Skate Park Research Articles

Making Spaces for Girls

The paper explores the exclusion of teenage girls from public spaces, particularly parks and recreation grounds. It reveals the multiple challenges faced by teenage girls in accessing and utilising these spaces and the impact this has on their well-being and sense of inclusion in the community.The fundamental problem is that parks are not designed with the needs of teenage girls in mind. Facilities intended for teenagers, such as skate parks, Multi-Use Games Areas (MUGAs), and BMX tracks, predominantly cater to the interests of boys, contributing to inequality of opportunities. Moreover, the design and dominance of these facilities by boys can further discourage girls from participating in outdoor activities, impacting their physical health and mental well-being. Consequently, teenage girls perceive public spaces as unwelcoming and unsuitable for their use.Safety emerges as a critical concern, with teenage girls reporting feeling unsafe in public spaces due to various factors, including sexual harassment. The paper highlights the broader definition of safety for girls, encompassing not only physical security but also the sense of welcome and acceptance in a space. This is important not just because girls have a right to public space. The barriers they face also impact their physical and mental well-being to a significant degree. Drawing attention to the intersectionality of these challenges, the paper advocates for the active engagement of teenage girls in the design process, recognizing their diverse perspectives and needs.While the paper identifies emerging principles for effective engagement with teenage girls, it calls for further research and larger-scale practical projects and a need to evaluate the impact of inclusive design on the ground. Ultimately, the research contributes to a growing discourse on gender-inclusive urban planning, advocating for a paradigm shift that prioritises the needs and voices of teenage girls in shaping public spaces.

Olympic Games and Adventure Sports: The Inclusion of Surfing in the Tokyo 2020 edition

As a result of the International Olympic Committee’s desire to rejuvenate its fan base and spark the interest of a new generation of spectators, the world witnessed the inclusion of action and adventure sports in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games. These sports included sport climbing, skate street, skate park, BMX park and surfing. Focusing specifically on the sport of surfing, this study aims to explore the expectations around its debut in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic programme, nurtured by people relevant to the surfing universe, such as athletes, managers and journalists. This is a descriptive and exploratory study that uses bibliographic and documentary analysis as methodological procedures, along with a semi-structured interview script for qualitative exploratory research, focused on the inclusion of surfing in the Olympic programme. Through the analysis of interview data combined with the information obtained through literature review, we conclude that the inclusion of surfing in the Olympic programme presents possibilities that go beyond rejuvenating its audience; it also has the potential to reaffirm Olympic values.

The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name by Sandhya Parappukkaran

Reviewed by: The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name by Sandhya Parappukkaran Sarah Sahn Parappukkaran, Sandhya The Boy Who Tried to Shrink His Name; illus. by Michelle Pereira Abrams, 2023 [40p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781419761584 $17.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9781647006594 $15.54 Reviewed from digital galleys R* 4-8 yrs Zimdalamashkermishkada’s long name always trips him up, “like long shoelaces that always come undone,” so at his new school, he decides to be Zim. To his dismay, however, every time someone asks his name, it springs back to its usual size (“like a scared puffer fish at sea), and even when he does finally manage to introduce himself to a new classmate as Zim, that doesn’t feel right, either. “We named you after the coconut trees that stretch high and hold up the sky while sheltering all underneath,” his mother tells him, encouraging him to give his classmates a chance. He finally does so with new pal Elly, adding another syllable each day for his new friend while she teaches him new tricks at the skate park. With gentle compassion and tender wisdom, this Australian import portrays the challenges and joys of starting over in a new setting, juxtaposing fraught school days with the cozy warmth of evenings at home. Pereira’s block print style digital artwork brings Zimdalamashkermishkada’s name to vibrant life in bright orange against the muted pink, green, and brown palette as it sprawls across the pages trailing after him, strikes his desk as a lightning bolt, and unfolds into an endless paper accordion that won’t stay neatly [End Page 161] contained. When he begins to teach Elly his name, the unruly shapes begin to take the form of a bird, adding more detail with each syllable until it soars gloriously across a two-page spread in joyous, fiery tones when Elly says the whole thing. This sensitive book will make an excellent lead-in to age-appropriate discussions about difference and belonging. Copyright © 2022 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Adolescents’ perceptions of park characteristics that discourage park visitation

