Q-Side: A skate park is born in Old Town

Business owners, nonprofits band together with the city to transform an old parking lot into a hot spot for skateboarders

Josia King, 25, at the newly opened Q-Side skate park at NW 3rd and Flanders in Portland’s Old Town. Josia is executing a perfect kickflip. Click to enlarge. All story photos by Walden Kirsch.

Old Town Portland. It’s raining outside. Indoors at P:ear Mentor teenage kids sit together at tables eating a hot breakfast. It smells like coffee and toast, and i…