Skateboarding Persuasive Essay

“Hopefully, kids realize you can do anything you want. Skateboarding can be that gateway.” - Ryan Sheckler. Sheckler meant that skateboarding is more than a sport, skateboarding is way of life and it can take people wherever they want to go. The culture of skateboarding has been taking over the world because anyone can do it no matter what their background, ethnicity, or body shape. This way of life is art form that is expressed through style and maneuvers on a piece of wood with wheels. Skateboarding has become one of the most popular extreme sports in the past few decades. In 2009 there was an estimated 9,281,500 skateboarders in the United States and that number continues to grow each year (“Who Are Skateboarders”). Why then are skateboarders

Skate parks in communities are an asset that reduces the number of skateboarders in inconvenient places. This domino effect reduces the number of complaints to police officers of the nuisance caused by skateboarders. One officer in Maine said, “The skaters are very respectful, and the skate park has cut down on the youth crime, especially vandalism and kids skating on the sidewalks. The park gives the kids something to do (“Cops Love Skateparks”). This officer’s words reflect how 90 percent of 92 officers felt about how skate parks are an asset to the community. Skate parks serve as an asset to the community because skaters do not have to trespass in order to practice their sport, and it keeps youths out of trouble. Another officer in Massachusetts said, “I can honestly say that, based on my 27 years of police work, if you can keep kids busy like the skate park has done, you have completely prevented a future adult offender (“Cops Love Skateparks”).” An asset like this for nearly 10 million skaters is priceless and every town should have one. In a literal sense skate parks get kids off the streets because it gives skaters a place to practice and perfect the sport they