Parks are key amenities of liveable cities that support physical activity and social interaction. However, parks are often not well attended by adolescents, and little is known about what park characteristics may discourage adolescents from visiting parks. The aim of this study was to explore what park characteristics adolescents perceive as most likely to discourage park visitation. Adolescents (n = 444, 13–18 years, 53% female) from seven schools in diverse areas of Melbourne, Australia completed an online survey at school. In response to an open-ended question, participants listed three park characteristics that would most likely discourage their park visitation. Content analysis was performed to determine categories of park characteristics from the coded responses. The six most frequently stated park characteristics that would discourage park visitation related to: play equipment (e.g., small/children’s playgrounds, no play equipment, no swings; 44% of participants mentioned the category at least once); social factors (e.g., crowded parks, presence of undesirable people; 32%); natural environment (e.g., small/no grassy space, large grassy open space; 28%); maintenance (e.g., dirty facilities, rubbish; 23%); sport/recreation features (e.g., skate park; 20%); and amenities (e.g., no shade, toilets, drink taps; 19%). To encourage more adolescents to increasingly visit parks, it is imperative for stakeholders to address the park features that they perceive as unappealing to ensure that park design caters to this important age group.

Punks in Peoria: Making a Scene in the American Heartland by Jonathan Wright and Dawson Barrett

Reviewed by: Punks in Peoria: Making a Scene in the American Heartland by Jonathan Wright and Dawson Barrett David Woken Jonathan Wright and Dawson Barrett, Punks in Peoria: Making a Scene in the American Heartland. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2021. xi, 238 pp. $22.95 (paper). In Punks in Peoria, Jonathan Wright's and Dawson Barrett's account of the underground youth music scene in Peoria, Illinois, Gared O'Donnell of local band Planes Mistaken for Stars remarks on their decision to move to Denver: "I guess in your early twenties … Peoria was a great place to be from, but it wasn't a great place to stay" (171). Many of us who first encountered underground music in the declining Rust Belt towns that dotted the Midwest did indeed find our hometowns better places to be from than to stay, and Wright's and Barrett's account of youth seeking escape from the stifling confines of their culturally conservative and economically stagnating surroundings is a welcome addition to studies that complicate canonical accounts of punk rock and broader do-it-yourself (DIY) youth culture that focus on the most famous bands and major cities. "There is no obvious place for Peoria in the punk rock pantheon" (7), they note, yet the story they [End Page 85] tell makes a powerful argument for paying attention to peripheral cultural scenes around the world, and it provides useful context to understand how discontented midwestern youth sought creative expression amid the economic and social changes sweeping the industrial heartland. Based on local news reports, zines, social media reminiscences, and, most importantly, interviews with a wide range of participants in the Peoria DIY scene, Punks in Peoria tells a rollicking story of youth culture in a town that is synonymous with conservative middle-American values and tastes. The book chronicles bands that enjoyed local notoriety but largely failed to burst onto the national stage. Shows thrown together in diverse spaces (fairgrounds, college gymnasia, record stores, skate parks, rented VFW and American Legion halls, short-lived all-ages night clubs, private houses, and even an abandoned mental hospital) occupied informal spaces familiar to those who experienced similar small-town scenes. Enlivening the text are colorful profiles of local characters like long-running shock artist Bloody F. Mess, explanations of local slang like the regional term for an outsider teen ("cornchip"), and descriptions of short-lived show spaces that entered local legend like the Airwaves skate park and anarchopunk Tiamat Records. The authors also provide accounts of legendary shows by internationally famous (or infamous) acts that demonstrate how DIY culture offended the sensibilities of staid Midwesterners while offering ecstatic liberation to the young. These included GG Allin's scatological 1985 performance that saw him chased off by police and Legionnaires after just two songs, and a 1999 show by anarchist metallic hardcore provocateurs Catharsis that ended in the band leading the audience into the alley behind Tiamat for a round of impromptu drumming and fire-dancing that stopped only when police arrived to shut the event down. Wright's and Barrett's focus remains firmly on telling details and anecdotes about the local musicians, zinesters, and show organizers who built and re-built their scene, and their stories make for entertaining and engrossing material. The opening chapter paints a vivid picture of pre-1980s Peoria, an industrial town of breweries, distilleries, and the Caterpillar tractor factory, and home to a strong union tradition. But it was also one of the most segregated cities in the nation (a fact noted in the stand-up comedy of the town's most famous son, Richard Pryor) and one with a reputation for conservative, middlebrow sensibilities despite the fact that it had long been a stop for vaudeville and blues musicians traveling between Chicago and St. Louis. Yet this sort of big picture falls short in much of the rest of [End Page 86] the book when they consider DIY youth culture. They do succinctly sum up one of the core tensions in punk rock, between nihilistic rejection and positive change, by contrasting Bloody Mess's shock antics with the positive DIY spirit of Peoria's first hardcore punk band...

