More than 1,600 residents sign petition to install skate park

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More than 1,600 people have signed a petition calling for the construction of a skate park in the Lower Mission area.

Petition organizer Evan Strang says he believes having a skate park in the Lower Mission "would have no downside," only providing benefits to the community, shops and fellow skaters.

"Skateboarding has always been an escape from issues and misbehavior," Strang wrote on the petition page.

"Kids should be out skating [rather than] out causing mischief etc, having a place for more people to skateboard at will greatly increase the number of people encouraged to skate and also bring the current skaters out of the streets. When youth have nowhere to go and nothing to do, that is when they are ill-behaved if you give them something then the illicit behaviour will decrease," the petition continues.

"Skateboarding gives a significant health boost, giving people something to do will get them to go out and do it. Not enough people want to skate simply because there is nowhere to do it."

He also adds the presence of a skate park can increase local tourism in a city.

To view the petition, click here.