I love the idea of everyone getting involved and fighting for equal rights on behalf of the BMX community but how many protest have you heard of that didn’t turn into violence? Especially at a skate park near a low-income neighborhood. I’ve been involved with this project for a long time and being a sole member of the SKATE PARK LEADER SHIP ADVISORY TEAM presenting the entire BMX community for Portland Parks I know how these people work. Stay calm and professional because If you don’t the media will eat it up and everyone knows how much the media influences the cities decisions, just ask Sam Adams he’ll tell ya! The idea of a protest with angry BMXers flexing their muscles at anyone who looks at them funny including skateboarders and police officers I think is the wrong way to go about this. Without a doubt violence and destruction will occur under these circumstances. That’s the last thing we need, the BMX community publicized as a violent group of adolescents on TV and in the newspapers.

But instead, have all of your friends and supporters of BMX call the city and present themselves in a polite and professional manner. Or maybe just walk on down to Portland Parks and Recs with a group for friends and start asking questions. I think if we just keep at it and stay polite, professional, and direct the city will get sick of our complaints and hopefully do what’s right. Persistence is the key.

Here’s the contact info:

Portland Parks & Recreation
1120 SW 5th Avenue, Suite 1302
Portland, Oregon 97204-1933
Tel: 503-823-PLAY (7529)
Fax: 503-823-6007
http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/

This is all kind of funny to me because the last skate park meeting for Ed Benedict I was the only BMXer to appear with a check close to $100 donating to the parks foundation. Hopefully this will motivate more of you to get involved with the project because one voice isn’t enough to make a difference.

Hit me up if you have any questions.

Keep it real!

Sincerely,
Dean Dickinson
BMX Advocate
searching4video@yahoo.com