"OSA has plans to repurpose the lot next to Henry J. Kaiser Memorial Park, which includes a skate park, but who is actually going to be using it?"--Zanthe Jones-Gerachis, 8th grade
In April of 2023, OSA purchased the lot across from Henry J. Kaiser Memorial Park and has had plans to turn it into a park for students. Since the acquisition of the lot, the plans have expanded and changed, and now include a skate park.
Mike Oz, Executive Director at OSA, explains the school’s vision for the lot. “The current planning is three kind of primary components: a basketball area that would also have benches and a place to sit. Also, the ability for that park to be used for food trucks or whatever you would want to be able to bring in there for community events.”
“The second part,” Oz continued, “would be a big soccer field that Oakland Roots would use, and after hours we would use it for PE, football, soccer, whatever kind of field sports. The part that's right on Telegraph Avenue would be about a third of the total thing, is a section of the park we are going to call Cloud Park. It's a skate park, performance area, and mural wall.”
The decision to call the skate park “Cloud Park” was made to honor Angus Cloud, an alumni of OSA who was featured in the HBO series Euphoria and who passed away in July of 2023.
Students are excited for this installation but mostly about the skate park, which is going to occupy about a third of the lot. But, as word of the skate park has been moving through the school, the question is who is actually going to use it? While OSA has many skateboarders, not all feel comfortable skating in front of their peers.
“So, in all honesty, it depends on who's going. Because, like, I feel like there's not many girls who skateboard,” explained an OSA student who wanted to remain anonymous. “I feel like…if you’re a girl who skateboards you are a skater girl. Like that's just automatically who you are. I feel like there's a whole entire style and persona that comes along with that. That doesn't apply to everybody and skateboarding can just be a hobby.”
Skateboarding has been a mostly male-dominated sport but now in the last few years, a more diverse group of people have started skateboarding. For non-masculine skaters, there is more fear of judgment, even if you’re skating in a park with peers and classmates.
“We just have to fit into that “skater girl” stereotype if we're going to skateboard because I feel like skateboarding is still seen as a masculine thing,” continued one anonymous student.
“There is definitely a bigger population of guys at this school who skateboard, especially at OSA just because it is seen as a masculine sport,” explains Cb Omand, 8th grade student at OSA. “There are still those guys that will be like ‘do a trick or else you're a poser’ if you're just trying to have fun,” she continued. .
“If a girl says that she can skateboard, everybody immediately goes ‘prove it’ or they yell, like, ‘kick flip!’ or something,” says an anonymous student.
This type of interaction is common among many girl-identified skaters. This form of sexism happens frequently when a woman talks about something they do (hobby, ability, activity) that is more male-dominated.
“Whenever I go to a skate park or somewhere in public, someone always makes a comment about me not doing something right, or how skateboarding is not a girl activity, and it irritates me.” Explains Ruby Deetz, 7th grader at OSA.
Many students have expressed excitement about the skate park inside the OSA lot, yet girls who skate are more likely to opt out because of fear of judgment. However, students still have time to consider visiting Cloud Park, as it will be a while before it’s actually done.
“We have essentially zero dollars at this point, but I am working to get somebody or multiple people to step up with that big first gift that will allow us to do the grading of the lot, put in the retaining wall, and put up the fencing. Ideally, you get turf and asphalt right away,” Oz explained. “January/February is possible but it could take much longer if we don't get the money.”
OSA is also partnering with many organizations such as Skate Like a Girl (SLAG) and others, so there is hope the people in those organizations can spread word for fundraising. Skate Like a Girl is a nonprofit organization that empowers individuals, especially young women and trans people, to become strong, confident leaders who promote and implement equity through the vehicle of skateboarding.
“We are having conversations with our partners and sponsors to get them involved,” explainedKim Woozy, Director of Marketing & Partnerships at SLAG. “We will also be working with the rest of the group to launch a public fundraising campaign to get the word out to the broader skateboarding community when the time is right to do so.”
Mike Oz, Executive Director at OSA, explains the school’s vision for the lot. “The current planning is three kind of primary components: a basketball area that would also have benches and a place to sit. Also, the ability for that park to be used for food trucks or whatever you would want to be able to bring in there for community events.”
“The second part,” Oz continued, “would be a big soccer field that Oakland Roots would use, and after hours we would use it for PE, football, soccer, whatever kind of field sports. The part that's right on Telegraph Avenue would be about a third of the total thing, is a section of the park we are going to call Cloud Park. It's a skate park, performance area, and mural wall.”
