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That there are large and growing number of skateboarders may not be a surprise to anyone, but allow
us to begin by quantifying the popularity of this extremely engaging athletic endeavor.
What if these young people could take part in a public process instead of being labeled "a public nuisance?"
There are 12.4 million skateboarders in the US, according to market research firm BoardTrac, meaning
that a full 4.3% of American citizens are skateboarders.
Considering the fact that the above
percentage was derived from the total US population as of 2000, this means a large percentage of these
participants are youths within each community.
Even though the US was used as an example, this of course applies equally to any country with mature
infrastructure including sidewalks, roads, plazas, and so on. Canada, Europe, Asia and beyond:
with an extremely low up-front requirement for investment and vibrant scenes in nearly every city on earth,
skateboarding is truly an international activity.
In recent years great strides have been made among ad hoc groups of advocates in raising awareness regarding
the need for publicly-sanctioned skateboard facilities, and communities have responded. USA Today reported
that anywhere from 2-3 skateparks are built each week in the US alone.
What you, the skateboarding advocate, have in common with all of these stories is an idea, or what we
call a vision. We're here to help you turn this vision into something you can skate, confident
you are doing so with the full support of your community.
Be it street elements you seek, a plaza, a traditional bowl, or any one of the endless other variations
of identified skateboarding terrain, this process applies equally. It describes how you can take your
ideas, create an "army" of fellow advocates, and eventually have your skatepark.
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