The New York Times has branded the Northside as "Minneapolis's less visible, and more troubled, side" in a 2016 published article. The highest crime rate of the city’s five police precincts is in the Fourth Precinct covering North Minneapolis. There are multiple movements working towards improving the North community and we feel building the Northside Skatepark would be a critical contribution to the positive development of this community. 

We need skateparks for the same reason we need playgrounds and basketball courts. Communities form where people get out of their cars and talk to each other. Skateparks as recreational facilities reduce illicit behavior in youth. They give kids a place to be and something to do. There was a park built in an area very similar to North in Long Beach, California. The park currently has given hundreds of kids in the neighborhood an alternative to drugs, gangs and the many negatives they face each day. Reduction in Crime since the skatepark was installed: In a matter of 5 years, crime has dropped in the immediate area around the park, which has historically been a very high crime area of the city. Since 2003, drug related incidents have dropped 60.9%, violent crime has dropped 29.3% and overall incidents have dropped 22.8%. Further, calls for service have dropped 23.0%. This is the exact positive effect we imagine the North Skatepark having on its surrounding community, if not better.

About 400 out of 500 vacant lots in Minneapolis are located on the north side. What better way to use one of those spaces than to create another place for the community to come together and promote unity.