A Skateboarding Experiential Learning Activity for Introductory Physics

Instructors of introductory college physics courses are in a unique position to explain the physics of skateboarding and its associated risks. A field trip to a skate park to explore the law of conservation of energy and measure the impact forces can enhance student analytical thinking skills and their appreciation of physics in everyday life. Through the measurement of the impact forces and student discussions of their own skateboarding experiences, students are better prepared to protect themselves from skateboarding-related physical injuries.

Skateboard head injuries: Are we making progress?

Background: Skateboarding is a popular sport and U.S. trauma centers care for a significant number of skateboard-related injuries (SRIs). However, injury prevention strategies are still underdeveloped. This study was designed to compare the epidemiology, type, and location of skateboard injury as well as the use and influence of protective gear over two time periods.Methods: This is a retrospective National Trauma Data Bank study including all patients with SRIs between 2007and 2016. Study groups were divided into two 5-year periods: 2007–2011 and 2012–2016. The incidence and severity of traumatic brain injury (TBI), as well as the compliance and effectiveness of protective gear and skate parks, was assessed in various age groups in the two study periods using univariable and multivariable analyses. Univariable analysis was used to compare the two study periods, logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of head injury and severe TBI.Results: 24,903 patients presented with SRIs: 10,594 from 2007 to 2011 and 14,309 from 2012 to 2016. Helmet use was low in both periods (5.7% and 5.4% respectively). The incidence of severe TBI (head AIS≥3) did not change significantly during the two periods (31.6% vs. 30.8%, p = 0.162). In children with severe TBI, there was no significant difference in helmet use across all ages, (10.4% vs. 11.5%, p = 0.467; 6.4% vs. 6.5%, p = 0.753; 4.2% vs. 3.7%, p = 0.201, respectively) with the lowest usage in the older than 16 years age group. On logistic regression, male gender (OR 1.526, 95% CI 1.372–1.698, p<0.001) was associated with increased odds of severe TBI, while helmet use (OR 0.534, 95% CI 0.455–0.627, p<0.001) and injuries at skate parks (OR 0.584, 95% CI 0.541–0.630, p<0.001), near home (OR 0.465, 95% CI 0.418–0.518, p<0.001), and public buildings (OR 0.386, 95% CI 0.440–0.541, p<0.001) were associated with reduced odds of severe TBI.Conclusions: Helmet use in patients with SRIs is low in all pediatric age groups. Helmet use and skate parks are protective against severe TBI. Older age children and male gender are at increased risk of severe TBI after skateboard-related injuries, and more targeted preventive education and legislation are needed.

