SEATTLE - A popular skateboarding park in Ballard is in jeopardy of
being shut down. The park on 22nd Avenue NW and NW 57th Street was never
meant to be a permanent skater hangout, but it looks like the Ballard
Bowl is fast rolling toward extinction with no way in sight to put on
the brakes.
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A skateboarder at the Ballard Bowl.
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The skateboard park has grown in popularity since it opened, but the
problem is that the skateboarding park was always meant to be temporary,
as a new Ballard Civic Center Park is set to go in.
“Everybody needs a city park with walkways and benches - I'm all for
that - but us skateboarders need a place to do what we need to do,” said
Todd Winkleman.
The skateboarders are uniting by holding a support rally and signing a
petition, asking Seattle city leaders to keep the skateboard park in
place.
The Ballard community has spent the past 10 years coming up with a
development plan for its city core. While they are sympathetic, the
skateboard park just isn't part of that location plan
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KING
The Ballard Bowl is a popular hangout for skateboarders.
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"We have even made some some recommendations to the city - there are
some locations under the Ballard Bridge that could be suitable, in which
case there would be covered skating," said Beth Williamson Miller,
ex-director of the Ballard Chamber of Commerce.
Skateboarders say there's no place in the country like the Ballard Bowl.
But if it is demolished they’ll do what they always do - just keep on
rolling.
You can vent your feelings about the Ballard bowl at a public hearing
Tuesday night starting at 7 p.m in the Segway building next to the
skateboard park.