New Utah mayor meets young constituents where they are: on wheels

Midvale Mayor Marcus Stevenson concedes he is not one of the greatest skateboarders.

But skateboarding is much more than cool tricks. It’s a widely accessible sport. It teaches life lessons and, in his case, it presents a chance to connect with the community, meeting constituents where they are.

Along with the Chill Foundation, which provides board sports programs, especially to low-income and at-risk youths, the first-year mayor and professional skateboarder Tyson Bowerbank spent part of their Friday with the Midvale skate community at Copperview Skate Park.

“We can’t assume that we’re just going to do a town hall and people are going to show up,” Stevenson said. “We should be thinking of creative ways to engage with our community.”

The “Skate With the Mayor” event was the last day of a full week of skateboarding lessons that the Chill Foundation imparted in partnership with the Midvale Boys and Girls Club. It included raffles and mentorship opportunities for all skill levels.

For Stevenson, who took office in January, days like these are representative of the potential of Midvale’s skate scene.

“Skateboarding is so awesome because really anybody can do it. It’s not about being a professional but having fun. It’s not a team sport. So you can just do it on your own,” he said. “... When I’m stressed, hopping on a skateboard and riding somewhere is just a freeing feeling.”

Alixel Cabrera is a Report for America corps member and writes about the status of communities on the west side of the Salt Lake Valley for The Salt Lake Tribune. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by clicking here.