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Portland's most famous DIY project -- which has drawn skaters, BMX bikers and onlookers from across the globe for decades -- is closed for the foreseeable future due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Burnside Skatepark, hand-built illegally by skateboarders in 1990 underneath the Burnside Bridge, is now one of Portland's most iconic empty spaces. The public space, now well established and long-accepted by the city, would usually be echoing this time of year with the sounds of dozens of boarders soaring, grinding, shredding and kick flipping across concrete bowls, ramps, and tunnels.

The park receives no funding from the city and is maintained by volunteers, with yearly upgrades and painted murals.

The location, tucked carefully underneath the east side of Burnside Bridge, has been featured in several video games, including the original Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, which debuted in 1999, and Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX, which came out in 2001.

Sage Bolyard, who is on the park's board of directors and helped start the park as a teenager nearly 30 years ago, said they're following official guidelines and have since the virus first arrived in Oregon. At first, they asked skaters to stay six feet apart, and then they had to eventually close down the park to everyone.

Bolyard hopes the park will be open as soon as possible. This Halloween will mark the 30th anniversary.

--Mark Graves

mgraves@oregonian.com

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Sage Bolyard, who is on the park's board of directors and helped start the park as a teenager nearly 30 years ago, said they're following official guidelines and have since the virus first arrived in Oregon.

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