WHY DO WE NEED SKATEPARKS?
Cincinnati has a vibrant skate community that lacks adequate public spaces to support it. High quality public skateparks can draw people of all backgrounds, appealing to teens looking for their own space, adults looking for individually-directed recreation options, and parents looking for a safe community space to support their child’s interest in learning a new sport.
Our goal is to create not just one skatepark, but a network of parks throughout the city of Cincinnati- Much like how there are several basketball courts, baseball diamonds, soccer fields, recreation centers and the like. We aim to provide skaters of all ages, abilities and styles with quality skate spaces within a reasonable distance from home by designing creative skateparks that reflect Cincinnati's local culture and serve both skaters and the larger community.
Implementation of this plan will expand recreation options, cultivate community partnerships, reduce risk by moving skaters out of the streets, and give Cincinnati national visibility for its support of skateboarding and related wheel sports (roller skating, rollerblading, scooter riding, BMX biking, etc.).
Skateparks are the fourth most used recreation space in terms of total weekly use hours.
They were found to be more popular than sports fields, play areas, fitness zones, and dog parks when comparing the total weekly use hours.
LOCAL CULTURE
The global popularity of skateboarding has been strongly influenced by home-grown Cincinnati skaters, artists, and skatepark builders.
Several local skateboarders have gone on to become successful professionals. In addition, a number of globally recognized skateboard companies were founded in the Greater Cincinnati area, including Alien Workshop, Habitat, and Revive Skateboards.
The Cincinnati area has also produced talented athletes in other wheel sports, including X-Games medalist professional BMX bicycle riders.
Cincinnati is currently home to skateboard shops like Blacklist Board Shop and related streetwear culture businesses such as Unheardof.
The Cincinnati skate community also has a large impact on social media, including influencers/companies with significant followings:
Andrew Schrock: 5.5M+ Youtube subscribers
Revive Skateboards: 250K+ Instagram followers
Alien Workshop: 139K+ IG followers
Habitat Skateboards: 240K+ IG followers
Hunter Herman: 17K+ IG followers
Craig Edwards: 21.7K+ IG followers
Jack Perry: 138L IG followers + 271K YouTube subscribers
Blacklist lbg: 12K+ IG followers
Skateboarding is a vibrant and important part of Cincinnati and has been for decades.
"Through our work, we solidly confirmed that skateboarding and skateparks provide young folks an opportunity and space to express themselves, socialize & create community - all of which supports their mental health and their overall wellbeing.”
— Dr. Maria Morales, USC Study: Beyond the Board
OTHER CITIES
Cincinnati has not kept pace with neighboring or comparable cities throughout the country when it comes to offering public skate spaces.
Skaters without adequate facilities have often turned to skating on public infrastructure, causing property damage and leading to controversy, tension, and public misconceptions.
Skateparks are community spaces that safely serve a recreation need, especially for the often overlooked teenage demographic. Skateparks can help to develop community and a sense of pride and ownership in public space. They also encourage outdoor recreation and an active lifestyle, and can help provide extra "eyes on the street."
There is growing demand for more and better quality public skate facilities to serve skaters and others who have not been able to adequately, safely, and legally practice their sports in Cincinnati public parks and recreation areas.
Take a look at how we stack up to other cities around the country!
