Mini Concrete Contest Rules and Guidelines (Updated Sept 26, 2025, includes all comments)

Purpose

The Mini Concrete Skatepark Contest is designed to engage Concrete Industry Management (CIM) students in a dynamic, team-based competition that challenges them to apply their knowledge of concrete mix design and construction in a creative and community-focused project. By building miniature concrete skateparks, students gain hands-on experience that bridges the gap between classroom learning and real-world applications, emphasizing the versatility, sustainability, and innovation possible within the concrete industry.

This competition also serves to honor the life and legacy of Dominic Lencioni, a passionate CIM student and skateboarder whose love for learning, the outdoors, and hands-on experiences continues to inspire others through the Dominic Lencioni Skatepark Internship developed and managed by Skate4Concrete. Through the lens of Dominic’s journey, the contest highlights the importance of alternative education pathways, career exploration, and the value of creativity in construction.

In addition to fostering technical skills and teamwork, the contest promotes awareness of CIM programs and the broader mission of Skate4Concrete — a national initiative focused on education, workforce development, and outreach to high school students. Featured programs such as the Dominic Lencioni Skatepark Internship (available only to CIM students) and Skate4Concrete’s high school certification will be showcased, providing valuable recruitment opportunities for both the CIM programs and industry.

Held at the World of Concrete, the contest offers participants a platform to present their skills to potential employers, celebrate the spirit of skate culture, and contribute to a movement that unites learning, legacy, and labor into one unforgettable experience.

Awards

The mini concrete skatepark contest will be awarding the following:

The Sk8-Crete McTwist Cup (Grand Prize)

• Winning Team will take a signed Mike McGill skate deck where the CIM program adds their name to the deck and it can be displayed at the school during that school year.  This Sk8-Crete McTwist Cup will then be passed to the winning CIM program the following year.  A Mike McGill skate deck is shown as an example, color of the deck could be different.
• Cash Award for each team member, prize amount $500/team member.

NewLine Skateparks Best Bowl

• NewLine Skateparks will award team members their branded shirts, hats, decks and/or one or more of their branded materials.

Grindline Skatepark Most Creative Yet Functional Transition Feature

• Grindline Skateparks will award team member their branded shirts, hats, decks and/or one or more of their branded materials.

Crowd-Crete Kickflip Award (to conclude and awarded at the CIM Auction)

• This award will be based on a popular vote from the World of Concrete event and likely Social Media.  Details to be determined.

The Skate4Concrete Mini Concrete Skatepark Competition will be judged based on a set of specific criteria that reflects both the creativity and the technical knowledge required to design and construct a functional skatepark. Teams will need to demonstrate an understanding of concrete science, construction principles, and the impact of their designs have on the community where they are built. Below are the key areas that judges will focus on when evaluating each team’s project:

Required Design Elements

Each mini concrete skatepark project must implement the following design elements.  The overall park can be in any configuration that the teams would like to design, but they must at least include the following:

Skate bowl – no standard depth or size, but each park needs to include a bowl.  This is a NewLine Skateparks-inspired design feature.

Most Creative, Yet Functional Transition Feature – This is a Grindline-inspired design feature.  A transition feature is defined as follows:

One type of transition is a rounded, curved surface of a ramp that provides a seamless change from a flat surface to an incline. This type of transition feature is designed to mimic the sloped walls of an empty swimming pools.  Another type of transition mimics a flat street to something like stairs, ledges, or rails.  A transition is a combination of features that enable skaters to generate and maintain speed where the concrete has a smooth and level connection between two different types of shapes.

Key characteristics of a transition:

Curvature: The defining characteristic is the curve that transitions from flat ground to a vertical or near-vertical wall.

This challenge can incorporate concrete joints and the ability to finish the concrete between to types of features in the park.

Common transition obstacles include: quarterpipe, halfpipe, mini ramp, vert ramp, bowl, spine, or hip.

Transition features vary in size and steepness, creating different challenges for concrete finishing, jointing, and reinforcement.

