BenFranklin...I completely disagree...so because a website advertises different genres they can't talk about skating? It would be a decent business move to bring in a different type of demographic to your site don't you think?
BenFranklin...I completely disagree...so because a website advertises different genres they can't talk about skating? It would be a decent business move to bring in a different type of demographic to your site don't you think?
Well, I've never ridden a skate board in my life and probably never will. However, I always read these posts because I think a skate park is an important part of the fabric of urban life and Buffalo should have one. Insurance issues aside, it would be nice if the current owner of the property in question could temporarily lend it for skatepark use since it doesn't seem to be slated for anything else currently.
mbhxam, I didn't mean literally forget the insurance issue. I meant that as "if insurance wasn't an issue..." Like "wouldn't it be nice if..."
I skate there so no one will find me. I don't want people watching me skate. I hate that skateboarding is everywhere you look these days. I've skated for over 20 years. I don't skate to showoff to anyone, I skate for myself. I've spent many hours back at this place by myself, both skating and building/fixing the concrete. Now because of these articles I will have to deal with people just coming back there to check it out. Thanks a lot BR, thanks a lot.
Wit makes a good point. Im interested to hear if other skateboarders agree or disagree with Arelli.
I am going to have to beg to differ with you on this one BenFranklin. I'm only 28 yrs old, used to be a pretty avid skater for many many years. However i no longer really skate at all, I am interested in the topic and think a park would be a asset to downtown. Not this location, but the previous location mentioned under the bridge near Pearl St.. In regards to demographics, i dont personally know who BRO targets in particular, but I have purchased many a pair or pricey glasses, sun and vision, i dont listen to WBFO or have children currently to send to private school, but i read this site daily, make a fairly good living, own property in the city, eat at restaurants advertised in the city, bought a heritage bird from the bidwell farmers market for thxgiving due to BRO. It also appears that many of the readers on here are of my demographic. Sure, i dont bother to read, or get through some of the stories on here, but many I do.
Arelli... I'm working with Spot coffee to open a franchise at this location... now that word is out about this "underground" skate park its sure to be the next trendy hangout.
Sorry man! ;)
Well, everybody who has fallen in love with this place better hope the owner does not frequent this site. I assure you, as soon as he/she does, a big new fence with barb wire will replace the old dilapidated one...
Benfranklin... why is this post not relevant to the mission of BuffaloRising. It doesn't have to be all commercial development, social issues, and political discussion. At its heart, this blog is about the great things (both big and small) about Buffalo. It's a site that ex-pats view to see what is going on back home, and is partly responsible for me moving back here from Boston 2 years ago. In fact, one of the things I wish BR would bring back are the Saturday morning slideshows (can't remember who used to take the pics)... but just seeing interesting photos of our the most inconsequential features of our city was very exciting.
The idea of urban skateparks is an interesting one that could add to the fabric of city living. I fail to see how this takes away from the other articles on this site.
what is with BRO and skateboards? How old are you people? You do realize the vast majority of your readers are past that stage in life, if in fact they where ever there.
Sure, I think of it as a blog, but I also think that BRO has been consciously positioned as something else. Either would be fine. The problem that people sometimes have with the site is that it flops back and forth. Not earth-shattering, but still . . .
And while I'd agree that it'd be nice to have a skatepark in the city, doesn't this article indicate that we already do? The people who would actually use it likely already know about it -- or an alternative -- so what's gained by letting the cat out of the bag?
I don't get the fixation with skate parks but I can pass the posts over easily enough. What I don't get and can't pass over is why you wrote this post which seems to boil down to something along the lines of:: "See? I was right! Na na na na fu fu."
But seriously, because someone makes a comment that's somewhat critical, you have to call them out in a separate post - with the commentator's name framed in single quotes for a bit of an added slam? Isn't that just a little bit unprofessional?
If BRO was a blog, the repeated skatepark posts would make sense. Bloggers can write about whatever they want, as long as they want. But I think the folks here have been clear that this isn't a blog. In that case, the repetitive posts about skateparks and "look what I saw on my bike today" are a bit much. If BRO is a professional media operation, it should have higher standards for content.
Actually, it would be the property owner that would get sued...not Newell, you, me, The White Lady...just the property owner...because no where are these articles saying..."Hey, come skate here." He's simply pointing out the fact that it exists (something I never knew until the article appeared).
Graphicrage - - - - insurance issues aside? Are you kidding me? Hey everybody...just open your property, of which you are legally responsible for, to anyone wanting to participate in a dangerous activity...damn the consequences. Why would anyone get bogged down in silly little things such as liability and insurance issues.... :/
Newell, reading this post one would get the idea that Buffalo Rising is a hobby, and not a business. That comes as a bit of a surprise, seeing the ads. etc that populate the site. You may post what you like, even til your blue in the face, but if the posts aren't relevant to the majority of your readership, it doesn't seem like the wisest move. I don't get the link between a reader interested in a skate park, also then being in the demographic profile to listen to WBFO, have a kid go to Mt. St. Joseph, or get a pair of pricey glasses (the ads on the page). A different domain name would seem the logical way to go (www.buffaloskatepark.com...etc.)
So when the underage kids fall and break their necks their parents get to sue you too, smart move.
Rock on Newell...I doubt the punks who vandalize the skate park are avid readers of Buffalo Rising, thus don't understand why everyone feels like you let the cat out of the bag. I dig the new photos too!
Oh, so because you're 40 that means you can't skate?
Idiotic rambling from you, I'd say.