Bicycle center infrastructure in a city

The paper deals with the bicycle center infrastructure in a city, which becomes popular every year, but is not yet studied properly. Little attention is devoted to the spatial development for two-wheeled vehicles, so there are many problems to be discussed and solved.The purpose of this paper is to determine the types of bicycle centers in the structure of a city, from the main and central to regional and peripheral that connect all urban areas. Moving along the bicycle paths from home to a large bicycle center and back to home, one can communicate in bicycle centers. Less functional peripheral centers provide repair services, bicycle rental and small recreation. The city of Rostov-on-Don is taken as an example.The following parameters are determined: optimum distance between bicycle centers of different types, their functional content, bicycle center location in the city. In the future, it is possible to arrange such centers in any city due to their unification.The model of the bicycle center network is proposed for the city of Rostov-on-Don, that are characterized by different area and multifunctional purposes for each district to attract people. The main bicycle center includes sports grounds, bicycle track, rock climbers, skate park, gyms, ski jumping hall and other sports facilities. Roof-top bike trails, amphitheater with a street stage, art spaces, go-karting can be arranged on the territory of these centers.

자연 섬유와 광물성 혼화재를 혼입한 스케이트 파크용 습식 숏크리트의 역학적 특성 및 내구성

본 연구는 스케이트 파크용 습식 숏크리트 개발을 위하여 자연섬유와 광물성 혼화재를 혼입한 습식 숏크리트의 역학적 특성과 내구성으로 염소이온침투저항성, 소성수축균열, 마모저항성을 평가하였다. 공기량과 슬럼프는 각각 6.0±1.5 %, 130±20 mm를 만족하여 펌핑성과 붙임성을 확보할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다. 압축강도는 모든 변수에서 고성능 숏크리트의 기준인 35.0 MPa 이상으로, 휨강도는 4.5 MPa 이상으로 측정되었다. 강도측면에서는 자연섬유의 혼입보다는 광물성 혼화재의 혼입이 보다 큰 영향을 미친 것으로 확인되었다. 염소이온침투저항성은 자연섬유의 혼입으로 오히려 통과전하량이 증가하여 염소이온 침투저항성이 감소하는 것으로 나타나, 광물성 혼화재의 추가적인 혼입이 필요하다는 것을 확인하였으며, 이를 통하여 높음에서 낮음의 수준까지 염소이온 침투저항성을 향상시킬 수 있었다. 소성수축에 의한 균열 폭은 평균을 기준으로 자연섬유의 혼입으로 약 80 % 수준으로 저감시킬 수 있었으며, 광물성 혼화재의 혼입에 따른 영향은 뚜렷하게 나타나지는 않았다. 마지막으로, 마모 깊이는 모든 변수에서 2.0 mm 이하로 측정되어 마모저항성이 매우 우수한 것으로 나타났다. 자연섬유의 혼입으로 약 63 % 수준으로, 광물성 혼화재의 혼입으로 약 53 % 수준으로 마모 깊이가 저감되는 것을 확인하였다.

The city as a playground: Skate parks, inclusion and new territory

There are two central topics in this study: the first topic relates to the physical space created by skateboarding, while the other relates to social capital derived from skateboard culture. The paper analyzes the case studies of three skate parks, in which the theme of social inclusion is the theoretical framework. Looking through the history of skateboarding and integration of skate parks as a part of the urban environment, the theme is concerned with bringing the openness that is part of the design of our public spaces to skateboarding culture, and in general, to the feeling of belonging as an essential part of building social capital. In the manner of shared space, public space has started to be used as a communication platform between community members looking for expression of their needs and desires. The benefits of the skateboarding settings have rarely been the subject of empirical research, so these case studies will deepen our knowledge on why social bonds connected to this sport make such a significant contribution in city landscapes. Individuality and its political manifestation have a structural role in this paper: from the appearance of the architectural figuration to the idea about a movement and a settlement, which for architecture, can be seen in the form of new territories.