• Colored Concrete – Skate bowls, ramps and other features at a skatepark include a colored concrete added to the design and architecture of the park.  This is a design element inspired by Dominic Lencioni because it was the exciting and interesting component of concrete construction during his internship building the Torrington, CT skatepark with NewLine that was interesting to him.  Additionally, Dominic brought color to everything he was involved in and this design feature is consistent with his spirit and continued inspiration.
• Concrete Mix Design – concrete mix designs must include the following concrete mix elements which shall be described clearly in the team’s presentation: The concrete mix design will need to demonstrate a sustainable mix.  This aspect of the mix designs must be measured in the best way possible in order to judge based on its sustainability.  This can be measured through the explanation included in the presentation where teams present an argument why they believe the mix is sustainable and in support of industry efforts to be more sustainable.

Judging Criteria

Size and Scale of the Skatepark

• Criteria: The overall size and complexity of your skatepark design will be assessed. Teams are encouraged to create a layout that fits within the project’s size constraints while maximizing the use of space for various skateboarding features. Each design must be no greater than 12” x 32” or 24” x 16” ([CH1] The size and weight should consider the ability to transport/ship the project to the World of Concrete event)
• Key Considerations: Balance between ramps, rails, bowls, and flat areas. The design should be functional and provide a diverse experience for different levels of skaters.

Materials Used

• Criteria: Teams must use concrete and present specifics on the concrete mix design.[CH2] This element forcuses on admixtures and or reinforcement like wire mesh or finishing methods to ensure a smooth finish with minimal cracking.
• Key Considerations: The type of concrete mixes, materials used to create skatepark features, and use of tools to assist with finishing the concrete.
• Reinforcement – whether fibers, wire mesh or other elements, teams must consider the use and impact of reinforcing elements.

Team Structure and Roles

• Size: Teams must consist of up to 3 people but no less than 2.
• Criteria: Judges will look at how well your team is organized and how each member contributes to the project. A well-structured team is crucial for collaboration and effective problem-solving.
• Key Considerations: Teams must consist of no more than 3 students from the same CIM Program.  Each team must create their own concrete company or team name and logo.  Then each team member should have a clear division of roles (e.g., project manager, lead designer, materials researcher) and effective communication within the team. Documentation of individual responsibilities and contributions will be important.

Presentation

• Each team must prepare a PowerPoint presentation where the team provides an overview of their projects and covers each of the required design and judging elements.
• Each team member should have a key role and participate in the presentation.
• The presentation should not be more than 10 minutes.

Skatepark Design, Planning and Constructability

• Criteria: This includes the creativity and practicality of your skatepark design. Teams must demonstrate careful thought in planning features.
• The designs should consider the constructability and spacing of features for skateability.
• Key Considerations: Include the sketches and materials used to plan the skatepark design which shows how the team selected innovative features, flow of the park, safety considerations, and how the design suits the needs of the local community. Examples include the inclusion of ramps, transitions, and obstacles.
• Desing Features: As mentioned earlier, each park should include a bowl, TBD and incorporate colored concrete in the design of the bowl and or other features.
  • Judging Importance: NewLine Best Bowl, Grindline Best TBD, and Dominic Lencioni Colored Concrete.

Consideration of Community Benefits

• Criteria: Your design should reflect an understanding of the broader impact on the community. The skatepark’s role in promoting physical activity, youth engagement, and other qualities the team found important.
• Key Considerations: Does your design encourage accessibility for all age groups and skill levels? How does the park serve as a positive, safe, and engaging space for the community? Are there any additional features or considerations that contribute to or support the community’s character?

Concrete Mix Design

• Criteria: Teams will need to demonstrate an understanding of the concrete mix and how it’s tailored to specific parts of the skatepark. Concrete quality is essential for durability, strength, and performance.  This brings in the ability to measure the park that has the most sustainable concrete mix design.
• Key Considerations: The types of concrete selected, the mix ratios, curing methods, and how the mix was designed for different skatepark features (e.g., bowls, ramps, flat areas) and how concrete mixes were used to meet the measurable elements based on sustainability.

Careers Involved in Building and Designing the Park

• Criteria: Teams must show awareness of the different careers involved in the creation of a skatepark and demonstrate an understanding of how each role contributes to the final product.
• Key Considerations: Reflection on the construction process and the involvement of various professionals, such as quality control, laborers, concrete batchman, concrete finishers, project managers, and skatepark designers. Teams should also highlight any career pathways or opportunities for students interested in the construction and skateboarding industries.

