Comments on Skateparks A-Go-Go

Or perhaps if we play our cards right the skaters will move to Portland. I hear the biking is great there. And it's real green there too. I'm just saying. I only want what's best for the skateboarders, considering how much they've done for me.

How much have tennis players done for you elenchos? Should they move to Portland too?

Tennis players never knocked me over on the sidewalk and then threatened to hit me with their tennis racket, for starters. But I'm not saying I'd miss them.

Fuck the homeless.

Fuck the unemployed.

Fuck the hungry.

MORE GOD DAMNED SKATER FUN PLACES

APPEASE PEOPLE OVER 30 WHO ACT LIKE THEY ARE 15

And, fuck anyone who thinks this is why city govt. exists, and what I want my taxes to pay for.

And of course, all the angst is Dave Della fault, the all mighty Della.

Jonah, you stink as a writer.

You're right, Larkin. I'm only in this for your sweet, sweet validation. Thanks for setting me straight. I promise I'll do better next time.

Larkin, it's not likely your tax money paid, or will pay for, for any of these skateparks. That's not how money like this is usually raised. It's possible, however, you do contribute the general parks and rec budget so can can at least say your helping keep the hundreds of generally unused baseball and soccer fields mowed and watered.

Enchelos, you've never been knocked over on the sidewalk by a skater. You can say you have, but you haven't.

Excuse the typos...

Really? Then what is my problem with skaters?

You're a roller blader.

Roller blader. I like it. That's funny.

No, seriously. Couple years after a guy in the U District was murdered in the street by a skater, the same thing almost happened to me near Westlake. Or maybe he only wanted to scare me, as punishment for blocking his path. It worked: made a strong impression.

I've had skaters say some nasty things to me before that but I always ignored it until that kid knocked me down and raised his board over his head like he was going to swing it at me.

So you can believe what you want, but if you actually want support for your skate parks it might help your strategizing to try to understand why some people don't feel very much love for skaters.

Soccer fields in Seattle aren't mowed, they're raked. They're all sand.

But it is true that Parks caters to virtually every sports group you can imagine, with golf courses, tennis courts, lawn bowling, uh, lawns, soccer and baseball fields, swimming pools, dirt-bike tracks, basketball courts, hiking trails, and on and on. The old "my tax dollars go for these juvenile delinquents" arguement is old and moldy.

I know the story you're referring to re: the U-District, Enchelos, but saying the victim (no disrespect intended) was "murdered by a skateboarder" is no more true than describing the guy that got beat with a bat in my neighborhood a few weeks ago as "attacked by a baseball player", and would be equally unsound logic for tearing out ball fields.

Kids on skateboards can be foul mouthed little (or not-so-little) brats, so can people smoking outside of bars, or standing at bus stops, or (especially) driving cars. It's not part of the equation though, which is one part healthy recreation, and another part damage mitigation.

The confrontation that lead to the murder of Demetri Andrews began with his attacker skating in front of the man's car, and it ended with him being brained by his attacker's skateboard itself.

The reason I was hit from behind by the guy who threatened me was that he was skating. The weapon he threatened me with was a skateboard.

So maybe skateboarding is just incidental. Just like pedophiles who just happen to be priests or skinheads who just happen to beat up gay people.

I stand corrected. I won't let the pattern of harassment and intimidation and occasional homicide that I've observed color my opinion of all skaters. I'm sure most of them are real nice people and I just haven't met them yet.

BTW, that crack about Jonah's writing was uncalled for. I think that guy must be pissed about Della losing or something.

that's not sand. it's field turf.

#14
No, it has to do with stupid people who do not understand that the city council is 9 people not 1 and the needs of the parks system have always been greater than the cash flow. Parks are on the last teat far after cops and fire depts.

For skaters to blame one person, even if the person has been branded a heavy at the Stranger, that is stupid. Very stupid.

Your problem is messages to the entire council and the public.

By the way, skate boarders, the smarty people - have not used their best message.

HERE IS THE MILLION DOLLAR HINT FOR FREE- in declinng general fitness, and incresing obesity, any activity which gets people out of their charirs and into actions, young or old benefits society in the long run. Skaters message activity and fitness and good muscle and nerve tone. That is good in an era of too many fat and sedentary youth. dah dah dah. Fnarf can articulte the continuation of this, he is good with words and a great speller.

Whining that you are entitled is not convincing. Blaming Della cause you have not sold your game is silly. He isn't.

They call it marketing, get better at it and you will have skate parks. Also, raise some of your own money - see Vera Project.

@ 16—They have used the childhood obesity/fitness angle. It also hasn't gotten them anywhere. It's not a sense of entitlement that's coming from nowhere. They've been promised certain things, and the person in charge of making those things happen...hasn't.

And some skaters have gone out and gotten donations. That's how the River City Skatepark is getting built.

I don't get it. Are you against skateboarders, or against the way their lobbying?

Regarding free, public, privately funded DIY skateparks in Seattle, please see:
http://www.marginalwayskatepark.org./
http://www.myspace.com/marginal_way_skatepark

"The reason I was hit from behind by the guy who threatened me was that he was skating. The weapon he threatened me with was a skateboard."

so if you were hit with a golf club instead you'd have a grudge against all golfers right?

idiot.

Jonas please stop with the half-ass reporting

Woodland park, due to the SPACs lazyness and inability to create a proper RFC had local company and world wide renowned Grindline assed out of the bid by a shitty contractor Sahli. Now it will be a pile of half-assed concrete good for little kids to be sliding down.

Seattle Center had IN WRITING that a new skatepark would be up and running by the time the old one was demolished. Where is it?

I told you about this Jonah over the 20 minute conversation we had earlier this year. Again, you failed to report that and still breathe the toxic fumes spewing out of the SPAC leaders asses.

I think all we taxpaying sk8rs deserve our own sk8 parks.

Hey "Bobcat/Jason",

I've tried to contact you a number of times, but you don't respond. I'm sorry you ended up getting ostracized from the very vocal, very smart group that's working with the city, but if all you're going to do is whine and piss and moan about how no one listens to you, you should at least be up front about the fact that you're choosing not to be heard.

Jonah - i don't whine piss and moan i get shit done. for the last 10 years i have ran a site out of my own pocket covering nw skateparks. moaning? who started the fucking PSSA in the first place? do your studies before you start pointing fingers dude.

Last month at the Funhouse we raised almost a thousand bucks for Marginal Way for a benefit. Oh yeah, thanks for showing up and reporting that buddy.

SPAC is not doing shit. they haven't. sure they are kissing your ass pretty good but what have us SKATEBOARDERS received in the last 3 years? 2 parks demolished. Seems a little retroactived eh.

Again, Jason, until you're actually interested in having a conversation-which would certainly be more productive than message board griping—it's hard for me to report on whatever it is you say you're doing.

You know the number.

why should i talk to you? you don't report any other sides of the story. Send a more competent journalist our way, or actually show up at a skatepark to get a different point of view.

PS River City has been struggling for over 5 years so it's not "HOT NEW NEWS"

http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=17525

Why should you talk to me? Well, for starters, has anyone else given you any sort of press? Usually not being a dick to journalists is a good way to get some coverage. Maybe you could show me where all the skateparks in the city are too. I've never ever been to one.

Jonah-You've never been to a sk8park because Seattle don't got none. he he he

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