The Skatepark, Digitalized

What a useful tool the internet is. it's fairly frightening how easily one can find information about any given topic but quite beneficial when doing a research project such as my own. I came across this nifty WikiHow article entitled "How to Go to a Skatepark" which is somewhat inapplicable to me on paper, but helpful and somewhat humorous when viewed in the right light. Note step five which recommends that one does not stand in the middle of the skatepark. I found it amusing. Essentially, the list directs a skatepark-newcomer to take baby steps and to avoid nosediving. Advice that is relevant in basically any new and unfamiliar scenario. Though clearly the tips about learning new tricks and falling don't apply to me, I appreciate the ones that are more communication-based, as they do apply to me in my research, especially,"Ask one of the more experienced skaters to tell you about the park, you'll need to know what moves are prized in that particular park, the skaters you want to avoid, and the skate lingo that is used." I'm a little disturbed by the section describing warnings ("
Watch yourself.") but I have never heard of any violence whatsoever occurring at the Dayville Skatepark so I won't get overly nervous!

In my searches, I came across a video montage of the Dayville Skatepark itself, which can be viewed here. Fair warning, someone flips off the camera in the first shot of the video. Oh well. Duly noting the punky grunge stereotype's exhibition in the flesh. If you google "Dayville, CT Skatepark" there are quite a few videos from Youtube and Vimeo that pop up. I'm not surprised as I know that many skaters in town are also photographers, which is kinda cool to think about. I guess skaters are essentially performers, entertaining their audience as well as satisfying themselves with their success, no matter how small. It only makes sense that there are photographers around to document the "show."

I also came across Skatepark.org, a site designed by skaters who advocate/support the opening and preservation of public skateparks throughout the world. The site provides a step-by-step process explaining how one would go about acquiring a skatepark in their town, which is pretty neat. There are also interviews with skateboards (including a female skater) as well as skatepark testimonials and many articles which represent skateparks as optimistic communities, though a news article about the fatalies of skateboarding makes me think that though the writers are happy skaters, they aren't ignoring potential "dangers" of their lifestyles.

A very intriguing webpage I came across is a site dedicated to the Ann Arbor Skatepark in Michigan. It's a list of "30 Reasons Why" the town needs a skatepark. Most of which I've never really considered. My favorite one, the most provocative and captivating to me, is #30, which states, "If the city doesn't have a skatepark, it is a skatepark." This very much molds a new perspective for me. I'm now looking at skateparks as if they are somewhat equivalent to playgrounds -- if there is no playground, kids will have no designated area to play, and thusly will play in the streets, yards, etc, vulnerable to the dangers of town. I don't exactly think skaters would be "vulnerable," per sé, to any dangers within a city but I guess they would be threatened by the city itself, roads and steps not made to be skated or ollie-d upon. Nearly every town has an accessible gym or track or set of athletic fields, so why should skateboarders be any different, as they are also physical artists/"performers." I had never thought of it that way at all. It is a very thoughtful way to peer into the space of skateparks, and since it comes from skaters themselves, I now feel that they are more conscious and artful than given credit for, or at least than what I had personally previously thought.

Very optimistic and positive vibes and I like that. Even when viewing pros and cons (fatalities, injuries, financial impacts, skateparks being a supposed "haven for crime,") I feel that the idea of them equating to a playground overrules that in my head... Crime happens everywhere. Potential isn't always reason for the punishment that is absence, I don't think. I really believe that I have a newfound appreciation for skaters now, and am grateful to have done this research before conducting any interviews.