Mullaly Bikepark is just blocks from where Yes Loitering would meet. It started as a makeshift bikepark in 1988, but now is supported and maintained by a user-run non-profit organization. The mission of the park is “to provide a safe space for … — Mullaly Bikepark is just blocks from where Yes Loitering would meet. It started as a makeshift bikepark in 1988, but now is supported and maintained by a user-run non-profit organization. The mission of the park is “to provide a safe space for the youth to be active and creative.” The park is free and helmets are available for free. Photo by Chat Travieso

SPORTS

Spaces that are dedicated for teens usually involve sports. In addition to the usual basketball courts, tennis courts, soccer fields, football fields, and baseball fields, the city should invest in more spaces for skateboarding, BMX biking, rock climbing, parkour, tight-rope walking, and other non-traditional and riskier activities. While designated spaces like skateparks are good, the city should be more skate-friendly in general by accepting that skateboarding is a legitimate mode of transportation and decriminalizing it (New York City Administrative Code 19-176.1 prohibits “reckless operation of roller skates, in-line skates and skateboards”), eliminating skate deterrents, and incorporating intentional and legal skate elements throughout the city such as ramps, bowls, and rails. Also, the city should consider creating more informal spaces that allow for several sports and activities to occur at the same time.