Why do people hate skateboarders so much?
Give these people a place to skate for christ's sake!
People keep talking about "suing" people.
What if you drown at a public pool?
Does that mean that you can sue somebody?
Should pools not be around because somebody MIGHT get hurt?
Ya'll can really be like little children sometimes.
Someone better alert Tony Hawk to the fact that he's too old to board, because he just turned 40 last month.
I think BRO should post whatever it's handlers like. I used to get very pissed about all the politcal stuff until I realized and accepted that BRO is basically run by and covers almost-Republican yuppies. It's not an official newspaper, so of course its political slant will be bent.
Now, I like Newell...he's always been open minded about art and culture, and the like...but I have never liked BRO's bias. That said, I'm glad to see that he posts things like this, because guess what...Buffalo is not all yuppies in search of "upscale" coffee and food. It has...*gasp*...skaters, poor people...black people...puerto ricans...cops...teachers...union employees...graffiti writers...etc...you get the idea. Buffalo is a diverse place, and I am glad to see posts that reflect that,
That said, I do kinda feel for Arelli...when secret spots are discovered they can become ruined.
Bottom line, Buffalo needs several outdoor parks, and they should be free.
Just because you personally won't use something doesn't mean it wouldn't be good for the greater public.
Check out Tony hawks Foundation and see some of the projects they helped with and some of the resulting benefits. http://www.tonyhawkfoundation.org/
In a nutshell it gives kids and young adults somewhere safe to go instead of running around in the streets. It's also very fun spectating.
If done right they are considered works of art.
They also bring people in from the surrounding area, imagine suburb kids coming to the city and spending money at local shops? These kids have more disposable income than any of us growing up, just go to the Galleria and see for yourself.
buffalostan...are you serious? Go stereotype some more...If you said that about a race or sex there would be 1,25456 posts on here saying how your a tool...
Hey bufffacyboy, there has been what, maybe a dozen articles or mentions regarding skate parks, compared to the thousands of BRO stories, less than a percent have referenced skateboards, what exactly is your point? No need to be a drama queen.
Tesla, turn on your sarcasm meter because I was so obviously referring to someone else's post where they said the age group of BRO's readers was above "skateboarding age". So I sarcastically mentioned Tony Hawk, the arguably most successful skateboarder ever, is now 40, and still skating strong. Geez, some of you guys really get your panties in a twist!
Let's all get together for a big BRO skateboarding fest and hug.
Why dont the police do something for these punks! TYhese punks are always causing trouble and killing eachothers. Why! And now you tell them where to go. They can go there and have the police get them that would be the good idea! Stan
Colin - Anyone can be clear about whatever they want, but it doesn't change reality. So of course BR is a blog. Wasn't Newell once named by Artvoice as Best Blogger, or at least he was nominated? Doesn't that imply BR is a blog?
Also, BR perfectly fits within these definitions from Wikipedia:
A collaborative blog is a type of weblog which publishes posts written by multiple users. The majority of high profile collaborative blogs are based around a single uniting theme, such as politics or technology. ...
A blog (an abridgment of the term web log) is a website, usually maintained by an individual, with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video.
Entries are commonly displayed in reverse chronological order.
"Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.
Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries.
A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic.
The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. ...
NorPark, Do you think posts like this help or hurt you and other skateboarders by bringing these places to light? In your opinion What are the chances really that these places will be overrun with people now, shut down by the owner/ policed more tightly etc.?
For the record I think its good that the skatepark issue is being brought to the forefront by someone. After reading Arelli's post I'm not convinced this is the way to go though. I'd love to see a park somewhere downtown. Maybe Sunday can use some pull to get a pro skater to endorse it. And I bet New Era would get on board with it if you positioned it the right way.
Toughinthestreet, in one way i completely agree with arelli, in another sense i do not. I havent been to this grassroots 'secret' spot, but some of you may remember the 'cancer park', in the gutted building in sbuff. Same deal, we built it w concrete, nice indoor spot, small, close nit group used it, i'm all for keeping places like that on the down low, so the people who put in the sweat equity can enjoy it and it doesnt get overrun. On the otherhand if things like BRO can bring issues to the forfront and get things out and help push the issue, i'm all for it if it can get a nice big 'FDR' type deal going downtown. (philly for anyone who doesnt know) type park.
I agree with you to a certain extent Colin... but won't the market (in this case, us the website viewer) dictate what the professional media outlet (in this case BR) is required to cover. If the expectation of the majority of users on this webpage were solely serious news content about development and urban renewal in Buffalo, then BR would deliever or users would leave.
I believe the majority of users of BR are looking for a mix of serious news and fun, quirky stories about our city. If that's what the market is asking for, then that is what BR must deliver. Just because its a "professional" website, earning money from advertisers, does not dicate that it must all be serious news.
lol...at norpark, it is buffgayguy, not bufffacyboy...maybe iof you spent as much time in the class room as you do on your "rad" board you would get it right. I guess Carl Paladino got it right.
After reading some older articles i checked out this place http://www.skateplaza.com/kettering/
I gotta say it's amazing. It's Skate at your own Risk so avoids lawsuits, it involved the kids in developing so they have a sense of community that does not exist for youth of today. People do travel to go to these, and even stay a weekend.
It's not a silver bullet, more like a spark to ignite alot more.
Get Talas to rock this forested over putt putt, whip up some some Brodo gazpacho, get a pile of Elmwood Village maps, sprinkle in some skaters, then we're talkin rad, way rad brohan ....
Report this