Gender Differences in Physical Activity Associated with Urban Neighborhood Parks: Findings from the National Study of Neighborhood Parks.

Urban neighborhood parks are designed to provide easy access to recreation and physical activity. We analyzed data from the first National Study of Neighborhood Parks, which assessed the characteristics and use of a representative sample of U.S. urban neighborhood parks. This article compares factors associated with active commuting (e.g., walking) to parks among men and women and park characteristics associated with observed moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) within neighborhood parks. We used systematic direct observation to quantify parks visitors of all ages in 162 U.S. neighborhood parks in 25 cities in 2016 and surveyed a sample of adult visitors (877 women and 793 men). We used descriptive statistics to identify park facilities, amenities, and park management practices associated with park use. We also conducted multivariate regressions to identify factors most closely associated with observed park-based MVPA among all age groups and with self-reported levels of active commuting to parks among adults. Reasons to visit parks varied by gender, with women more likely than men to bring children (59% vs 42% for men; p<.001), and men more likely than women to go to parks to relax (38% vs 29%; p=.01). Bringing children to parks was associated with more motorized transport among women, but not among men. Active commuting to parks was associated with living closer to parks (β=-0.92; p<.0001), a greater frequency of park use (β=0.99; p<.0001), and the park having a working drinking fountain (β=0.62; p=.01), with no significant differences between men and women. Men and boys used park facilities very differently than women and girls. Men and boys engaged in the most MVPA in soccer fields, gyms, and skate parks, whereas for women and girls the top three sites were pools, playgrounds, and walking paths. Significant gender differences in why men and women visit parks and how parks are used likely reflect cultural determinants of gender roles. Our findings suggest that park management practices should be adjusted to mitigate the lower use of parks and lower levels of park-based MVPA among women and girls compared with men and boys.

Exploring children's perceptions of barriers and facilitators to physical activity in rural Northwestern Ontario, Canada.

Low levels of physical activity among children are a significant public health concern in several industrialized nations. The current research body has failed to gather adequate information on various geographic regions. Understanding barriers and facilitators in different rural regions is imperative for creating successful physical activity interventions for children in rural areas. The purpose of this study is to explore rural children's perspectives on physical activity and to discuss barriers or facilitators to physical activity participation in rural Northwestern Ontario, Canada. Children (n=84) in Grades 4-8 (ages 8-14 years) in rural Northwestern Ontario participated in focus groups to discuss barriers and facilitators to physical activity. Twenty focus groups were conducted in schools. The focus groups were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. Subthemes were created based on the explicit content of the data and grouped to form broader themes. Three key themes were identified: environment, social environment, and perceptions of safety. Environmental features include weather and the built environment. Social environment includes the role of friends and adults to either facilitate or restrict children's play. The fear of wildlife was pervasive across all focus groups and resulted in restricted independent mobility and physical activity. Rural children are typically under-represented in physical activity research. The findings of this study reveal that rural children experience some barriers to physical activity that are distinct from those of urban children. The findings suggest that researchers need to understand contextual nuances of the rural environment. Specific to the setting of Northwestern Ontario, these rural children could benefit from the addition of a skate park, indoor places to play, and more wildlife education.

Revitalization of the city’s riverside areas on the example of the urstromtal of the Malczewski Stream in Radom

The area of ​​the primeval valley of the Malczewski stream, located on the border of two blocks of flats inside the Radom housing estate Południe, has remained undeveloped for over twenty years. The existing stand is mainly self-seeding with the dominance of Salix alba (32%) and Populus tremula (16%). In addition, there are: Alnus incana (11%), Quercus rubra (10%), Acer negundo (7%) and others. There are no paved pedestrian routes. The conceptual design of the new development of the valley is a response to the needs of local residents. The project involves the creation of a square in the middle of the plot, with a focal point in the form of a fountain. Provides for the separation of an area with sports and recreational functions with a fitness and skate park, as well as two playgrounds for children. There is also a designated area for a dog paddock. A part of the park with a roofed gazebo and three paved squares with stone barbecues will serve as a recreation and leisure function for entire families. Referring to the names of the surrounding housing estate Południe and associations with the sun - the place was given the name of Sunny Park. The name of the park is underlined by the arrangement of alleys, reflecting the journey of the sun in the sky.

