>Skaters for Portland Skateparks is a volunteer skatepark advocacy organization. We have worked long and hard to change the perception of skateboarders in our community. Here’s a good fact sheet from our old website. Some of the stuff at the end is outdated because Portland, Oregon’s plan to build 19 skateparks is well under way with three parks in the ground and two more in progress.

We have found skateparks to be an asset to our town providing a healthy focus for the energies of skaters of all ages. The world famous Burnside skatepark project reclaimed a blighted area under one of our city’s bridges - and while it’s no Disneyland, it is a much safer and useful place. Skaters took the initiative and did all the work themselves.

Adult skaters provide a positive example for the younger skaters by doing regular cleanup around the parks, volunteering to help the city clean up graffiti and taking pride in what we have built.

Another resource is the skaters for public skateparks website.

You might ask your commisioners “What if someone vandalized a little league field or a golf course? Would it get plowed under? Are we just seeing predjudice against one segment of our society?

Good Luck.