Robert Brink - Writer

Love Park Rally '04

February 13, 2006 | Skip To The Comments (0)

I wrote similar Love Park Rally pieces for three different mags. For all you up-and-comers, that's a little trick in journalism called "triple dipping," where you go to an event and cover it for as many mags as are willing to pay for it. The opportunity doesn't arise often, so when it does, jump on it and smile all the way to the bank.

DC Love Park Donation
The Battle for Love Park Continues
By Rob Brink
TransWorld Business September 2004

On Tuesday June 1, DC Shoes president Ken Block arrived at Philadephia's Love Park to announce a $1 Million donation as a gift to the city for the legalization of skateboarding at the skateboarding landmark only to have his offer swiftly rejected by Philadelphia's Mayor Street.

DC's announcement, which was attended by hundreds of skateboarders (including professionals Ricky Oyola, Kerry Getz, Josh Kalis and Kevin Taylor), Edmund Bacon (94-year-old designer of Love Park), local media, skateboard industry members, politicians, elected city officials, parents of skateboarders, passers by, occurred in front of the Love statue when the city denied DC's request for a permit to use the park's stage and PA system.

“Baseball has Wrigley Field, and skateboarding has Love Park,” said DC President Ken Block regarding the ban on skateboarding there. “I wish there were a 1,000 Love Parks, but there's only one. Now it's our turn to give back by preserving such a prestigious skateboarding landmark. We can only hope the City accepts this gift and helps free Love Park by supporting the growth of youth activities like skateboarding.”

Friends of Love Park (a newly incorporated non-profit organization that is committed to seeing Love Park re-opened to skateboarding on a mixed-use basis) researched the costs to maintain Love Park if the city was to allow skateboarding again and DC filled the corporate sponsorship role of their financial plan by offering $100,000 a year for the next ten years.

Before his arrival in Philly, Ken Block received a call from the Mayor's office suggesting that coming to Philadelphia would be a big mistake. Mayor Street and Managing Director Phil Goldsmith, who have long objected to skateboarders, refused Block's generous offer.

"There's never going to be any skateboarding in Love Park, period," Goldsmith said yesterday. Barbara Grant, Street's spokeswoman, agreed. However, city residents were surveyed as to whether or not Philadelphia should accept the donation and legalize skating at Love and 88% were in favor of the skateboarders.

“Nothing has brought life to Love Park like skateboarding has,” says Bacon, “and I see this as a social revolution and the skateboarders are really the revolutionaries. The opposition to skateboarding here is an illusion,” says Bacon.

Block says the money is still set aside for this cause in case mayor Street changes his mind or for when a new mayor may want to consider DC's offer. When asked what he thought of the mayor's comment that there will never be skateboarding at Love, Block replied “I think it's a case of never say never and I think he may want to be more careful with his words.”

DC's Milllon Dollar gift to Love Park
By Rob Brink
Industria September/October 2004

On Tuesday June 1 at 1 pm, DC Shoes president Ken Block arrived at Philadephia's Love Park to announce a $1 Million donation as a gift to the city for the legalization of skateboarding at the famous skateboarding landmark.

The semi spontaneous “rally/press conference/announcement/ceremony,” which was attended by hundreds of skateboarders, local media, skateboard industry members, politicians, elected city officials, parents of skateboarders, passers by, and homeless vagrants, occurred in front of the infamous Love statue when the city denied DC's request for a permit to use the park's stage and PA system for the announcement of the $ 1 million check.

“Baseball has Wrigley Field, and skateboarding has Love Park,” said DC President Ken Block regarding the ban on skateboarding there. “I wish there were a 1,000 Love Parks, but there's only one. Now it's our turn to give back by preserving such a prestigious skateboarding landmark. We can only hope the City accepts this gift and helps free Love Park by supporting the growth of youth activities like skateboarding.”

Friends of Love Park (a newly incorporated non-profit organization that is committed to seeing Love Park re-opened to skateboarding on a mixed-use basis) researched the costs to maintain Love Park if the city was to allow skateboarding again--even down to what each shrub would cost to replace due to skateboarding damage. An annual figure of $60,000, which includes all labor and materials, was calculated. Things like a security monitor, taxes and insurance also needed to be accounted for and FOLP didn't want the Mayor's office to come back with any more reasons why the Park should remain closed to skateboarding, especially financial ones, so DC brought the amount up to $100,000 and filled the corporate sponsorship role of their financial plan.

Before his arrival in Philly, Ken Block received a call from the Mayor's office suggesting that coming to Philadelphia would be a big mistake. Despite resistance, Block came and the announcement commenced and the offer was made.

Mayor Street and Managing Director Phil Goldsmith, who have long objected to skateboarders, pretty much told the DC to take their money and shove it.

"There's never going to be any skateboarding in Love Park, period," Goldsmith said yesterday. Barbara Grant, Street's spokeswoman, agreed.

However, city residents were surveyed as to whether or not Philadelphia should accept the donation and legalize skating at Love and 88% of them felt the city should take the money and let the skaters be.

Edmund Bacon, 94 year old designer of Love Park was present and signing boards for dozens of admiring skateboarders. Professionals Ricky Oyola, Josh Kalis, Kerry Getz and Kevin Taylor were present and showing their support as well.

“Nothing has brought life to Love Park like skateboarding has,” says Bacon, “and I see this as a social revolution and the skateboarders are really the revolutionaries. The opposition to skateboarding here is an illusion. I hope the skateboarders will win hands down, because there is no reason on God's Earth, when you look at all the surface of the Earth and the world, that this spot cannot be made for whatever is the best use for it. And when the whole world agrees that this is a focal point for skateboarding, it is close to insane to put any inhibitions in the way at all. Philadelphia should be extremely proud instead of spending a million dollars to scare the skateboarders off.”

Block says the money is still tin safe hands in case mayor Street changes his mind, and still there for when mayor Street is out of office and a new mayor may want to consider DC's offer. When asked what he thought of the mayor's comment that there will never be skateboarding at Love, Block replied “I think it's a case of never say never and I think he may want to be more careful with his words.”

Regardless of Philly's refusal, the fight for Love park has been underway since 1995 and seems far from over. “It's like a movie,” says DC pro Josh Kalis, “I can't wait to see the ending, but I have this feeling we'll be able to skate here. It's just too strong.”