Skaters for Portland Skateparks

Some pics from the Pier Park Pickup over at Antigravity Press.

Be a good neighbor and come help out for a couple of hours at the Pier Park Pickup SOLV event tomorrow from 9am - 1 pm. We’ll be doing trash pickup and graffiti coverup at the skatepark. Breakfast treats from Tulip Pastry Shop and hot coffee from Starbucks. It should be a nice morning to hang out at the park anyway.

Late notice as usual. This will be the forum for input about the plans for development around the Burnside skatepark neighborhood. Skaters need to show up or they’ll think we’re not interested. 524 E Burnside, 7th floor of Bside6 doors open at 5. Be cool, but be there.

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.

Complete Skate is a school-based program that keeps kids connected to school through skateboarding.

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.

Sorry about the short notice on this one. There is a meeting tonight: Community Budget Information Meeting on November 30 to discuss FY 2010-2011 budget. I asked if we should show up to talk about our priorities and they said no.

I have heard otherwise.

Here are some talking points:

1. thanking Commissioner Fish and Director Zari Santner for their
   commitment to serving Portland’s youth through the development of
   public skateboard parks,
2. gently reminding them community need is far from met.
3. Portland’s skaters understand the economic downturn means
   resources are not immediately available for skatepark development as
   they were in 2006 and 2007. As a result,
4. skaters understand the pace of skatepark development has needed to
   slow. But,
5. We look forward to supporting passage of the Parks levy intended
   for 2010, which will include dollars for the Steel Bridge project as
   well as skatespots.

(more…)

In a sluggish economy, inflation recession … how do we make sure that the 19 skatepark development plan doesn’t fall through the cracks? Attention, activism, and advocacy. There should be a ballot measure in 2010 to raise money for Parks. We need to remind them that we still care about the skatepark plan. In 2002 a similar measure included language that part of that money was to be used to build two skateparks and then skateboarders should help make sure the levy passes.

What about your neighborhood spot? Contact Parks Commissioner Nick Fish and Portland Parks and Recreation (Tel: 503-823-PLAY (7529) Fax: 503-823-6007) to let them know we still want the 19 skatespots.

Time for the annual SOLV Pier Park Pickup. 9:00 AM-1:00 PM, This Saturday, April 18, 2009

North Lombard St. and Bruce Ave. (From Lombard turn down Bruce Street and go to where it ends at the corner of Bruce and North James St.)

SOLV Meeting Location: Meet by the turn-around at the beginning of the disc golf course. You can also meet us at the skatepark.

Some long overdue updates have been made to the site. The 19 skateparks page has been updated with links to new Ed Benedict and Gabriel Park pages. Links to Google Maps directions have been added to all to the completed skatepark pages.

Also, we have new Board members. Bryce Kanights and Beth Lyden have joined the Skaters for Portland Skateparks board to help with the next phase of skatepark advocacy in Portland. Mark Conahan is the new Executive Director.

Okay, I volunteered for the Pier Park skatepark cleanup again. Last year we did graffiti abatement and trash pickup around the park. It’s a four hour gig and your high-schooler can get community service credit if they need it. You can sign up at their website. Last year they had lunch for us and they need to know how many people are planning to show up.

The SPS Lincoln City Skatepark fundraiser brought in $225.78. Thanks to everyone who donated. If you still want to contribute, Rich over at Earth Patrol Media is doing a commemorative t-shirt fundraiser. Donations can also be sent to:

Lincoln City Parks and Rec.
memo: Skaters for Lincoln City Skateparks
c/o Skaters for Lincoln City Skateparks
960 SE Hwy101
PMB 384
Lincoln City OR 97367-2622

Photo of the lovely MC modeling the EPM LC4 benefit shirt courtesy of Earth Patrol Media