Skaters defy locked gates and fences to test highly anticipated new park in Mission

By Lexi Bondar

Still locked behind steel fences, the new skatepark at Portrero Del Sol in the Mission District is stimulating anticipation, mixed reactions and even some late night sneak peeks.
“The kid’s are skating at night,” said Ivana Mora, who walks her dogs down 25th Street across from the park. She said she has seen them jump the fence and try out the nearly completed skatepark.
“They obviously can’t wait and they’re marking their territory,” said Mora, pointing to the graffiti that already adorns a wall of fresh concrete.
The nighttime visitors reflect the mounting anticipation for the scheduled June opening of the park, which has been under development for five years. Filled with the corners, dips and platforms, it has been described as a skateboarders’ heaven.
Aficionados offer varied views about how the project will affect the skate world.
Frank Harmer, 28, stands at the fence of Potrero Del Sol and looks past the construction workers towards the south end of the park where the large graffiti artwork can be seen.
“It’s a bummer it’s already being destroyed,” said Harmer. “I haven’t had the chance to skate there yet and it looks used and tacky. Guess everyone is excited.”
Jake Allen, 17, has been skating in Golden Gate Park for many years and looks forward to the opening.
“You can only do so much in public areas,” said Allen, who skates in and out of crowds at de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park. “I constantly feel like I’m skating into people and trespassing.”
However, some skaters don’t share Allen’s enthusiasm.
Because the city is a skatepark in itself, say some, Portrero del Sol might take away from the rawness of what is skating in San Francisco. The park may not draw these critics, but it is believed by most that it will be popular.
“It has a lot of potential. There’s no way it will fail,” said Greg Morrill, 22, an avid skateboarder in the city. “But I won’t go. I like to have my own space.”
Space seems to be something desired among most skaters and many say they won’t visit the skate park for that reason alone.
Chad Helsel, 27, is a friend of Morrill’s and also says he won’t skate the park.
“My creative side comes out when I skate on the streets,” said Helsel. “That’s the beauty of skating in San Francisco. There’s no need for a skate park here.”
Matt Bennett, 31, used to skate competitively in Southern California in the early 1990s. He has lived in San Francisco for a couple of years and can’t believe skaters would ever object to a skatepark.
“They must be out of their minds or just territorial,” said Bennett. “It doesn’t matter what city the park is in. Any skater would appreciate a park, especially if an area lacks one to begin with.”
Many residents of the Mission are also looking forward to the opening of the park.
Sarah Harvey lives and works in the Mission and she says she believes that the area may benefit from the new attraction.
“That park is tucked away in a dark little corner in the Mission,” said Harvey. “This renovation may give it some life. Hopefully the area can benefit from it as well.”