Move the Skate Park Funding Request to No.1; VOTE NOW!

The local group that is working to fund the Bemidji Skate Park has entered a contest to receive $25,000 from the Pepsi Refresh Everything competition. Lead by Nate Dorr, the group has already raised $150,000 toward their goal to build a world class skate venue in Bemidji City Park. Winners are based on the online voting results. You can vote for Bemidji's projet here. Bemidji's application is currently in 12th place. Only the top ten get funded.



From the group's submission:

We have a final design complete that can be found on our website, Bemidji Skate Park. It will have bowls and transitions, as well as street plaza style terrain. It will be Minnesota's first six foot tall park, since we were successful in our efforts to work with the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust adjusting their skatepark policies statewide.We were one of three projects worldwide to receive Tony Hawk Foundation's maximum grant of $25,000 because of our vision, organization, and low-income rural community. Other funders include Burton Snowboards, Nike, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community ($25,000), Neilson Foundation ($100,000), and many smaller business and community donations. Our local Home Depot is behind the project, and will help us with this community build project. The park will be free to use, will last for decades, and will get kids and adults off the couch and outside!

Vote now!

Skateboarders Alert

Dream it. Design it. Ride it! Bring your boards and ideas for a workshop session with professional skateboarder and lead skate park designer Kanten Russell. The session will be held October 6, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. at the City Public Works Facility – 1351 5th Street NW.

This workshop gives skaters and interested parties the opportunity to talk to the Skate Park Architect, and provide input for the design of the new Bemidji Skate Park. Anyone interested in the new skatepark is encouraged to attend. For additional information contact Bemidji City Parks Director Marcia Larson at 218-333-1860.

It's Energy Efficient and It's Against the Law

At Monday's (4/20/09) Bemidji City Council meeting, Ryan Schwingler, Bemidji State University Student Senate Co-President read a Resolution the Student Senate had passed. It asked the Council to review the City's ban on skateboards and rollerblades in the city and especially on university property. His request got a somewhat cool response.

That could be because Chapter 24, Subsection 24-52 of the City Code was enacted in part at the university's request. The Ordinance was enacted in 1986 (I believe) in response to the damage the university was experiencing on their many concrete ledges, stairs, and benches and specifically describes the campus area that is verboten.

Skateboard means a wheeled, self-propelled device designed to transport a rider in a standing position, which device is not otherwise secured to a rider's feet or shoes.

Over the last 20 years, acceptance of "wheeled, self-propelled devices" and their users has increased. A local elementary physical education class has begun teaching skateboarding to encourage physical activity and the City is poised to construct a new skate park as part of the renovation of City Park. The local skateboarder group worked hard to convince the Council and the Park and Trail Commission to take their request for a skate park seriously by raising over $100,000 to contribute to the park.


Some communities have opted to install skateboard deterrents on public space furniture, walls and ledges to reduce liability and damage. I took these pictures in downtown Rochester last week. Note the "stop grind" metal protrusions on the granite ledges.

In spite of the increased acceptance of skateboarders and the opportunities they provide for alternative transportation and great outdoor activity, until the university decides they want to lift the ban on campus, it seems doubtful that the City Council will initiate any change.