They have been disdained as anti-establishment irritants and even banned in many cities and parks. Now some communities are looking to skateboarders for a solution to urban blight. The inventiveness and persistence from one group of Oakland skaters to transform a freeway underpass into a skate park has inspired neighborhood activists across San Francisco Bay. What can embracing skateboarders do for your town?
Correspondent Craig Miller reports.
- Bordertown Skatepark
- Skatepark Development Guide from the Tony Hawk Foundation
- Skatepark.org, resources for building skateparks
- Skate Plaza Foundation, professional skateboarder Rob Dyrdek and his shoe sponsor develop replicas of city plazas as skateparks.
- Skateboarding Magazine, videos and photos
- San Pedro Skatepark Association
- Washington Street Skatepark Association
Listen to the commentary
May 22nd, 2006 at 6:27 pm
Great piece.
It’s quite rare that the mainstream media actually portrays skaters and skateboarding in a postive light. Most of us are just trying to have fun, be creative and make the community a better place.
Thanks for taking the time and doing it right.
.: Chris
May 23rd, 2006 at 5:28 pm
Great article. I’ve been skateboarding for 33 years. Mother of two. Santa Cruz is finally getting a park after decades of conflict. Thanks for putting together a stellar article about the subject. Great job. We are the toughest critics for sure.
May 30th, 2006 at 7:49 pm
It is good to hear that there has been positive feedback, especially from the media. Cheers to all those responsible for making Bordertown happen, and those that help put positive word behind it. There is an area in phildelphia that a makeshift street skatespot annually appears, and like clockwork, taken down ever fall. Hopefully one day can have a success story to tell.
May 31st, 2006 at 4:57 pm
This article is wonderful in the sense that you have taken the time to understand some depth of skateboarding. With that understanding you were easily able to pass on that knowledge and create an enlightening piece of news. The unique lingo, intelligence, creativity, and self-empowerment of skateboarders is precisely covered. Thank you for being part of a solution.