Urban Commoning and Architectural Situated Knowledge: The Architects’ Role in the Transformation of the NDSM Ship Wharf, Amsterdam

This article discusses the collaborative processes behind the redevelopment of the Dutch state heritage ship wharf NDSM in Amsterdam as a case of urban commoning that took place around the year 2000 – before the term became commonly used in urban studies. It explores how the former shipwharf was transformed into an “incubator”: a creative hub with artist studios, theater spaces, a skate park and other facilities for cultural production. In this article, we specifically investigate the role of architects in this context. Unfolding the process reveals the emergence of the figure of the participant-architect who participates in the shared authorship, within a collective situated knowledge. This knowledge is simultaneously produced in the place and productive of the place.

THE PROBLEM OF FORMING AN AESTHETIC IMAGE OF OBJECTS FOR EXTREME SPORTS ON THE SKATE PARKS EXAMPLE

The article outlines the problem of missing practical application of the basics of compositional and figurative integrity which form the original image of a skate park. Formation of a integrity image of a skate park is possible through the taking into account means and principles of composition, among which there is rhythm, contrast, nuance, scale, proportionality, creation of the composition center, etc.The base components of formation the image of objects for pursuit of extreme sports on the basis of theme parks, which are high popular are given. Herewith, its necessary to adhere the determined thematics for create an atmosphere of action, to use сontrapposto, to apply light effects, to hide unattractive scenes, use of easily memorable elements and to attract all five human senses. When defining the thematic of a skate park, its necessary to orientate on the actual topics for youth related to youth culture and sports, as well as special attention deserve the cultural and historical parks whose design will be reminiscent of a historical personality or historical event.Creating a skate park as an architectural composition, which is endowed a special original thematic, is of great importance for forming a positive impact on the personality, which will be expressed through the feeling of harmony, delight, as well as the development of emotional memory and personal qualities, such as purposefulness, determination, perseverance, courage, etc.

Skate or die: Unusual circumstances surrounding a natural cause of death

In a forensic pathologist's mind, a suspicious death scene involving inflicted injuries and a weapon always raises three possible hypotheses regarding the manner of death—homicide, suicide, or accident; the latter is slightly less common. We present a case of a 43-year-old homeless man with a history of chronic alcohol abuse who was found dead in a skate park in Geneva. He was inflicted with a stab wound to his abdomen, with a knife found in situ. With the suspicion of homicide, a crime scene investigation team, including a forensic pathologist, was summoned to the scene. However, further examination of the body revealed a deep cut with hesitation marks on the left forearm. This discovery raised the hypothesis of a suicide. Here, we have described the investigations made by the police and forensic department, along with the circumstances and autopsy findings that determined the cause of death as an effect of a natural disease.

Skateboarding, gentle activism, and the animation of public space: CITE – A Celebration of Skateboard Arts and Culture at The Bentway

ABSTRACT This paper examines the interplay of leisure, activism and the animation of public space by exploring CITE – A Celebration of Skateboard Arts and Culture, an art installation and pop-up skate park featuring skateable sculptures constructed in commemoration of Toronto skateboarder Justin Bokma. CITE, which took place in the summer of 2018, deliberately transformed The Bentway, a new public space and programming platform in Toronto which has transformed the underside of the Gardiner Expressway into a gathering place for city inhabitants, into a temporary destination where skateboarders engaged in activist, educational, and arts and cultural practices to situate the act of skateboarding within the broader context of urban placemaking. Drawing on a variety of empirical materials (e.g., interviews, videos, social media, promotional materials, press releases, observations), this case study seeks to understand how so-called ‘gentle activism’ animates public space and advances inclusive placemaking. Findings show that, through gentle activism, CITE underscored (1) the salience of arts and aesthetics in advocating for skateboarding, (2) inclusivity of programming to facilitate interaction between skateboarders and the non-skateboarding public, (3) the utilisation of programming to amplify the activist message, and (4) intentional efforts to change perceptions of skateboarders. The case reveals a successful alternative to defensive placemaking efforts.

