Are kids at skateparks exposed to drugs and other negative influences?
It’s a misconception that skateparks somehow contribute to juvenile delinquency – skaters need to be focused and alert, particularly in a skatepark setting, to maintain their balance and to perform the maneuvers they do. Skateboarding, by its very nature, is an anti-drug. So it’s safe to say that a skatepark full of kids is a skatepark full of kids not getting stoned. A skatepark is a place where skaters get together and enjoy the space, the camaraderie, and the physical thrill of riding. An outdoor, open, highly visible location – as most skateparks are – is not the place to bully kids, use drugs, or be a nuisance. Skaters are there for a reason, and are very good at policing each other about behavior that interferes with their enjoying the park. Because of their choice of fashion and the prevailing stereotypes, skaters are often pegged as outcasts and delinquents, even though their choice of activities and style of dress really have nothing to do with their personalities, GPA, or hab
