Foreclosures Become Illegal Skate Parks

The New York Times reports that skateboarders are coming from as far away as Germany to skate empty swimming pools throughout foreclosed neighborhoods in cities like Fresno, where boarders have set up shop.

1 minute read

December 29, 2008, 2:00 PM PST

By Tim Halbur

"On a recent morning, a 27-year-old skateboarder who goes by the name Josh Peacock peered into a swimming pool in Fresno, Calif., emptied by his own hands - and the foreclosure crisis - and flashed a smile as wide as a half-pipe.

'We have more pools than we know what to do with,' said Mr. Peacock, who lives in Fresno, the Central Valley city where thousands of homes, many with pools behind them, are in foreclosure. 'I can't even keep track of them all anymore.'

Across the nation, the ultimate symbol of suburban success has become one more reminder of the economic meltdown, with builders going under, pools going to seed and skaters finding a surplus of deserted pools in which to perfect their acrobatic aerials."

FULL STORY: Skaters Jump In as Foreclosures Drain the Pool

Sunday, December 28, 2008 in The New York Times

Community / Economic Development California Fresno Skateboarding

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