Skaters for Portland Skateparks

It would be great for Powell Park neighborhood skaters to attend this meeting and provide positive input and serve as ambassadors to the community. We may have new neighbors to the site since the last series of skatepark meetings several years ago so it would be useful to make a good impression, but the event is not to show support for the project since it will happen no matter what, it’s mainly a forum for those who are not familiar with the project to voice their concerns.

Portland Parks and Recreation is hosting an open house for a skatespot in Powell Park on Thursday, April 5 from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Cleveland High School Library (3400 SE 26th Ave). The open house will provide information on the project, proposed timeline, fundraising goals, and give the community a chance to make their interest, support, ideas, and concerns heard.

Background information:
In 2005, the Portland City Council directed Portland Parks & Recreation to create a comprehensive citywide skatepark system. In 2008, the Skatepark System Plan, a culmination of more than 18 months of work, 35 public meetings, and an analysis of more than 350 publically and privately-owned potential sites, was created.

Recommended sites included:
▪ 13 Skatespots
▪ 5 District Skateparks
▪ 1 Regional Skatepark

Powell Park was identified as a location for a skatespot. We are inviting the public to hear more about the project timeline and a unique public/private partnership that will allow us to take steps toward implementing our Skatepark System Plan.

For more information call 503-823-5113.

Hey one-percenters! If you need to donate some money before the end of the year, consider giving it to one of these fine organizations supporting skateboarders by promoting skateparks and skateboarding. Follow the links below and click on their donate button. You can give the government everything you owe, or you can direct a portion of what you owe to your favorite skate advocacy organization and reap the tax benefits. You might also check if your employer has a gift matching program.

Skaters for Portland Skateparks advocates for free public skateparks in Portland, Oregon. The folks who brought you Pier Park skatepark and Portland’s 19 skatepark plan.

Tony Hawk Foundation supports recreational programs with a focus on the creation of public skateboard parks in low-income communities through special events, grants, and technical assistance.

Burnside Skatepark is registered as a 501C3 nonprofit organization. Help out the grandaddy of DIY skateparks click the donate button.

Benton County Skateboarding Alliance partnering with all levels of the community and governmental agencies to provide safe, clean and respectful environments for skateboarding in Benton County (Corvallis), Oregon.

Grind for Life provides financial assistance to cancer patients and their families when traveling long distances to doctors and hospitals. In addition, they educate and inspire these patients and families concerning cancer survival and recovery.

Skatistan is a co-educational skateboarding school in Afghanistan engaging urban and internally-displaced youth in Afghanistan through skateboarding, and provides them with new opportunities in cross-cultural interaction, education, and personal empowerment programs.

Skaters for Public Skateparks provides a forum for sharing techniques, materials, data, and principles to advocates for public skateparks.

Marginal Way Skatepark is a skater-built skatepark project in Seattle Washington.

Above Coping is dedicated to providing support and new experiences for youth skateboarders with chronic health conditions; inspiring them to thrive, not just survive.

Board Rescue Provides skateboards and safety equipment to organizations working with underprivileged and/or at-risk youth.

The mission of The Ian Tilmann Foundation is prevention of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) with a focus on Skateboarding. Provides helmets to skaters.

I got a note wondering what was going on with Skaters for Portland Skateparks since the site has not been updated in a while. We have been on something of a hiatus since public funding has dried up.

SPS has received some private donations, which we have banked and will use as an appropriate project appears. thank you donors.

Skaters around town have been working to get things rolling at the Fernhill, Kenton, Powell and Woodstock sites. We are planning to set up donation buttons that will be linked to each of these efforts as soon as we can work out how that will work: do they have a definite plan/schedule, etc. There is some talk about these projects going forwards as officially sanctioned but skater led private efforts, more news on that as it comes in.

We have also had queries about raising money to cover one of our skateparks, more news on that as we get it.

Proceeds to benefit Skaters for Portland Skateparks

TEAM SHRALP presents a skate park benefit show at the East End Bar in Portland, Oregon on Friday Feb 25th at 9pm. Featuring Portland’s raddest bands and skate/BMX supporters. Surf, garage, and punk rock all collide into a killer set. This is also the after party for Portland’s Bicycle Film Festival, which is taken place at the Clinton Street Theater. BMX movies such as; The Birth of Big Air, BMX At Burnside, TEAM SHRALP’s Pink Motel Pool Party, and many more will be shown at the Clinton Street during the festival.

