Hey thanks for reaching out. I would definitely vote in favor of continuing to fund the skatepark system project. There's a lot of grey area with how this new city council is going to work, so it's hard to put up specifics, but I'd definitely put forward legislation that keeps the project going and funded, perhaps even expanded beyond its initial goals. Portland, especially East Portland, needs more outdoor entertainment infrastructure. People need fun things to do outside, and we don't have enough out here past I205. And yes I would commit to supporting these DIY projects, but like I said, the new government is sort of a big question mark, so I'm not sure about specifics. If you need me to expand on anything, let me know.

Thank you for including me in your questionnaire. To me, this issue of not only supporting but helping to increase support for every single skate park planned to be finished and maintained is a bit of a no-brainer. Citizens pay taxes, and they deserve to be reimbursed for their contributions. 

The city should work for everyone, and that includes skaters, BMX cyclists and other similar recreational sports. I played street hockey as a kid and teenager, constantly searching for places to play pick-up games without being chased off by authorities or land owners who didn’t understand or care about our lack of resources to simply play the sport we loved. It’s always been so much worse for skaters, but now that skating has been around as long as it has, there are skaters of every age, and it’s more visible and hopefully more understood and accepted. Supporting this should be easy, but, of course, there’s nothing bureaucracy can’t make more difficult than it has to be. Portland, unfortunately, is currently inundated with that very level of unnecessary bureaucracy. I want to help change that.

To answer your questions, for the first I would say that the skatepark projects, if they haven't already, need to be hardwired into services provided and maintained by Portland Parks and Rec. There shouldn’t be holdups in funding by piecemealing support; it should be permanent and ongoing. I would advocate for this to be the appropriate next step. 

Second, the Steel Bridge Skatepark project looks amazing, and I would wholeheartedly vote for its implementation in District 2, just as I would ask for approval to begin planning and construction of more skate parks in District 1. However, like I previously said, I’d much rather not have to vote on projects one by one, but give Parks and Rec full authority and support without barriers in order to do so. 

Third, if my ideas aren’t able to be enacted concerning planning and financial support for these parks, I’d be a vocal and prominent leader for keeping this agenda moving forward constantly. I would help to find the funding, which I already believe exists in our government infrastructure but is being wasted by overlapping redundancies and far too many public/private committees and initiatives. As far as DIY skateparks are concerned, as long as they were placed appropriately (not interacting with dangerous elements like traffic, drainage, electricity, etc.), then there's probably a reason why these spots are already taking hold and could prove to be endorsed and celebrated as part of our culture.

Through streamlining our government and making it more efficient, direct and transparent, I hope to help create a future that won’t require emails like these to need to be written to politicians or political hopefuls in order to provide people with the services they are rightly asking for.

Again, thank you for your email, and best of luck with your campaign. I will be a supporter of yours and the community any way I can, in or out of office. I’m hoping it’s in, and we can make this a reality together. 

I'll add quickly, in review, I see that this plan was in fact put in place by Portland Parks, however, I have questions as to why the skateparks projects have then found difficulty finding funding and sticking to their own timeline. I think you can clearly see the gist of my approach and opinion on the matter, and hope the answers can still suffice, and if needed, I can rewrite any answer to better illustrate that. Please ask for any clarity if needed. I'd like to be a part of the conversation. 

Best, 

Joe Allen

For Portland City Council District One. For All

Thanks for reaching out. I've been following the skateboard movement through my good friend Ryan Hashagen.  

I understand the benefit and importance of having facilities for skating and would be happy to push to include skateparks in renovations and construction of new Portland parks.

In reference to the Steel Bridge skatepark, I am a fan and will push to ensure PP&R follows through to complete this project on time/budget and that these funds are not diverted to other uses.

In reference to Burnside, I would also be happy to support that and other DIY skateparks.  

For me, skateparks are part of what makes a vibrant city, a free "third place", and a place to build community.  I'm also a big proponent of safe routes to school which makes travel to schools, parks, and transit more accessible for multimodal travel, such as people skateboarding.  

Best,

Timur

As a City Councilor I'd be all in on these skateparks. For me, the most important thing that matters is whether the skateparks are utilized. If people are using these skateparks, they should be funded. We have bike lanes all over Portland that aren't used and so why not divert some of those funds. 

 Portland has plenty of projects that need funding, however, I believe skateparks should be higher up on that list to   receive funding as it provides a safe outlet for those who use them. 

If Portlanders are willing to take on DIY projects, there's absolutely no good reason for stopping them. I remember a story from years back. A neighborhood in the Johnson Creek area (I think) built their own skatepark and the city came in and shut it down, or were going to. That makes absolutely no sense. If I'm in the City Council, I'll make sure it doesn't happen. 

First, thank you for asking these questions and advocating for the interests of skaters, many of whom are too young to vote for the projects and recreational resources you are fighting for. As someone who grew up in East Portland and still lives here, I am all too familiar with the lack of recreational facilities and points of gathering for youth and adults alike. And as a long-time advocate for active transportation access, I see the pursuit for skateboarding and skating access as inseparable from the work for more walkable, bikeable, and livable streets, especially in my district.

I am committed to ensuring that recreation and public amenities projects like these receive serious consideration. Portland is currently in a tight budget environment, and I want to acknowledge that we need to be creative and thoughtful about how to meet all our communities’ myriad priorities. That said, once a project is approved, we should focus on securing funding and completing it efficiently and on schedule—this saves taxpayers money and keeps city government accountable and responsive to the people who live here.

I support the Skatepark System Plan and the Steel Bridge Skatepark. As a representative for District 1, however, I am going to be most focused on ensuring that East Portland finally gets its fair share of Parks and Recreation investment, including skatepark development and access. A disproportionate number of Portland’s youth live in my district, and I believe that it is especially important that we continue to push for the completion of the handful of skateparks that have been proposed for east of 82nd Avenue. Anyone who has visited Ed Benedict knows how popular that skatepark is, and I would like to see a variety of skateparks and spots like that within walking or skating distance of every community in East Portland. 

As you know, well-loved public spaces like skateparks or skate spots also bring vibrancy, liveliness, and a community of users who care for and respect these places. When appropriate, I would also advocate for the removal and reduced use of skating deterrents like grindstoppers on public buildings and in public spaces. At a time when many Portland residents feel unsafe in public spaces, and when Americans as a whole feel more isolated than ever, we should be facilitating public gathering and outdoor recreation rather than discouraging it through hostile architecture. 

I fully support DIY skatepark initiatives that have the backing of neighbors and communities like yours who are willing to build, improve, and maintain these projects. A city government works best when it first knows when to step in and when to step back. I will always be open to meeting with thoughtful, community-minded citizens of any age who are looking to create new possibilities in their neighborhoods and find solutions to red-tape and bureaucratic hurdles. 

In short, yes, as a city councilor, I will champion your efforts, especially ones that will bring resources and public amenities to our long-neglected corner of the city. You can count on me to be an active collaborator and advocate for your efforts to make Portland a more livable and hopeful place—for skaters, for our youth, and for every resident seeking a more vibrant future for our city. 

-Steph Routh, Portland City Council Candidate District 1