for both skatepark and the Multi-UseGames Area (now being constructed where the bowling greens are… were)is planned for early May.

Are there any local/non-local bands that want to come and play?DJs?

Anyone want to sell any healthy food etc.? (we’re all sick of overpricedgreasy burgers etc.)

Please contact us here with any ideas etc.related to the public opening bash: bash@dundeeconcrete.com

-I will pass any info onto the team setting it up.

Yeeeeehaahaaaaah! see you Monday.

Thanks to Lewis and his pal for this photo.

nae messin.

above: Ally fae Perth, 25-02-06

You have no idea how close we are to having it open LEGALLY.

Not that anyone is particularly bothered anymore 🙂

DundeeConcrete.com must remain officially neutral on the issue… 😉

A photo with some explanations of the visual phenomena.

Technically Stu shouldn’t be doing this, but we’ll let him offbecause he’s moving to California in a few days to go represent theLivi spirit in a professional, and family way.

Congrats Stu! Scotland will miss you.

(all I had were these two photos for a gif-anim, sorry.

DundeeConcrete.Com will eventually host a media side, for vids etc.)

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh,

so close.

I can smell the legality right now.

Give it another week. The wheels of the Council are moving slow but sure.

BTW Clachan still have to come back to do smething about the twolarger puddles. One in the bottom near the Big Round Bump. Another upon the banked hip platform. Dunno when they are coming back, but soonhopefully. The other wee puddles can just be brushed out methinks.

A mandatory sign.

A sturdier metal mesh fence will go up alongthis line in 3-4 weeks. This will stop boards / people, etc. going downslope accidentally.

Someone from the Cleansing Dept. is going to have to paint overthe tags etc. so that a councillor or two can get their piccy taken.This is apparently a VITAL part of the process…

I will spread the word when we have this photocall lined up.

It would be both funny and rad if everyone of you out there showed upto represent ’The Users of the Facility’ , and got a mass photo in theCourier and the Evening Tele. I think they are only expecting, like,half a dozen little kids or something. I’ll let you all know in time if I can.

-daryl

21/02/06

Was up ’onsite’ today, as Traer mentions in The Comments.

Traer: Yep, unfortunately that was one more little budget tradeoff… Itfunctions as one big drainage ditch as would be expected on a hill likethat… still, if it’s bucketing down that much noone will be skatinganyway eh? That area does allow the water to flow WELL though, Ireckon, and thus dries up as well as can be expected. In drier weatheryou would never think about it. 🙂

Sorry we didn’t introduce ourselves today… been talking to you for so long, but no idea what you look like!

Tim L-B: Stoked to hear from you! Come up you old dog, and get apiece! Bring some approximation of a skateboard and have a trundle inthe Scottish sunshine.

hb: You da man. You gotta show too.

BTW Stu landed most ofthese (obviously), going on to pump over the bank hip thenstandup50grind a good chunk of the 45degree long-wee bank. Dunno whatelse he pulled that day as I was only up for a few minutes to put thesigns on the fence. Damn this 9-5 stuff… the park is calling!

Jack: we’re up for it. Can I suggest a name? How about DundeeConcrete! 😉 just kidding.

Possible photocall sometime this Thursday… but unconfirmed.

Good weather and legality soon

Yes yes y’all.

-d

How rubbishis this?

Too much paint will clog the ’pores’ of the concrete. Makes it slippy and takes longer to dry!

The concrete has a wonderful grippy texture to it right now.

Even in the wetit would be skateable (without the mud) but not if it’s covered in PAINT!

Park officially open V soon!

Weather getting better eh?

-d

MC Hammer sez:

Not officially anyway.

Weathermeant to be rubbish for another week in any case, so we wouldn’t beenjoying it even if the council had opened it already…

Soon, very soon.

-d

BOring…

No news apart from the fact that Parks Management has issues with the place; fences, landscaping etc.

Nowt I can do.

Meeting tomorrow(wed) am, v early.

Will report back what I can.

Signs did not materialize today. Tomorrow perhaps. Even if they DO go up, the place won’t be legal without the fences. Mostly because of that gnarly slope on the south and east.

Nothing to do with the park itself.

It’s finished, (mostly) fine, and ready to make you earn your own carve.

We’re just not allowed on it yet.

-d

________________________________________________________________

From our other Channels:

TV Channel DCC1

“…Why gosh yes, your right, that is indeed highly interesting and mildy amusing. Thanks for that report Fred.

