Posts tagged Skateparks
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Could this parking lot become a new skate park?
90,000 people live in Germantown, Maryland, but local skaters don’t have anywhere to go. Here’s how one high school student is organizing her friends to change that. Keep reading…
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10 small parks and plazas that prove tiny is terrific
When it comes to parks, quality is way more important than size. These 10 “teacup parks” show that. Keep reading…
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Skateboarding is good for cities. So why is it a crime in DC?
People of all backgrounds, ethnicities, and incomes skateboard in DC, especially young people. That’s a good thing: studies show skating is an effective youth development strategy that lowers crime, fosters creativity, and reduces childhood obesity. Skating is good for cities too. The presence of skaters adds life and interest to ill- or underused public spaces. Keep reading…
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Are public spaces really public when not everybody can use them?
All around DC there are structures designed for the public that aren’t actually very pleasant or easy to use, like dog ears on ledges, third armrests through the middle of public benches, and ridges in common seating areas. These things are there for a reason, but do they actually limit people’s ability to live in the environment around them? Keep reading…
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Ten small parks that prove tiny is terrific
Georgetown Day School recently downsized its plans for a mixed-use project in Tenleytown. Aside from cutting 50 units of housing, the developers also canceled plans for a pocket park. We called that a loss, but some skeptics said it wasn’t a big deal because the park would have been very small. But when it comes to parks, quality is way more important than size. These 10 “teacup… Keep reading…
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“Skate plazas” can invigorate public space
Montgomery County’s newest skate park in White Oak doesn’t have any skaters, due to poor design and an isolated location. A “skate plaza” in the center of the community could give skaters and non-skaters alike a better place to hang out. Keep reading…
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Arlington park shows that skaters can share public space
If you’re seeking a serene natural retreat, a skate park is probably the last place you would look. But a few years ago Arlington built a skate park that welcomes all visitors, not just those with skateboards. A few weeks ago, I visited Powhatan Springs Park, also known as the “skate park rain garden.” Designed by local architecture firms the Kerns Group and… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Watch out for riots
Alexandria braces for BRAC; Restaurateur afraid of riots; Parking lot to become DC skatepark; DC challenging Census numbers; Homicide stats diverge; WMATA culture gradually crushes innovation?; Metro morsels; Spatial grid shows Tube distortion; And…. Keep reading…
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The best urbanist April Fool’s jokes
We had a lot of fun entertaining you with some April Fool’s joke posts yesterday. Here were some of our favorites from elsewhere on the Web: Google adds “skateboard directions”: A new Google feature directs skateboard users around the region, including on new skateboard lanes. But Montgomery County isn’t pleased with the influx of skaters, and the… Keep reading…
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Breakfast links: Skating into the weekend
Cities on the radio; Imagine the Mall; Really, we’re one city; Inside a liquor license protest; SEPTA gives back; SmarTrip changes to be delayed; Protesting homeowners’ association rules; DC tour guide licensing. Keep reading…