In an effort to bring more family fun and excitement to North Beach, a group of locals have been lobbying for the addition of a non-traditional skate park to the area. This past summer, Jonathan Strauss, from Skateboard Supercross (SBSX), presented a plan to the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Panel to bring a multi-generational, as well as a multi-use skate park to North Beach. This initiative, gaining steam, already has the support of the Stillwater Home Owners Association. A native of Miami Beach, Strauss says the process has been organic but he still has some uphill battles to face.

In an interview with North Beach News, Strauss recalls how the process started, “We had just finished building a park in Brooklyn when we had a conversation with the Mayor of Surfside,” he said. “He mentioned that there was funding available for a skate park and I loved the idea of creating a park in my backyard. That’s when I decided to pursue this. It was very serendipitous because I met Carolina Jones the president of the Stillwater Homeowners Association who supported it as well as the Blue Ribbon panel.”

However, Strauss wants to make one thing clear: this isn’t a traditional skate park. His company stresses the importance of customization. They can create parks for small, medium and large spaces with modular tracks or full-scale paved pump tracks. The company also provides turnkey solutions, gear, instructors and even has a mobile app available to help park goers.

“We build with the community in mind,” he said. “We always keep in mind the demographics of the community and how we would fit in.”

During his presentations and outreach, he likes to debunk negative stereotypes about skate parks and stress the differences between his parks and traditional skate parks.

“We don’t build traditional skate parks,” he said. “Skate parks are known for being loud and made out of concrete. Our parks use paved pump tracks and the sound is minimized.”

Safety is also a huge concern for Strauss and he has devised a system to ensure that everyone enjoys themselves in a safe environment.

“SBSX is the world’s first skateboard racing platform catering to all levels of experience,” he said. “Like a ski resort, we assign different colors to levels of difficulty with green being for beginners and black for elite or pros.”

They also ensure safety and decrease the number of collisions by making sure ‘traffic’ flows in one direction.
Currently, Strauss is still educating community leaders and school officials. He also says his parks aren’t an ‘eye-sore’. He incorporates a lot of green areas, which enhances the overall look of the park. Strauss hopes to have a park built in Miami Beach by the summer of 2016.

“I’ve gotten some recommendation letters from schools and the support we have received has been tremendous,” he said.

One such proponent of the park is President of the Stillwater Drive Neighborhood Association Carolina Jones who has been backing Strauss in his efforts.
“We are very excited about the newly proposed All-Wheels Park in North Beach,” Jones said. “This park is a departure from typical skate parks which cater to a select few, highly skilled skaters. This new concept is for all ages and all wheel types, which makes it an instant family favorite. North Beach needs an anchor recreational park that will help define it. This park, with its preservation of green space, engaging design, and broad inclusion does that and more. We are especially excited about the cultural shift that it represents, where residents can leave their cars at home and begin to enjoy our city by bike, trolley or waterway. This project is a critical step in that shift.”

Strauss looks to the park that his company built in Brooklyn as an example of what could happen in North Beach.
“This past week I was in Brooklyn and it was incredible to see all these children and families at the track,” he said. “Mark Gonzales, a celebrity in the skating world, rolled up to the track with his son… He spent four hours at the park and showed the kids tricks, taught them some stuff and hopes to come back”

If you want to get involved with the campaign, contact Jonathan Strauss via email at joner@skateboardsupercross.com.

Editor’s Note: North Beach News reached out to the City of Miami Beach Parks & Recreation Department for comment. While a few commissioners are in favor for the project, the City has no current plans to build a skate park with SBSX. There is $389,000 available for the project but the project still needs to go to Commission for approval.