Presentation Skills

• Criteria: Teams must clearly present their design and explain the thought process behind their choices, construction methods, and material selection.
• Key Considerations: The team’s presentation must not exceed 15 minutes.  The presentation should be clear and show confident communication, logical flow of ideas, and the ability to engage the audience. Teams will be judged on how effectively they convey their vision and the technical aspects of their design to the panel of judges.

Team Participation and Collaboration

• Criteria: Collaboration is key to success in this competition. Judges will evaluate how well the team works together, shares ideas, and supports each other throughout the process.
• Key Considerations: Active participation from all team members, evidence of teamwork in the design and planning stages, and how the team managed challenges together. Judges will also consider how well teams have incorporated feedback from monthly check-ins into their final project.

Judging Scoring

Size and Scale of Park (max 20 points)

• Park size is not greater than 12”x 32” or 16” x 24”[CH3] (up to 10 points)
• Skatepark features are placed systematically to allow adequate flow and transitions. (up to 10 points)

Materials Used (max 10 points)

• Concrete must be used. (up to 5 points)
• Reinforcements, admixtures such as fibers. (up to 5 points)

Design and Creativity (max 35 points)

• Aesthetic appeal and functionality (up to 5 points)
• Bowl Design (up to 10 points)
• Most Creative and functional transition feature. (up to 10 points)
• Colored Concrete (up to 10 points)

Connection to the Community (max 20 points)

• What community is the park created for? (up to 10 points)
• How does the park enhance the community? (up to 10 points)

Concrete and Construction Details (max 50 points)

• Accuracy and thoroughness of the concrete mix design. Demonstrate the measurable sustainability of the mix designs used (this can be achieved by combining the mix design with the team's argument for the sustainability of their mix). (up to 30 points)
• Quality of finishing methods and their impact (up to 20 points)

Team Structure & Concrete Careers (max 35 points)

• Clearly defined and creative team name or company name. (up to 5 points)
• Each team member has a clear job role and describes how they participated (up to 15 points)
• The team showed how they collaboratively worked together as a team allowing each team member fulfill their job’s role to contribute to the project (up to 15 points)

Presentation Quality (max 20 points)

• Clarity and effectiveness of the presentation (up to 10 points)
• Engagement and team coordination (up to 10 points)

Total Score out of 190 points.

Suggested Job Roles for Teams

Project Manager

Overview: The Project Manager is responsible for overseeing the entire project, ensuring that the team meets deadlines and stays on track.

Key Responsibilities:

• Coordinate team meetings and keep track of project timelines.
• Ensure all team members understand their roles and responsibilities.
• Serve as the main point of contact between the team and the teacher/supervisor.
• Monitor progress and provide guidance on project development.
• Prepare and lead the final presentation, ensuring all elements are cohesive.

Designer –

Overview: The Designer is responsible for creating the visual aspects of the skatepark, including layout, features, and overall aesthetics.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop the initial design concepts and sketches for the skatepark.
• Incorporate at least three distinct features into the design.
• Create a digital design portfolio that includes sketches and descriptions
• Conduct research on current skatepark designs and trends to inform creative designs.
• Collaborate with teammates to ensure design feasibility.

Concrete Batchman – 

Overview: The Concrete Batch Man is responsible for developing the concrete mix design that will be used for the skatepark features.

Key Responsibilities:

• Research and determine the appropriate concrete mix for different park features.
• Conduct tests on the concrete mix to ensure quality and durability.
• Document the mix design process, including proportions and materials used.
• Work closely with the Quality Control and Concrete Finisher to ensure consistency.

Quality Control –

Overview: The Quality Control team member is responsible for ensuring that all aspects of the skatepark meet specified standards and guidelines.

Key Responsibilities:

• Review the concrete mix and finished park features for quality assurance.
• Conduct tests on the finished concrete to check for strength and durability.
• Ensure that safety measures and accessibility features are incorporated into the design.
• Provide feedback and recommendations for improvements as needed

Concrete Finisher –

Overview: The Concrete Finisher is responsible for the final touches on the skatepark, ensuring that the surface is smooth and visually appealing.

Key Responsibilities:

• Execute the finishing methods as per the design specifications.
• Use various tools and techniques to achieve the desired surface quality.
• Collaborate with the Concrete Batch Man to ensure the mix is suitable for finishing.
• Document the finishing processes used and any challenges encountered.