The decision to call the skate park “Cloud Park” was made to honor Angus Cloud, an alumni of OSA who was featured in the HBO series Euphoria and who passed away in July of 2023.
Students are excited for this installation but mostly about the skate park, which is going to occupy about a third of the lot. But, as word of the skate park has been moving through the school, the question is who is actually going to use it? While OSA has many skateboarders, not all feel comfortable skating in front of their peers.
“So, in all honesty, it depends on who's going. Because, like, I feel like there's not many girls who skateboard,” explained an OSA student who wanted to remain anonymous. “I feel like…if you’re a girl who skateboards you are a skater girl. Like that's just automatically who you are. I feel like there's a whole entire style and persona that comes along with that. That doesn't apply to everybody and skateboarding can just be a hobby.”
Skateboarding has been a mostly male-dominated sport but now in the last few years, a more diverse group of people have started skateboarding. For non-masculine skaters, there is more fear of judgment, even if you’re skating in a park with peers and classmates.
“We just have to fit into that “skater girl” stereotype if we're going to skateboard because I feel like skateboarding is still seen as a masculine thing,” continued one anonymous student.
“There is definitely a bigger population of guys at this school who skateboard, especially at OSA just because it is seen as a masculine sport,” explains Cb Omand, 8th grade student at OSA. “There are still those guys that will be like ‘do a trick or else you're a poser’ if you're just trying to have fun,” she continued. .
“If a girl says that she can skateboard, everybody immediately goes ‘prove it’ or they yell, like, ‘kick flip!’ or something,” says an anonymous student.
This type of interaction is common among many girl-identified skaters. This form of sexism happens frequently when a woman talks about something they do (hobby, ability, activity) that is more male-dominated.
“Whenever I go to a skate park or somewhere in public, someone always makes a comment about me not doing something right, or how skateboarding is not a girl activity, and it irritates me.” Explains Ruby Deetz, 7th grader at OSA.
Many students have expressed excitement about the skate park inside the OSA lot, yet girls who skate are more likely to opt out because of fear of judgment. However, students still have time to consider visiting Cloud Park, as it will be a while before it’s actually done.
“We have essentially zero dollars at this point, but I am working to get somebody or multiple people to step up with that big first gift that will allow us to do the grading of the lot, put in the retaining wall, and put up the fencing. Ideally, you get turf and asphalt right away,” Oz explained. “January/February is possible but it could take much longer if we don't get the money.”
OSA is also partnering with many organizations such as Skate Like a Girl (SLAG) and others, so there is hope the people in those organizations can spread word for fundraising. Skate Like a Girl is a nonprofit organization that empowers individuals, especially young women and trans people, to become strong, confident leaders who promote and implement equity through the vehicle of skateboarding.
“We are having conversations with our partners and sponsors to get them involved,” explainedKim Woozy, Director of Marketing & Partnerships at SLAG. “We will also be working with the rest of the group to launch a public fundraising campaign to get the word out to the broader skateboarding community when the time is right to do so.”
“Skate like a Girl is partnering with OSA as an anchor partner along with the Oakland Roots/Soul,” said Woozy. “Myself, along with Ashley Masters (Bay Area Chapter Director) are serving on the Cloud Park Committee to contribute to the fundraising and development of the skate area of the park. I am also serving on the Advancement Work Group with Steven Borg to do everything we can to help make the park a reality.”
Having an organization that focuses on inclusivity in skateboarding will absolutely affect OSA in a positive way and will hopefully help female-identifying and LGBTQ+ students feel more comfortable skateboarding in a public space.
When asked if she would feel more comfortable having Skate Like a Girl working with OSA, Ruby Deetz said; “yes. I feel like people will not say as many things as they might have.”
Of course, SLAG will not be using the park during the school day but will have many programs that they will use the park for, including free community meet-ups, and lessons for women, non-binary, gender expansive, and trans skaters. They are also planning on hosting youth clinics and summer camps in the future park, featuring lesson based programs for youth of all genders.
Overall, the new park and Cloud Park in general will be a great installation for OSA, as long as they get the funding. Hopefully these partnerships will provide a greater diversity of students an opportunity to skate without criticism or judgment. Students are excited for this and can't wait for it to happen!
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