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| Image borrowed from SkateNoize.com |
Skateboarding has always been a staple in my life... Having learned how at a young age, I've come to appreciate and love the simple joy of smooth pavement and wide carves... In the beginning I put many miles on a hand-me-down John Lucero X-2, so longboarding is much more my style these days... Not to say that I don't enjoy rocking out some street lines from time to time, it's just that I've found that my roots have translated to a greater affinity with the longboards... I've always had the luxury of living relatively close to a skatepark, thus I've always been able to acquaint myself with the scene whether on solo missions or through good times spent with friends... That scene has been kind to me, so I do what I can to show it support in any way I can!!
I came across Modest Inc., which is a dope boutique shop in Forest Park, IL when picking up some art supplies one afternoon... I began following them on Instagram and they posted a flyer which promoted the opening of a new skatepark in Grant Park!! I thought it odd that Chicago would be opening a park in the first week of December, but a little research has has lead me to believe it was to allocate funds from a budget back into the city, thus ensuring further funding in the future... With three acres of street park being strewn across downtown Chicago a few hundred yards from the lakeshore, it's no wonder $2.65 million is the tab on the project... So hopefully someones fiscal year was saved with the official opening of this project occurring when it did, even if it'll most likely be covered in snow within a matter of weeks...
Though a few hundred park patrons showed up for the official opening, the park had been previously infiltrated over a month early by multiple trespassing park-goers who couldn't resist the allure of the virgin territory... When the day did come though, Red Bull's DJ booth rang out boom-bap and trap sounds at attendees, while Nike SB's representatives orchestrated best trick and "SKATE" contests for cash and prizes... I was actually fortunate enough to get hit in the face with a bag containing a shirt, but I wasn't looking and it consequently fell to hands more readily available to seize the moment...
In my eyes, and many others like myself, this is one of the better projects that the city of Chicago has completed recently - Much better than the disastrous $90 million red-light camera project... I have seen some backlash in comments made by people who reside in the area though, most to the effect of them believing it will just be the new hotspot for loitering and the negative activities associated with it... And I understand people don't want any type of negativity in their neighborhoods, but it's no different than if it were a baseball field and baseball were still the hottest thing in America... Simply put, skateboarding's an excellent way to get exercise, gain self confidence, develop new skills, and arguably the most important aspects - meet new people and make new friends!!
So whether you're versed in any "extreme" sports or not, I would definitely suggest checking out the new park!! It's world class and has the potential to bring plenty of tourists and locals alike into the city for positive causes!!
In my eyes, and many others like myself, this is one of the better projects that the city of Chicago has completed recently - Much better than the disastrous $90 million red-light camera project... I have seen some backlash in comments made by people who reside in the area though, most to the effect of them believing it will just be the new hotspot for loitering and the negative activities associated with it... And I understand people don't want any type of negativity in their neighborhoods, but it's no different than if it were a baseball field and baseball were still the hottest thing in America... Simply put, skateboarding's an excellent way to get exercise, gain self confidence, develop new skills, and arguably the most important aspects - meet new people and make new friends!!
So whether you're versed in any "extreme" sports or not, I would definitely suggest checking out the new park!! It's world class and has the potential to bring plenty of tourists and locals alike into the city for positive causes!!
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