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to Episode 09
Page 1: 10 Ways
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10 Ways:
To Get a Skate Park Built in Your Town
Street Cents gets letter after letter from people complaining about there not being enough places to skate in their town. We’ve got 10 tips to show you how to change things for the better and get that skate park you’ve always wanted.
1. Form an association
Get everyone who wants to be a part of it together. It may be a good idea to get some help from adults too. Like it or not, City Hall officials tend to listen to adults more than young people. So show some interested adults where you guys skate now and make them understand why you need a park.
2. Keep a high profile
Use media to make sure everyone in your community knows what you’re up to. The higher your profile, the easier it will be to raise money and convince the community to get behind the skate park.
3. Know your community
How do civic politics work? Who controls the purse strings? You need to be informed and have concrete information to convince your community that it needs a skate park.
4. Lobby, lobby, lobby
You have to constantly push the government, and local politicians. Don’t let the issue of a skate park disappear. The city may make promises, but unless you’re persistent nothing will get done.
5. Get local business involved
Companies want to give something back to the community and be part of the local scene. It makes them look good. Hit up the local skateboard companies you buy gear from, the restaurants you eat at and big businesses that are visible in your town.
When you approach businesses, it helps to bring a polished package with plans and visuals. It helps them know what they’re supporting.
6. Raise cash
Organize concerts, have skatathons and sell t-shirts. Be creative in your fundraising. Take that money and put it towards the park.
7. Control the design
People who know how to skate should be involved in the design process. It only makes sense. Otherwise, things can go horribly wrong.
For example, a $90 000 skate park was built 15 minutes outside of
Halifax, but no one uses it. It’s got problems.
Local skaters say there’s a better
spot
about 50 feet away from this park.
8. Do it yourself
While you’re waiting for the serious cash from business and government, start building the park yourself. In Halifax, some local skaters built ramps themselves with hand-mixed cement they bought with their own money.
9. Make a concrete decision.
Plastic and metal don’t last very long and aren’t as safe as concrete. Concrete parks are also quieter, faster and more fun. Concrete’s durable and permanent. It’ll still be around in ten years without having to take care of it all the time.
10. Be persistent, stay positive
Nothing will kill movement towards getting a skate park quicker than getting jaded and angry. It may take a while but if you organize and stick with it, you can make it happen.
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