Article in August 2017 Park & Recreation Business Magazine

I discuss the trends in the design and public process for Actions Sports and wheel friendly Skateparks.

Article In 2016 Parks & Recreation Magazine

I discuss the trends in the design and public process for Actions Sports and wheel friendly Skateparks.

LaGrange, GA Skatepark

Article in October 2019 LASM Magazine

Honored to be in this article talking about the design process I went
through with the community to develop their dream Skatepark.

A new Greeley park showcases skateboarding’s latest trick: community involvement

Link:

https://coloradosun.com/2020/02/06/peak-view-skate-park-greeley-community/

Excerpt:

From the board to the breakroom 

“I had to advocate for Ocean Beach,”
Russell said. “So I get what these kids today are feeling.” 

Kanten Russell grew up in Southern California, the birthplace of
skating as we know it today, but on his way to a pro career he had to deal with
many doubts, naysayers and, yes, haters. The first real doubts came from his
parents, who didn’t exactly think it was a good idea to quit basketball, a
nice, normal sport that he was good enough at to think about playing for a
college team.

“My mother said, ‘The sport that’s illegal everywhere?’” Russell
said in a phone interview. 

Russell, 45, grew up inspired by surfing the ocean, and by watching skateboarders, including skating pioneer and
icon Tony Hawk, swarm over Southern California. But by the time he turned pro,
in the early ‘90s, skate parks were closed, neighbors complained until backyard
ramps were torn down and his mother was tired of paying tickets he collected
skating in forbidden areas such as downtown San Diego.

He turned those tickets into permission slips to hound city officials to give him and his buddies a place to
go. It took a while, but San Diego’s first public park, Robb Field Skate Park at
Ocean Beach, opened, and more followed. 

Those concrete parks helped the sport grow once again but there were other factors, like ESPN’s X-Games and a
law that made skaters legally responsible for their own physical safety. And,
of course, there was Hawk’s steady reinvention of the image of
skateboarding.  Russell had a hand in that as well, as much for his high-flying jumps and tricks as his ability to fight for his
right to skate. 

“I had to advocate for Ocean Beach,”
Russell said. “So I get what these kids today are feeling.” 

The guy who designed Ocean Beach,
the skate park pioneer Mike McIntyre, was the one who suggested to Russell that he had a career designing skate parks
once he was through dominating them. 

Russell took it to heart: He has now worked as a designer for more than 15 years, most recently at New Line.
Russell’s name helped seal the deal with Greeley — Tyler and others knew who he
was before he interviewed with them. But ultimately, as Tyler said, they
favored New Line because Russell wanted to hear from them. 

“That’s imperative,” Russell said.
“I’ve had agencies tell me they don’t need to meet with the community skaters,
but I get messages from skaters telling me what they want before I even show up
in their town to start work. I know what works and doesn’t work, but I have to
have that dialogue with them.”