Around 2001, Philadelphia began to really crack down on skateboarding in public areas, most notably, City Hall and JFK Plaza (Love Park). It hit us hard, as the central locality of these spots made them perfect in so many ways – this WAS the City to us. A lot of people got bummed and left but a few of us stuck around to stand up and fight.
It’s only at the moment you’re told you can’t do something that you truly know what you’re made of.
Over the past 7 years we have organized ourselves into a presence in this City that has received the following:
1. 2.5 acres of land to build a park on, centrally located between the Art Museum and Schuylkill River
2. Approval from all relevant agencies to build
3. A design award from the American Institute of Architects
4. $1M from the City of Philadelphia to make this happen (1/6 of our budget)
We’re so close. We’ve been fighting for so long. It’s your typical Rocky story. The underdogs need to win this one, to show this City what its future should be, instead of being told no.
Be a part of something bigger than you. Please contact me directly if you are interested in helping out. It can be one of a million different ways. We are planning an art auction / event with bands in April, maybe you can help plan / donate talent for that? Maybe you know someone at a sizeable corporation who wants to donate funds to the construction of the park to get their name out there?
Whatever it is, it doesn’t matter how big or small, EVERY PIECE HELPS. Just talking about this project to one other person will have its impact, I guarantee it.
We need to start assembling our army.
Get at me.
—
Nicholas Orso
Franklin’s Paine
thenorso@gmail.com
www.painesparkproject.org
267.241.4764
You know our troops fully in Orso! Give a brother a call! AJ One Skateboard Co.