The People's Money (2022-2023)

What problem would you like to solve?

With the growing Skater Demographic, it is known that with all park spaces, there is and has never been space for quad skating.

Why is it important to solve? Why is it relevant for the community?

Like any other outdoor activity that is designed to promote fun, recreation, health, and socialization, roller skating as we have seen since 2020, has an increasing number of rolling wheels (not skateboarder/inline) but quad. Roller Skating is one sport/recreation that can be done independently or in groups and is considered one of America's favorite past-time activities. Also recognized by former President, Ronald Reagan who identified in 1983, October to be National Roller Skate Month.

What idea do you have to address the problem?

To achieve a portion of the overall Total Wellness in the Bronx Community, it would be great to develop programs that are embedded within Parks/Recreation, Schools, and other Community-Based Organizations and existing Independent Skate Entrepreneur business owners.

After-school Programming- skate instruction for youth,

Skate Clubs (inclusion in community centers- all ages)

Competition Level- Training the youth for future sports, like any other sport that promotes achievements to include scholarship-level goals (yes there are scholarships offered to youth in the skate world too)

Who would that help?

Children/Youth are the primary demographic that would bring a family-oriented environment. It would foster Total Wellness, and address other life areas that have been identified within communities such as mental health, nutrition, social skills, and wellness.

What NYC borough would benefit from your idea?

Bringing Programs that include a space for Roller Skating with Wellness/Fitness as an embedded feature, will provide a way to support other identified program initiatives that promote a Healthy New York. Here are some descriptors that come to mind: socialization, teamwork, learning, leadership, physical activity, fun, motivating, therapeutic, fitness, and wellness. These are some things that come to mind for the end-user (The Skater). With the onset of the Pandemic, this activity has re-gained the once-upon-a-time national/global presence Reagan tagged and created space (NRSM). Providing Safe Spaces for this Activity/Sport can open doors to NYers for recreation, and potential Olympic-level inclusion. We live in a Skate Desert at this time, (with no local Rinks or Spaces identified for Quad Skate Activity (spaces are designed mostly for skateboarding/inline/aggressive and BMX only) Bringing and supporting the development of Projects & Programs for New Yorkers would be beneficial for all age groups.

At present, there are Roller Skate Organizations that provide a variety of activities ranging from Skate Tutorial/Instruction, Skating Events Indoor/Outdoor, Skate Rental Vendors, Skate Event Planners/Coordinators, as well as Skate Causes (Toy Drives, Cancer Awareness and many more) Skaters are people and embrace fun, but also embrace community and wellness.

Note: All of the above currently exist, but not all NYers are privy or have access. All of the above can be attained and can be sustainable with the right level of support (The City) We understand that there is a small portion of existing budget that goes to Arts/Culture and to Parks, but it is felt that all the above is doable if planned well and a huge win for the Bronx.