Features of the space organization of the extreme sports objects and their aesthetic perception on the example of a skate park

The article deals with the problem of the imperfection of designed and built skate parks in Ukraine and abroad, which is the lack of integrity of the skate park space components, which negatively affects the human well-being and its attitude to the environment. The article presents the results of the skate parks study as a set of elements of composition that shape the icon and artistic value for athletes and visitors. The practical importance of the skate park complex organization in the inseparable connection of the aesthetic and functional components is emphasized. It described that lack of sense of attractiveness sports facilities often causes the deviant behavior of visitors and results from the continuation of athletes skating through the streets of cities. The aesthetic component of a skate park is formed by an ensemble of its structural elements that function in an integral way and complement each other. It also shows the downside of the subculture of skateboarders due to their dissatisfaction with the environment, which manifests itself in the application of graffiti on the elements to perform tricks and results from the deterioration of their appearance and performance. The aesthetic and technical advantages of using concrete cover of skate parks are noted. Important in the formation of the skate park is the organic arrangement of the skate park in the urban and natural landscape, which covers the organization of the environment with the possibility of developing a skate park. It is also possible to integrate thematic visual elements such as small architectural forms and outdoor furniture to create the integrity of a skate park. In addition, the use of interesting color solutions, atypical structural elements for skating in the form of sculpture, various types of landscaping, which in the complex helps to create the image of a skate park.

Urban Spaces in Residential Areas as an Environment for Continuous Prevention and Rehabilitation – Design and Benefits

Facing the demographic changes is our common responsibility as researchers of all scientific disciplines. The forecasts based on statistical data show that in many countries in the nearest future the highest growth in population will be in the segment of 65-year-olds and older people. With age, mobility, intellectual ability and spatial orientation are reduced. Creating a proper living environment and public spaces to conduct prevention and rehabilitation training would have a positive impact on shaping and maintaining the quality of life of residents. The purpose of this multidisciplinary research was to create a model training for people with motor dysfunctions together with an optimal design of environment to conduct it on daily basis. Currently, a great emphasis in the design of urban areas is placed on the physical and social activity of children and youth (playgrounds, skate parks, sports equipment), as well as people with a high degree of physical fitness (sports fields and equipment, outdoor gyms, running paths, nordic walking, cross-country skiing). The aim of the work was to explore the possibilities and prove effectiveness of basic functional training with sensory elements in non-standard activity spaces intended for people with reduced low physical activity and motor disorders, not requiring additional devices, using elements of nature, such as terrain, water, greenery - as well as elements of small architecture.

Les pratiques de skateboard dans la ville. Éléments de discussion sur les modes d’appropriation des espaces publics urbains

Skateboarders are found in urban areas such as streets, squares and skate parks within the city. However, all urban spaces do not offer the same possibilities for skateboarding practices and that’s why some tend to be preferred more than others. For the purpose of this study, three popular sites known for skateboarding activities in Lyons have been observed: two public squares and one skate park. The whole study is based on in situ observations as well as interviews. It explores the urban objects mobilized by the skateboarders during their activities, the interactions among skateboarders and also with other people. The results obtained allow us to reexamine the role of urban objects in social activities based on the skateboarders’ experiences, and, more specifically, the appropriation of these objects. Two kinds of appropriation are distinguished: appropriation for activities, and appropriation by groups.