Boarders vs. bureaucracy

Boarders vs. bureaucracy

How a common need for dry land, an unconventional perspective on property rights, and 25 tons of cement brought a community of skateboarders together in Renton.

Skateboarding continues to grow in popularity in the Pacific Northwest. But it’s still difficult for skateboarders to find a good, safe place to get together and do their thing. Rain is a big problem, and covered skate parks are few and far between. Recently, a group of skaters in Renton took matters into their own hands and, using 50,000 pounds of cement, built a park under a freeway overpass. This was, of course, illegal. The Washington Department of Transportation threatened to tear it down last fall, but a crowd of skaters from across the region showed up to defend it. Renton Reporter staff writer Leah Abraham set off to figure out just why one park could mean so much to so many people—and discovered a whole world in the process.

Featuring interviews with Leah Abraham, Jack Skeel, Kristin Ebeling, Marshall Reid, and David Waite

Music by Leeni Ramadan and Jahzzar

This week’s cover photo is a shot of Longacres Skate Park, taken by Leah Abraham for the Renton Reporter in late November 2017.




Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in Northwest

t
Construction begins on new Valley Cancer Center in Renton

Renton’s Valley Medical Center serves over 600,000 residents throughout South King County.

Auburn Police Officer Jeffrey Nelson. COURTESY FILE PHOTO
Jury selection begins in Auburn Police officer’s trial

Jeffrey Nelson faces charges of murder and assault for 2019 killing of Jesse Sarey.

t
Auburn Police arrest driver at Lea Hill Park for hitting woman | Video

Dashcam footage shows the pursuing officer deploying a PIT maneuver on the Honda Fit

Renton Regional Fire Authority. Courtesy image.
Firefighters extinguish large brush fire in Renton

Broke out Friday, April 19; could be seen from Interstate 405

File photo
Man, 22, dies from shooting at Auburn apartment complex

Police say: ‘This wasn’t a random act’

t
King County releases $3 million to help find shelter for the homeless

Tukwila to get $2 million, Burien $1 million; no other South County cities applied for funds

Phil Fortunato
Auburn’s Phil Fortunato announces secretary of state run

District 31 Republican senator wants to test Washington’s voting registration system for weaknesses.

Food in a foam takeout container. Sound Publishing file photo
Foam coolers, takeout containers will be banned in WA

The prohibition on the sale and distribution of these products will take effect June 1 under a law the Legislature approved in 2021.

t
Federal Way Public Market concept receives $75,000 for study

The home of the envisioned project is off South 320th Street and 23rd Avenue South.

t
Suspected DUI crash in Renton injures three; cars engulfed in flames

Wrong-way driver incident along Interstate 405 on April 14

t
Teen dies in fatal Renton shooting

A 16-year-old suspect was arrested in April 14 incident

Sixty-one orange traffic barrels were set up April 2, 2024, on the WSDOT front lawn in Olympia. Each cone represents a fallen WSDOT employee killed on the job since 1950 - many in active work zones. The visual display is meant to remind everyone of the importance of slowing down in work zones. Photo courtesy of Washington State Department of Transportation.
WSDOT: Slow down for Work Zone Awareness Week

The number of fatal crashes in marked work zones had doubled in 2023 when compared to the previous year.