We, the undersigned students, prospective students, alumni, faculty, staff, and members of the Utah State University community wish to express our support for USU students by proposing the construction of a concrete skatepark on the USU main campus. Skateboarding is a popular, low cost, easily accessible and rapidly growing recreational activity with millions of participants worldwide. Skateparks are social spaces that will attract interest from all parts of the USU community. While there are modular skateparks on other campuses, USU would be the first in the nation to have a concrete facility and would promote the university's reputation as a forward-thinking and innovative institution. The USU community already has hundreds, and maybe thousands of skateboarders yet skateboarders are currently under-served on campus. The university has done much to provide some active students ball parks, soccer fields, and gymnasiums. We would like the less organized sports activities to have a stake in our parks and open spaces as well. A skatepark would provide space for the USU community to gather and recreate in a safe and healthy environment and discourage skateboarding in other areas on campus. Skateparks, if designed and constructed correctly, are fiscally conservative and require very little maintenance. Unlike recreation fields, concrete skateparks do not need fertilization, irrigation, or trimming. The nation’s oldest skateparks have been servicing skateboarders for 30 years and most have required little more than cosmetic maintenance. Let’s not ignore this opportunity to fulfill an important need and strengthen our Utah State University experience. You do not need to be a skateboarder to see the benefits of a university skatepark. Please sign this petition to show your support!

Zach Shepherd: USU student. Dave Smellie: USU professor.