So come on down to the Clinton Street Theater in Portland for the Bicycle Film Festival on Friday Feb 25th. And then finish the night off at The East End for TEAM SHRALP’s Sk8 Park Benefit Show and help raise some cash for Portland’s future skate parks. Cavebabes are always welcome! 21 & over. $6 suggested donation to watch the bands while the bar is open to the general public.

If you need to donate some money before the end of the year, consider giving it to one of these fine organizations supporting skateboarders by promoting skateparks and skateboarding. Follow the links below and click on their donate button. You can give the government everything you owe, or you can direct a portion of what you owe to your favorite skate advocacy organization and reap the tax benefits. You might also check if your employer has a gift matching program.

Skaters for Portland Skateparks advocates for free public skateparks in Portland, Oregon. The folks who brought you Pier Park skatepark and Portland’s 19 skatepark plan.

Tony Hawk Foundation supports recreational programs with a focus on the creation of public skateboard parks in low-income communities through special events, grants, and technical assistance.

Benton County Skateboarding Alliance partnering with all levels of the community and governmental agencies to provide safe, clean and respectful environments for skateboarding in Benton County (Corvallis), Oregon.

Grind for Life provides financial assistance to cancer patients and their families when traveling long distances to doctors and hospitals. In addition, they educate and inspire these patients and families concerning cancer survival and recovery.

Skatistan is a co-educational skateboarding school in Afghanistan engaging urban and internally-displaced youth in Afghanistan through skateboarding, and provides them with new opportunities in cross-cultural interaction, education, and personal empowerment programs.

Skaters for Public Skateparks provides a forum for sharing techniques, materials, data, and principles to advocates for public skateparks.

Marginal Way Skatepark is a skater-built skatepark project in Seattle Washington.

Above Coping is dedicated to providing support and new experiences for youth skateboarders with chronic health conditions; inspiring them to thrive, not just survive.

Board Rescue Provides skateboards and safety equipment to organizations working with underprivileged and/or at-risk youth.

Brooklyn Street Skate Spot, a DIY project built by volunteers and donations with the approval of the city and neighbors. In the tradition of the Burnside skatepark, skaters cleaned up a sketchy piece of waste land and built something cool to skate. Colin Sharp and Jesse McDowell worked with neighbors, police, the railroad and various officials seeking permission for the project. Good work guys. Read the article.

Check out Brooklyn Street Skate Spot on Facebook.

It will be 2011 at least before we see another parks levy on the ballot. Subject to passage of the levy at that point we may see additional building considered. Meanwhile, we can organize and fundraise at a grassroots level and there is no reason not to think about what to build. Send us your ideas and we’ll post them for discussion. Consult the 19 skatepark page to see what size park is proposed for the site you are interested in. If you hold your pointer over a picture of the park, text will pop up with the proposed skatespot size.

People have started to express interest in various sites of Portland’s proposed 19 skatepark network. In particular, neighbors have started to advocate for the Woodstock, Kenton and Fernhill sites. See a concept from Tyler for the Lents Park site after the turn. Constructive criticism encouraged.

Read the rest of this entry »

Colin and Jesse and others are working to clean up and reclaim a bit of waste land in Southeast Portland as a public skate spot. They have clearance from the city and have met with neighbors, the police and the railroad. Neighbors and other community organizations are impressed. Skaters for Portland Skateparks provided some funding. You can follow the progress of the project at The Brooklyn Street Skate Spot Facebook page.

Lents Park is bounded by SE Steele and SE Holgate, SE 88th and SE 92nd. The skatepark master plan has it at 5000 sq. ft. Take the time to check this out and comment. There is nothing designed yet skate-wise but there is some opposition to a skatespot in this park so there should be equal or more positive comments. View the three concepts proposed for the Lents Park Master Plan and submit your comments by Wednesday, September 15, 5:00 PM. Comment Opportunity

Thanks Brian for the heads up.