Inquiry into skateboarding and skate parks in the ACT

Whilst it is difficult to place an exact dollar figure on skatepark development in Australia, with over 1700 skateparks listed on the Australian skatepark register, (Australia Skateparks, 2019), it is clear to see that skateboarding is well provided for at a local government level. No other government in the world has recognised the cultural significance of skateboarding as much as in Australia. (About SBA, 2012) It is worth considering exactly what a skatepark is as the popular assumption would be that participants utilise the facilities for that which they are designed, namely, skateboarding! Whilst the notion of 'skateboarding' defines the space, a lot more goes on at these spaces than the base physical activity of skateboarding. Taylor and Khan (2011) present useful evidence in support of this, noting that participants use these spaces for what is described as 'hanging out', whilst Bradley (2010) identifies practices of 'socializing', 'spectating' and 'parenting' as being popular skatepark activities. In this context, the term 'parenting' relates to parents and caregivers supervising children in their care, who are utilising the skatepark facility.