No more than a couple of years ago, Kensington Pop’s Playground was an epicenter of violence and drug abuse. Paraphernalia and relics of nefarious activity used to litter the pavement, but, today, the playground rings with laughter, shouts of encouragement and general merriment. So, what happened in the interim? To make a long story short, local youth, Laura Semmelroth, proposed to skate shop owner Steve Miller the construction of a skateboard park in the abandoned playground. Two years later, the dream became reality. “It’s touching to see young people committed to keeping themselves out of trouble,” says owner Julian Krinsky. “At all of our camps, we emphasize healthy minds and bodies. It’s nice to see that the message is spreading.”
For close to a decade, we’ve been offering skateboarding for middle school students, striving to extract from the sport its rebellious mystique. Like any other physical activity, we believe skateboarding has the potential for wholesome, personal development and commit ourselves to offering courses in related skill development and safe practices. It appears that the public – at least in some small way – shares this sentiment and has begun to recognize the sport’s redeeming characteristics. So, from everyone at Julian Krinsky Camps & Programs, congratulations and skate safe.
To read more about Laura’s story in the Daily News, please click on the following link: Pop’s Playground
