Squatter Skate Park Becomes Official

Searching for fast disappearing skateboard space in Seattle, two activists took matters into their own hands and created a fully functioning park before the city caught on.

1 minute read

March 8, 2006, 7:00 AM PST

By David Gest

The activists "outlined how their illegal takeover of an abandoned piece of city land in October 2004 has led to what will likely become Seattle's first covered space for skaters, Marginal Way Skateparkâ€"and how the whole effort grew out of frustration with the city.

'We scoped an unused piece of city property,' said Demmon, gripping a Pilsner Urquell as he recounted how the effort began. 'It was a homeless camp, a garbage dump, an area where prostitutes and drug dealers congregatedâ€"it was a piece of shit. We took it, cleaned it up, talked to the area businesses and got them to sign off on our [then] illegal project.'"

FULL STORY: Skate Start

Thursday, March 2, 2006 in The Seattle Stranger

Community / Economic Development Washington

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