Skateboarders beware!

[sperkins]

I am searching for a product that we can apply to our historic planters that will prevent them from being used as skateboard ramps and grind rails. We've seen more and more damage (occurring oftentimes after business hours) to the painted stucco finish.

Anyone out there have a favorite deterrent?

[KevinW]

http://www.grindtoahalt.com least ugly (IMO) of the ones that are not integrally attached.

[DRN]

Though not the least expensive option, municipal skateboard parks easily accessible to the local skateboarders are the best solution...better still if professionally designed with local user input in the form a charrette.

Otherwise, myLiebermeisterAGG's SS ball product is the best commercially available intervention I've seen. It's a subtle solution that still allows seating by guests on the low walls.

[SDR]

Another strategy might be bollards or posts installed in the paving close enough to the wall/seat to prevent the activity. These would not have to be any taller than the wall/seat they are protecting. Judgement would be required to determine the minimum number of such posts that would do the job. This might be the alternative when for some reason small pieces of metal cannot or should not be attached to the wall/seat material.

SDR

[DRN]

SDR raises a good point...application of the Grind To A Halt product requires drilling the concrete and setting the ball's stem into the concrete with grout. There may be a risk of water infiltration into the wall if the grout and sealant joint where the stem and ball meet the surface of the concrete fails, allowing the possibility for freeze/thaw damage to the wall as time goes on. This could be exacerbated if a rebar in the wall is encountered when drilling.

[egads]

For Price Tower, the Grind to a Halt pieces should be triangles, not balls.

[sperkins]

I am also worried about the "attachment" to the concrete. I came across these as well:

http://www.barrettrobinson.com/featured_product.htm

(Obviously not the floral ones)

Thanks for the help....keep the ideas coming!

[KevinW]

Here's another approach...leave the wall alone, and sawcut planter areas in the concrete walkway, spaced so as to discourage the activity.

[hypnoraygun]

Scott, I thought you could just hide out in the bushes with a BB gun and use some creative "enforcement" to stop the kids?

[DRN]

Another possibility:

Set the barrier in the planter's bed and have it cantilever or arch outward over the top of the planter wall. This method would set the barrier in concrete independent of the historic wall. The barrier could take the form of steel tubing that could be at intervals or a continuous rail. The tubing could function simply as a barrier or provide a means for signage mounting or bike racking/locking. The possible downside is that it may be a bit more conspicuous than the SS balls noted earlier, but with sensitive design it may be a workable and reversible solution.

[Reidy]

Play classical music around the clock. They say it works wonders at keeping teenagers away.

[peterm]

Bravo! Encore...

[Paul Ringstrom]

Play classical music around the clock. They say it works wonders at keeping teenagers away.

Beethoven 24/7 would be the most appropriate.

Debussy if you want to invoke Goff.

[SDR]

C'mon. Go all the way. J S Bach, 24/7 . . .


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HUENj1-rTw

Even with recording flaws and in indifferent video, this seems to be the best performance of this piece currently on YouTube.
Listen twice and you're hooked.

[ozwrightfan]

Barry Manilow works as well.

Vertical saw cuts and the insertion of stainless steel strips which would protrude above the vertical and horizintal surfaces 8-10mm and can be shaped to match the edge shape of the wall or planter box, thus not affecting the existing look very much.