Take a video tour of new upgrades at Gateway Green Bike Park

I listed out actual observed behavioral issues that plagues many skate parks. These issues are shared at the illicit skatepark under the St. Johns bridge and as well as the Burnside Park. Making sure these conducts are strictly enforced and exclusions being issued is extremely important not to just keep the park orderly, but to prevent the neighborhood from becoming the point of congregation by riffy raffy BMX type clientele.

Gateway Green should definitely be family friendly.

Consumption of alcohol, marijuana, cigarettes, including vaping is prohibited city parks by city ordinance. Public marijuana use is also prohibited by state law. Parks are intended to be inclusive to all and the rules are in place to make sure it is a friendly place for everyone. When they are not enforced, this place is at the risk of becoming like Burnside Skatepark where families with children are not made to feel welcome.

If such activities are to be allowed, they need to be built on private property by a private developer on a full tax lot as a private enterprise at no expense to the public.

In practice, Burnside is not available to everyone. Unlawful drug use (marijuana is included in this) and alcohol use for one that’s not really good for minors to be around. Cigarettes are being smoked (which isn’t allowed if it was PP&R operated). Vigilante gatekeepers gatekeeping and making family users unwelcome and making it rather exclusive to riffy raffy types. One guy harassing photographers/extorting $$$ in order to be able to take photos.

Regardless of what it was before, public funds or tax exemption should never be allowed for such “park type” facilities. It’s best to manage it right from the beginning before this type of undesirable culture takes over the new GG.