There is very little that needs to be done to convince me of the importance of skateboarding here in Portland, its ties to our identity, and opportunity it presents. Last week I was able to see Margaux Mennesson present during one of Oregon Active Transportation events Skate Urbanism from BDX to PDX. I'm also now acquainted with Ryan Hashagen from Icicle Tricycle who has let me know a bit about the Steel Bridge Skatepark in Old Town.

A compelling recent example of skateboarding’s positive impact is the Portland Dream Plaza, a project by Dream Big City, founded by Alex Murrell, which transforms underused streets into vibrant community plazas that include space for skateboarders, with a strong focus on youth programming and community stewardship.

The real kicker, as we face continuous budget shortfalls, is how to get creative in how these projects maintain funding.

I will preface my responses to your questions with some general notes: my role, if elected to city council, will be to listen and learn from the people most impacted by these efforts, and then to advocate for unaddressed needs. While I may not be particularly familiar with the history of skate parks in Portland, increasing public spaces for recreation and community connection is a high priority for me. Park spaces help improve our city in many ways, among which include increasing public safety with more folks outside in a positive way, improving physical wellness with spaces for physical activity, and fostering social connection - and therefore improving mental health. 

"In 2005, Portland Parks put together a plan for a skatepark system -19 skateparks distributed throughout the city.  To date, we're approximately halfway completed,  20 years into the process.  How do you envision yourself contributing to fund these skatepark projects?"

20 years is quite a long time to patiently wait for the skatepark system to be instituted... unfortunately, we have only been seeing a decrease in the budgeting for Portland Parks & Rec. Our current city council has demonstrated an understanding that a robust parks system is part of public safety, and last year moved to transfer nearly $2 million from the Portland Police Bureau toward Portland Parks & Rec.

(source: https://portlandtribune.com/2025/05/22/city-council-approves-balanced-8-5-billion-budget-at-the-last-minute/)

I believe we need to take approaches like this further when considering funding for the skatepark projects. Are we looking at these merely as a Parks & Rec process, or are we zooming out and recognizing how vital this is to public safety? I would advocate we transfer funds allocated for public safety toward this project as well, to compensate for loss of park-specific dollars and ensure this project is finalized. City parks are also excellent spaces for public restrooms to be established. We have a huge problem when it comes to publicly available restrooms in the city, especially when park restrooms close from October till May. One of my campaign efforts includes expanding public restroom access - we can start with keeping park restrooms open year-round. If we were to recognize that with an expanded park system comes improving public restroom space, perhaps we could advocate for public sanitation funding also being funneled toward completing the skatepark project. 

"We're currently working on the Steel Bridge Skatepark in Old Town, which will be the crown jewel of the 19 park plan.  There has been a significant budget allocated towards this project, with an anticipated completion date in 2029.  We will need help pushing this project over the finish line, what would your support look like?"

Echoing my statements above, my support would include highlighting the holistic city benefits such a skatepark would bring. An element that stood out to me in watching the video on the site you sent, showing where the park would be located, is that currently, that portion of land is surrounded by hostile architecture targeted at dissuading unhoused folks from camping there. Hostile architecture is not only inhumane, it serves no one. By pushing forward the Steel Bridge Skatepark project, we would actually turn that whole space around into something that serves our whole community. I would highlight this as well as my points above to help push this project past the finish line. 

"Portland is the birthplace of the DIY Skatepark: The Burnside Project.  There are several other engaging DIY skatespots currently thriving in various parts of town.  Will you commit to supporting these projects, if found to be beneficial to the neighborhoods they're a part of?  What would that commitment entail?"

Okay, I have passed by the Burnside skatepark before and was unaware of the DIY history - I love this! It epitomizes one of the best aspects of Portland culture for me: making the city our own and not waiting for permission to do so. Yes, I am in full support of the DIY Skateparks. There are far too many rules, permits, and funding wars to navigate for city managed parks, as you have highlighted with the decades' long skatepark process. A core value of my platform is putting the power back into the hands of the people. One way I hope to accomplish that is by advocating for a real budget to be given to neighborhood associations, which people living in those neighborhoods could then apply to utilize for projects such as a DIY skatepark, with far less bureaucracy involved than trying to convince the city to build a park. Our city design needs to fit the needs of each neighborhood, each block, and who better to say what the neighborhood needs than the residents themselves? In addition to granting neighborhood associations budgets that DIY park builders could apply for, my support would include looking at ways to cut down bureaucracy and streamline the approval process for DIY parks. I also want the city to completely re-imagine zoning laws to make it easier for residents to establish what they want to see in their neighborhoods more organically. The last thing city government should be doing is standing in the way of grassroots efforts to better our neighborhoods, in the name of arbitrary zoning laws.

Thank you again for your thoughtful questions! I would love your feedback on my thoughts. I see myself as a life long student and have so much to learn from my fellow Portlanders. 

Thank you for your advocacy and for everything you are doing to keep Portland's skate culture thriving. I've always been a huge fan of skaters and have known that skateboarding brings creativity, resilience, community, and an incredible ability to transform overlooked spaces into places where people belong. I appreciate the opportunity to answer your questions.

In 2005, Portland Parks put together a plan for a skatepark system — 19 skateparks distributed throughout the city. To date, we're approximately halfway completed, 20 years into the process. How do you envision yourself contributing to fund these skatepark projects?

I appreciate you shining a light on the Skatepark System Plan! Over the past two decades, I've served Portland Parks & Recreation in a variety of roles, working on community engagement, capital projects, partnerships, and fundraising. Those experiences have taught me that the best public projects happen when government, philanthropy, business, labor, and community members rally around a shared vision.

As a City Council member, I'd use those relationships and that experience to help secure funding, build public support, and advocate for skateparks as essential community infrastructure. Skateparks don't just serve skaters—they activate parks, create safer public spaces through positive use, and build community across generations.

We're currently working on the Steel Bridge Skatepark in Old Town, which will be the crown jewel of the 19-park plan. We will need help pushing this project over the finish line. What would your support look like?

The Steel Bridge Skatepark has the potential to become one of Portland's signature public spaces, and I'd be excited to help see it through.

I recently managed the Portland Parks community engagement team, including the staff leading engagement for this project, so I understand the commitment, vision, and the work required to deliver something of this scale. I'd help keep momentum by advocating for resources, supporting partnerships, removing barriers where possible, and making sure the project remains a priority. I'd also work to tell the story of why this investment matters—not just for skaters, but for the continued revitalization and activation of Old Town.

Portland is the birthplace of the DIY Skatepark: Burnside. There are several other engaging DIY skatespots currently thriving in various parts of town. Will you commit to supporting these projects, if found to be beneficial to the neighborhoods they're a part of? What would that commitment entail?

Absolutely—with thoughtful partnership.

Some of our most iconic places were created by people who cared enough to imagine something better. Burnside is an incredible example of that spirit, and it's earned worldwide respect because it grew from the community up.

Throughout my career at Portland Parks, I've seen time and again that the City gets the best outcomes when we listen first and work alongside the people who are already invested. If a DIY skatespot is strengthening its neighborhood, creating positive activation, and has community support, I would absolutely work to be a constructive partner.

That means bringing skaters, neighbors, Parks, transportation, and other stakeholders together to explore practical solutions that improve safety, sustainability, and long-term success—while respecting the creativity, independence, and community ownership that make these places so meaningful.

Thanks for keeping leaders engaged and accountable in this important space. 

-Kellie

Kellie Torres
Candidate for City Council, District 3

www.kellietorresforportland.com