Skaters for Public Skateparks: Response to Just Up The Pike

In response to Dan Reed's phenomenal post the case for a downtown skatepark (this time, with numbers), Publishing Director of Skaters for Public Skateparks Peter Whitley, commented on that blog post, making the point that "skate spots" are not meant to replace skateparks, but to augment them:

I was thrilled to see Skaters for Public Skateparks' material used so effectively. As the co-author, along with Kent Dahlgren and Miki Vuckovich (both of whom are with Tony Hawk Foundation, though Kent was SPS' founding Director) we couldn't be more delighted to see this information being used exactly how we intended.

When we began talking to communities about "skate spots" a few years ago we were concerned that some would see them as the "perfect solution" to their skatepark needs. While the idea of augmenting the neighborhood skateparks with satellite facilities is fundamentally sound, many budget-minded bureaucrats see the skate spot as a "miniature skatepark." They're not. They are meant to extend a skatepark's level of service into isolated or underserved pockets...NOT as a bedrock facility for a whole community.

What may happen is that the skate spot fails due to over-use; a victim of its own success. In their enthusiasm to use the spot, the skaters may spill out to the nearby parking lots or simply move back to those inappropriate spots that are popular now.

That can lead to two public reactions:

1. "Look at all those skaters trashing up the place. They don't deserve a better skatepark."

2. "The skaters are STILL skating on my ledges! That new skatepark apparently doesn't help at all!"

The losers here are the very people the skate spot was meant to benefit. The solution is for the local advocates to continue to push for a long-term plan that acknowledges the community need and sets into motion plans for meeting it. Thankfully you guys have some AWESOME advocates on that task.

Best Blog Post Ever

In an age of rampant obesity among teens, inactivity, too much time spent in front of TV and computer screens, rising teen depression, along with the lure of drugs and gangs, and the many other reasons why communities should actually be promoting skateboarding and encouraging kids to skate, rather than aggressively prohibiting the sport and marginalizing the kids who pursue it, it's just awesome to see someone who has a voice in this community speaking up for so many kids who do not:

"Give these kids a prominent place in the community and they'll show it respect. Push them aside and they'll act out..."

Dan Reed of Just Up The Pike offers one of the most powerful and compelling arguments ever written in support of skateboarders. Tony Hawk would love this.

» the case for a downtown skatepark (this time, with numbers)

A Huge Thank You to Dan Reed at Just Up The Pike

After a year of desperately trying (and mostly failing) to get community leaders to pay attention to the issues our skateboarding youth face in Silver Spring, I am deeply and profoundly grateful and thankful for the following 'tweets' posted by Dan Reed of Just Up The Pike on his Twitter account:

"if you haven't followed @ssskaters or skateboard mom's blog, you should #dtss #silverspring http://silverspringskateboarding.blogspot.com"

and this:

"after seeing this I'm convinced #dtss & #silverspring could use a full-on skatepark, not just a skate spot: http://is.gd/4ZKrG @ssskaters"

Just Up The Pike is the most popular blog that covers Silver Spring (its focus is on East County), and while I've had trouble getting many current leaders to pay attention to these issues, Dan Reed is one of our future leaders, and he is paying attention.