And now a look at the weather…”

“Good evening. Here is DundeeConcrete.Com’s Skatepark-Legal-Opening-Expectation-Time-Weather Report,
for Tuesday 7th of February, 2006.

Expect dullness for at least another week or more. No action allowed due to the large corporate council body rotating slowly over the proceedings.Likelyhood of heavy ’…Who’s Budget?’s around most of the coastal regions, and some persitant patches of Health-and-Safety in the hills.

Drivers are warned to use extreme caution along exposed routes.

The satellite photos shows many areas of sunny-skateboarding out over the ocean trying to slide in from the west, but that council-system combined with a wide band of fiscally-arctic wind, is not going anywhere fast. So those uncomfortable legal conditons are going to stay with us for a little while.

And that’s your outlook…” (big irritating grin)

“Wrap up warm and wait it out eh? (odd smirky face) Thanks Heather.

Our last report tonight is a fascinating look at the latest sport being taken up by bored skateboarders in the East coast area of Scotland around Dundee; Extreme Knitting!

Here’s somebody unsuitable to tell us more…”

____________________________________________________

9th. Fences are going up fast around the outlying dirt areas. The parks manager has the signs and will put them up soon.

Still official stuff happening into next week.

ALMOST THERE!

When it’s official I will post asap!

___________________________________________________________________________

Feb 10th. Fencing still advancing. Signs are up apparently. There are some silly things that need done before the park can be officially used. Hang in there. Possibly weekend after this one… I’m gagging too, but can’t say anything to subvert council control.

Gillian: I can be reached for any questions at: daryl@dundeeconcrete.com

Would be glad to help out with any park-type things.

Traer: Wasn’t there, sorry. Haven’t been there in like… a year or something. Ain’t ever going again if I can possibly help it too! 🙂 See you at the ’crete!

*Everyone: Please mind your rubbish and litter in the skatepark!!!*

I know there are no bins yet, but don’t be messy arses… someone take some bin-bags, or take stuff away with you.

Respect the park, and the other park users (and the Council)will respect us!

BTW THERE ARE TOILETS ABOVE THE TENNIS COURTS.(hint)

thanks.

(not that peeps are officially allowed in the skateparkANYWAY yet…) 🙂

-d

It’s grim up North, they say…

One lump or two, Vicar?

North pedestrian barriers, in place.

And eastern:

Don’t fall down this bit.

Or this bit.

Signs done on Tuesday 7th. I will probably take delivery of them and cable-tie them on myself to get the job done.

I have a Meeting onsite 8:30 am Wednesday 8th with The Parks Manager,Senior Landscape Architect, Head Engineer, another landscape architectwho helped me draw up the plans… and goodness knows who else. YoursTruly will be pushing to get the park opened asap, of course, but Ican’t promise anything. There is some discontent with re-landscapedsoil levels. The fencing issue still needs to be resolved.

This weekend will still be ’out of bounds,’ esp. Saturday, asthere will still be a guy working there. He will be scraping the copingfree of cement, and fixing the northern end to cure the the nastytruck-stopping terminus.

A bit of galvanizing paint on the metalwork, drain covers on, a good clean… and er… shurely thatsh it eh?

It’s not my call…

-daryl

***Official Council Notice: Please don’t bring carsinto the park, even into the ’lower road’ into the park and castle, I.e.; immediatelybelow the skatepark.

This is a permanent rule in all Dundee parks.

Thank you,
Dundee City Council Park Management***

********************************************************

A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM DUNDEECONCRETE.COM:

Do you still have questions about the nature of the universe?

“What about jet-skis? are they allowed the larger park area, even if not in the skatepark itself?”

“What if I carry my car on my shoulder into the park? “

“If I park on double yellow lines along Dudhope Terrace or Lochee Road, will I get a parking ticket?”

These, and all other questions can be answered either by looking at the ’Parks’ section of www.dundeecity.gov.uk

…or perhaps not.

Try some of our informative links on the ’About’ page, they might help.

…or try asking a pal.

THANK YOU,

DUNDEECONCRETE.COM________________________________________________________

*********************************************************************

Try http://www.50-50.com/absorb/articles/1996-2000/spot_wallows_tribute.shtml

to learn more about the real Wallos.

-d

I will post about the legal opening of this park as soon as I know.

OPEN SOON.

The signs won’t arrive until the 7th.

More data tomorrow (Friday 2nd) I hope.

***Official Council Notice: Please don’t bring carsinto the park, even into the ’lower road’ into the park and castle, I.e.; immediatelybelow the skatepark.

