|
We reject subtle word-play attempting to distinguish one style of skatepark over another. Bottom
line: public skateparks should possess an equitable mix of elements as diverse as skateboarding itself,
including "street," transition, and more.
We advocate for freely-accessible public skateboard parks. These recreational facilities must
equitably provide for the needs of a diverse community of skateboarders.
Of late, there's been grand discussions on each end of a contrived and artificial spectrum, much of it centered
around a false rivalry between "flowing" or transitional skatepark elements and urban or "street" elements.
All of which unnecessarily blurs reality and only serves to slow those seeking to do what they've
always done: plan for a facility that safely meets the diverse needs of the community.
SPS position? A simple "yes." Yes, there should be street, and yes there should be transitioned
elements. The mix should be, again, equitable.
A far larger issue, in our opinion, is the fact that despite 20+ years
of aggressive criminalization, skateboarding only continues to grow.
10.5 million skateboarders (source: SGMA 2005) represents a huge
percentage of our youth, and the era of chasing them through the
shadows for the crime of recreation must come to an end.
100+ years ago "stickball" was played in the many urban intersections of an industrializing America.
In time, this recreational activity was embraced as positive. The growth of skateboarding correlates
with a decades-long societal evolution away from team activities and towards individual ones (jogging,
bicycling, hiking, etc). Criminalization has failed; the activity must be acknowledged as athletically
beneficial and boldly embraced as legitimate. Public skateparks are the answer.
A core team of SPS Directors and Core Contributors is actively defining a Skatepark Adoption Model,
which will propose strategic visions for each community, relative to such factors as population
size and industrial infrastructural evolution. Further, these "Models" will recommend equitable
mixes of skatepark obstacles reflecting the broad spectrum of skateboarding. The Skatepark
Adoption Model will be freely available to all who seek it.
|
