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MPRB Candidate Questionnaire
Jonathan Honerbrink
Q1
Describe your personal experience with skateboarding. Have you ever been a skateboarder? Do you personally know any skateboarders? What is your general perception of the activity?
Yes, but not for a long time. A lot of boarders in my family. ( cousin developed the logo design on the ripstick) . It is a very coordinated effort of balance and core. You see more kids enjoying it in the municipal parks in the summers though because of lack of quality in Minneapolis)
Q2
MPRB currently has 1 skatepark in each of the 6 MPRB districts. Each MPRB skatepark is over 11 years old and is in need of replacement due to poor design and materials. MPRB has invested $0 into skateparks and skateboard infrastructure in the past decade. Over the past 4 years skateboard supporters and City of Skate have worked to have 10 new skateparks designated into MPRB master plans. We hope to have a citywide total of 20 skateparks and skate-spaces, once all masterplanning is complete in 2020. As of today, MPRB has not funded nor prioritized any one of these designated new skateparks. How will you prioritize and work to fund skateparks?
If you look at my plan on Facebook there are 4 new parks- we can fund them through disinvestment and developed energy sold with a 2 mile radius.
Q3
In 2017 and 2018 Minneapolis is hosting the world’s largest skateboard competition, X Games. During X Games Minneapolis, women and men will compete in skateboarding contests that will also be added to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Skateboarding is seen by many as a worldwide equity activity that has little barrier to participation. Do you see a connection between skateboarding and social, racial, gender, and economic equity? If so, please share a few thoughts.
I grew up in north Minneapolis. My parents could not afford to buy me one, but I did occasionally use my friend’s. I do see this as issue based on where the parks are located. There is a balance and the balance should be through out the city. With that said your team has done a great job, but it seems you have to head it up. Projects don’t get done with out entities coming in and changing the norm. Thank you
Q4
Skateboarding has always had an appeal to teenagers and kids, but after many decades, skateboarding is now a multigenerational activity that maintains a user group that varies in ages from approximately 4 to 60+ years old. MPRB needs more opportunities for our citizens to be active and creative. Along with skateboarding, what investments and activities can MPRB embrace to make our communities more active and interactive?
The 4 park development centers will be state of the art community centers for everyone. The current buildings are small out of date and poorly maintained. Quality is bad and price is high.
Q5
With little to no maintenance needed, quality concrete skateparks are an efficient use of tax payer resources. Other park amenities like ballfields, pools, ice rinks, and courts need large dedicated spaces and are often expensive to maintain financially and environmentally. Additionally, during the last decade, MPRB has spent more money trying to stop skateboarding via defensive architecture (skate-stoppers) than it has on skateboard parks and/or features. With collaboration during design and build processes, would you support skateboarding via the activation of everyday park features such as benches, stairs, railings, ledges and sculptures for skateboarding?
Not at every park unless properly supervised. As you know it can be dangerous and there should be provisions on the equipment that should be worn at the parks.
Q6
To be able to practice and challenge their skills, skateboarders have always sought underutilized public spaces like deserted plazas, schoolyards, tennis courts, and parking lots. Often skate culture has brought a “Do It Yourself” (D.I.Y.) creativity to spaces, creating their own skate features and spaces. Would you be willing to work with the skate community to sanction spaces for skateboarders to create their own D.I.Y. spaces?
If we develop the park the communities will have there skateboards. I am not against creativity, but I am against people getting hurt.