Thank you,
Dundee City Council Park Management***

…DundeeConcrete.com says that helicopter landing rights might be arrangeable, however.

MONSTEROUSLY MIXED MARKS. MAKES ME MOROSE. MOSTLY MENTALLY MASHING MYSELF.

The Clachan foreman says he hopes to be doingthe absolute last bits on the site on Saturday. If the weather is toocold it will stop him working on stuff, and will delay things a bitfurther.

The temporary signs will be finished on Tuesday 7th and installed…I don’t know when or by whom. I’d do it myself that afternoon if I could.

I don’t know what else the Parks’ manager will require to open it up for use.

Hang tough.

I appologise again, mainly for the steepest banked bit leading into the wallride.

Itwas my fault for not watching the last official drawings closelyenough, and then the contractors had to make things up off a badengineering plan with bad numbers.
It’s tweaked wrongly and the transitions should have been made much bigger and friendlier. Damn damn damn.

The buck stops with me though, and I am really sorry.

Few other wee bits and bobs that aren’t quite right, but they’re fairly minor.

The wallride itself is fun though!

😉

Cleaned up nicely.

Evidence of those who can’t wait…

The park is NOT OFFICIALLY OR LEGALLY OPEN YET. (sorry)

Still pretty mucky with dirt and dust, so not very nice to skate yet anyway.

I have a meeting on Monday 30th, to organize proper, legal access ASAP!

It’s gonna be at least another week or more until we can get in.

Hang in there. I’m gagging to skate it too, of course…

-daryl

Nigel – your big soft wheels are of course more thanwelcome, but those joins in the concrete look FAR worse in these photosthan they actually are. Thes mud and mositure are exagerating them tocomic effect. In reality they are very smooth and flush. No ’ka-chunk’at all. Bring a hard set as well for light-speed runs.

Callum – It’s NOT a bitch to find. I can assure you. Look at the’Plans’ page for maps. It’s only a 10 min walk from city centre.

26-01-06***Ihave discovered that Dudhope Park does not exist in some map websites,including the overly-used Multimap. On Expedia.co.uk, MapQuest and MSNmaps it is listedas “Anderheim Park.” Never heard of it…

When you search for “Anderheim Park” on Google… nothing atall shows up. Not even the links to those map-websites.

V weird.

Annoying too, if you might be trying to find a map to the park!

————————————————————

Sam- There’s alot of us that will be getting our Barbie Skates on.Plus our ’My little Pony’ elbow pads, and ’Barney-the-dinosaur’helmets.

Whoooo! Rock on dude!

Tell your Dad to start dusting off his board!

-d

PARK OPEN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, I HONESTLY DON’T KNOW WHEN. LEGALS STILL TO DO!

SOON!

30-01-06: I repeat: park open very soon.

Meetingtoday went well. Temporary signs will be made asap (3-4 days) and putup asap too! (even if I have to go do it myself) Temporaryfencing; to keep peeps off the mud will be sorted out soon too.Clachan expect to hand over site to Council asap.

***I wouldlike to openly appologise for not being here to keep a better eye onsome portions of construction: the steepest bits of theflat-bank-wallride are not as transitioned as the design, and thereforevery harsh / almost unskateable. There is nothing I can do now tochange that. They would all (council included) tell me to “go away.” (in less polite terms)

Clachanwere/are as accomodating and nice as they could be, but redoing even apart of that wallride-to-flat-part-blend would make them explode,probably.

MOSTLY fine, though. Generally a good job.

The wallride corner itself is, as expected, very tight. But fine. Just fine.

Sigh… nothing quite like the idea of fundraising to pay forripping-up and redoing large bits of NEW concrete, to depress me in quite thesame way…

Sorry y’all… I’m really really sorry…

More soon

-d

Tuesday 31-01-06: Clachan are rumoured to want to hand over the site to the council on Friday.

Thisin no way guarantees immediate access. Council signs and temporaryfencing are still an issue for legality. If it’s not open forthis weekend(4th,) it’ll be sometime during next week, or at latestthat next weekend (11th)…I think I can confidently say that.

Don’t hold your breath anymore. Start breathing, and do your stretches and knee-bends.

You’ll need all the spring in your muscles that you can muster to handle that far-gnarlier-than-intended flatbank-of-doom.

(er…sorry)

SEE YOU THERE VERY SOON.

