As a metropolitan city, Atlanta has another life under the bridges of the major highways that run throughout the city. The life, and stuff that goes with life, helped create the fiasco that has displaced almost a quarter million commuters. Items were "stored" under the highways by companies or entities still being investigated. While examining the area under I-85 to determine the exact cause and motive, another discovery of life under the bridge was revealed, a skate park. Now, this was no backyard, cardboard, wood crates and palettes skate "park". This was an elaborate, concrete-poured, well constructed ramps with entry ways sculpted and set attached to the pillars that hold up the interstate. Skateboarders know about this secret skate park called Bridge Life. Bridge Life is utilized by many on a daily basis by youngsters and the young at heart that love to skate. The problem...it is illegally put there and has to come down, according to GaDOT. Should it have to come down? I see this as an area where kids are out of harm way (street, sidewalks) enjoying a craft that they love. I feel that the people that built this park know of their legal ramifications or would not have invested the time and money into it. On the other hand, it was done without permission or permits.
Since the story first aired, GaDOT has barricaded the driveway to the park. The agency says it is closed indefinitely, but will not began tearing down the structure for a while. As the focus is (and should be) on reconstructing the missing parts of I-85. GaDOT and the skaters have been in two meetings concerning the park and GaDOT says "anything is possible". Hopefully, this is a case where it is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission and all involved realize the value of Bridge Life.
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