The role of the boundary spanner in the territorial public management of street skateboarding: The case of Bordeaux[Le rôle du passeur de frontières dans le management public territorial du skateboard de rue : Le cas bordelais]

Drawing on Smith and Lewis's (2011) paradox theory, this research examines the recognition of street skateboarding through the acceptance and management of the tensions it generates within urban public spaces. Based on a qualitative case study of the city of Bordeaux and an analysis of interviews conducted in 2024, our findings reveal the intermediary role played by a territorial leader who became a boundary spanner between the skateboarding community, local residents, and municipal authorities throughout the process of integrating skateboarding into the urban environment. By facilitating dialogue, translating divergent expectations, and supporting collaborative problem-solving, this actor contributed to transforming tensions associated with street skateboarding into opportunities for collective action and territorial innovation. Our findings enrich the literature on collaborative public management by highlighting the role of boundary spanning in supporting territorial dynamics and the governance of emerging urban practices.