-d

Wednesday 1-2-06: The signs (for legality) won’t be ready untilTuesday the 7th… so that OFFICIALLY rules out this weekend for thepark being open for usage. I think Clachan may still be be doing theodd thing or two on Saturday. No other news.

Nuff sed.

-d

Rick contemplates wallride ting.

Rick in for scale of tings.

Rick in 6ft bowl ting.

Another shot of yer man, for scale ting. Note new patch inbetween ting. (see yesterdays photos)

lots of ting

Scraping ting.

Brush, spray and scrape tings

Shiny ting

Overall Report: Still a week or more until Clachan reckon they will be done. Lots of buffing: and evening ofsurfaces to be done.

Most of the buffing on the flat surfaces is not to make itice-skateable, but to get the caked-on layer of muck off of thestructural concrete. Most of this stuff scrapes off with merely a bitof elbow-grease. The machine will just do larger patches of flat.Though not as well as doing it by hand, admittedly. Once all the crudis taken off the park, it will also dry a lot quicker when rained on.The proper surface is quite smoothand won’t hold the moisture like the gunk caked onto it. Not shinysmooth though… just nicely smooth.

The other buffing is continuing to take out proper-lumps, dangerous wheel-stopping bits, ridges at joins, etc.

The wallride is still v sketchy in finish. Lots of lumps and wibblysections. Not great at all. It may have to be addressed far moreseriously next week. Perhaps with more cut-n-patches. There are severallumps that would not be at all fun to hit when carving. Unless youreally dig pain.

First 5 patches seem ok. Edges still to be machine smoothed next week.

Landscaping work: noise-barrrier hills still to be made .

Pedestrian barriers and signage must be in place before legal admittance of any of us to skate.

Don’t bother going in yet, please. No matter how tempting.

All the dust and grit make it sketchy anyway, and there are no covers on drains.

There are also many legal issues etc. etc.

Iwill of course be pushing for entry as soon as possible, but that isstill easily a week or two away at minimum… Hang tough y’all.Sooner than you think! More OFFICIAL NEWS next week. Meetings ahoy.

Keep cool, we are almost there.

SATURDAY 21st: Wallride buffed a lot more,looking much better. Still some dangerous lumps to be removed.Generally the Park is very smooth and lovely, under all the grunge anddirt.

Not long to go.

I will report back a more definite timeline sometime in the next few days. I promise.

Come and celebrate the birth of this 1000 square meter baby! (If you are old enough)

*** Fundee Soundsytem Test Explosion

– this Sunday 22nd: MacDaniels, Whitehall Crescent, Dundee ***

Tuesday 24th: Update tomorrow methinks.

I have meeting on Monday the 30th, to discussfinishing-up-for-access issues with park manager (landscaping etc,)health-n-safety guy (access issues before we have a real fence,)legal-chap (wording of signs for mandatory council warnings.) Itwas the earliest we couold arrange it.

Clachan will still be in for another week minimum anyway. Theyare marking out the placement of the pedestrian barriers Wednesday(tomorrow,) and possibly putting them in too. The park is just gettingcleaned up and de-crusted mainly…. the blocks were still needingwork, last I saw. PLus several other minor, wheel-catching bits to snag.

They will also be doing the last earth moving to make the noise-barriers and tidy the place up. The intial landscapingwill put a small mound on the castle (East) side, and a larger mound onthe bowl side (west,) and a wee one on the North (up above that lowbank seen in the last couple of photos.) The trees and shrubs to the North are also all getting kept, instead of the much earlier plan to make it all grass banks.

The Council’s Parks Dept can’t seed the soil with grass until atleast mid March, so it’ll be a bit muddy for a while. The issues ofpeople standing at the edge of the park will have to be temporarilyresolved (plywood? geotextile fabric?) so we don’t make the place apig-sty with mud and stones etc.

The permanent fencingis still several months away. The fencing matters, (apart fromdogs, small kids, the blind, drunks, random punters and the whole legalthing) because for the moment we will have a nasty’chestnut-pale’ (the medieval-looking sharp sticks-n-wire stuff) job atthe bottom of the “rather nasty” southern slope. The slope is like…several meters high and VERY steep.Could be a very muddy / bloody exit from the park if taken at speed in extremis. There was no money for banks to hold one into a speed line.

When a real fence goes in, it will MOSTLY away from theedges of the concrete, but essentially touching at the two southernpoints, mostly due to space issues at that edge. However, if anything,it’ll be good for holding people back from flying into space like theCoyote in the Road Runner cartoons. Still dunno what to do temporarily though…

more soon.

d