BENEFITS OF A SKATEPARK IN YOUR COMMUNITY
HERE'S THE SITUATION
POOR PHYSICAL HEALTH
SO MANY YOUTH SPEND SO MUCH OF THEIR TIME CONSUMING MEDIA AND UNHEALTHY FOODS, AND THEIR PHYSICAL HEALTH SUFFERS FOR IT.
DECLINING MENTAL HEALTH
CURRENT EVENTS HAVE LEFT THE YOUTH OF OUR COMMUNITIES FEELING ALONE AND ISOLATED. STRONG SOCIAL CONNECTIONS ARE CRUCIAL.
INCREASING CRIME RATES
WHEN YOUTH ARE BORED, LACK PURPOSE AND DON'T HAVE AN OUTLET, THEY ARE FAR MORE LIKELY TO GET INTO TROUBLE WITH THE LAW.
NOW, MORE THAN EVER, COMMUNITY-BASED ACTIVE LIVING IS A KEY INGREDIENT FOR BREAKING THROUGH CURRENT SOCIAL CHALLENGES.
HERE'S HOW A SKATEPARK WILL HELP YOUR YOUTH.
SOCIAL CONNECTION
SKATEPARKS BRING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT FEW AMENITIES CAN. THEY BRING FAMILIES TOGETHER AS PARENTS RIDE THE PARK WITH THEIR CHILDREN. ACTS AS A CONNECTION-POINT FOR COMMUNITIES AS SPECTATORS JOIN IN THE FUN. PROMOTES POSITIVE MENTORSHIP & RELATIONSHIPS THAT CAN BE MONUMENTAL IN A CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
SKATEPARKS DRAW FAMILIES FROM SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, POSITIVELY IMPACTING LOCAL BUSINESSES. RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, SUCH AS SKATEPARKS, PROMOTE COMMUNITY GROWTH, ATTRACTING YOUNG FAMILIES ESPECIALLY. WITH A SKATEPARK COMES A NEW MARKET FOR RELATED EQUIPMENT, INCREASING BUSINESS PRESENCE IN A COMMUNITY.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
PHYSICAL HEALTH SKATEPARKS PROMOTE AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE. A COMMUNITY SKATEPARK REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF SKATEBOARD, SCOOTER AND BIKE-RELATED ACCIDENTS BY PROVIDING A SAFE AND DEDICATED SPACE, FREE OF VEHICLE TRAFFIC.
MENTAL HEALTH IMPROVED PERFORMANCE IN THE CLASSROOM IS ASSOCIATED WITH BALANCE-INVOLVED SPORTS. SKATEBOARDING HELPS YOUTH BUILD DETERMINATION, CREATIVITY, SKILLS IN PROBLEM-SOLVING, STAMINA, SELF-DISCIPLINE AND SELF-CONFIDENCE.
INCLUSIVE CULTURE
SKATEPARKS ARE ACCESSIBLE TO KIDS OF ALL AGES. SKATEPARKS/SKATEBOARDING IS A LOW-COST SPORT ALLOWING OPPORTUNITY FOR MOST FAMILIES. SKATEPARKS CAN BE USED WITH A VARIETY OF RIDE-ON EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING SKATEBOARDS, SCOOTERS, BIKES, ROLLERBLADES AND WHEELCHAIRS THAT FAMILIES MAY ALREADY OWN. SKATEPARKS CAN BE DESIGNED TO BE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE, AND CAN INCLUDE APPROPRIATE PARK FEATURES IN THE OVERALL DESIGN. LOVE OF THE SPORT BRINGS ALL KIDS TOGETHER, NO MATTER THEIR SIZE, RACE, RELIGION, GENDER, CLASS OR ANY OTHER TRAIT.
REDUCED CRIME
STUDIES HAVE FOUND UP TO A 60% DECREASE IN DRUG-RELATED INCIDENTS WITH THE ADDITION OF A COMMUNITY SKATEPARK. OVERALL DECREASE OF UP TO 22% OF YOUTH CRIME INCIDENTS WITH CONSTRUCTION OF A COMMUNITY SKATEPARK. A WELL-LOCATED SKATEPARK HAS SHOWN POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOUTH AND LAW ENFORCEMENT - BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN THE TWO. REDUCED INSTANCES OF DAMAGE AND TRESPASSING ON PUBLIC AND BUSINESS PROPERTY. SKATEPARKS PROVIDE A POSITIVE OUTLET FOR YOUTH, CURBING ILLICIT BEHAVIOR BEFORE IT TAKES ROOT.
