Skateboarders

motherof2 · Senior Member

RE: Skateboarders

Backintown · Member

I'd like to ask the community, What do you want to see from the Skate Coalition? What do the Skaters have to do to earn your respect? They need the community behind them. What do they need to do?

dddfan · Veteran Member

Try policing themselves.
After the great showing at the meeting, I observed two groups skatboarding, one group directly over the stencil on the side walk.
These might not be the ones who are working to get things done, but they are the ones who portray the "boarders", and the ones who keep the genera public from supporting the other ones.
Maybe if the police dept would issue some cites, and the judges require community service in lieu of fines, it would help.
The hawk

Backintown · Member

The great showing after what meeting?

peech · Member

I really hope that the city makes the decision to put some money into this and makes a great skate/bike area for the kids.

I'd have liked to see some of the funds for the parks here, or the main street even have gone to that. Really, honestly, I think in a city where children are paid attention to, especially in a world where so many of them are ignored at school and home, it would lead to a more positive atmosphere, and I think more children who grow up into better adults.

I hope something comes here for the children to do, instead of kind of fending for themselves.

motherof2 · Senior Member

Ditto! I hope they get a skatepark that they can be proud of.

motherof2 · Senior Member

Ok, I'm on my second cup of coffee this morning and something has just struck me as odd. Brain is getting going... With all of the skateboarders we are seeing uptown and getting involved with the city, I think it's pretty obvious that there is a demand for a good skatepark. If this is true, why would a private investor not be interested in starting a business? Would the initial investment make it impossible to stay afloat? The price of concrete is through the roof right now. Would this be a risky business? Anyway, sometimes I think it is sad that we rely on local government to provide what we can or will not. I'm not saying that I do not want the city to give them a park, I'm just saying it's sad that there is not enough confidence or ability of local investors in our local economy. Thoughts anyone? Would skaters pay for such a service, or would they just skate on the sidewalks for free?

S23246G · Senior Member

I think the amount of liability insurance one would have to carry to operate a skate park would not make it financially worthwhile.

Besides, I doubt you would get the kids to pay much for something they can do at a lot of places for free. (such as our sidewalks)

If the PD will not crack down on skateboards and bicycles on the sidewalks, the skateboarders have no reason to stop doing it. I can't even count the number of times I have seen kids riding bikes and skating on the sidewalks, and cops just driving right by.

S23246G · Senior Member

And those cute little duffers on the front page of todays were not the skateboarders I had in mind when I was posting my earlier comments. It's the 16 and up crowd that I was thinking of.

Backintown · Member

It wont be long until those cute kids are the 16 and up crowd. They are the ones that care. They are the ones working for a park. From my understanding they are discussing a membership program to fund the skate park. I also haven't heard a word about asking the city for any money, just land. What they are asking for is support from the community.

motherof2 · Senior Member

I wasn't bashing the kids for asking. Sorry about that! I just wonder, sometimes, why new businesses do not make it or are never started here. I see all of the skaters and see a demand. At first glance, it appears to be a "no brainer". Just wondering why a local business person could not or would not provide such a thing. It seems the attitude in this town is that there is no demand for anything or that it just "wouldn't work!".

Having said that, I think SG has a legitimate argument. On top of start up cost, you would have liability insurance. Even with waivers of liability, this would be expensive. It would take a lot of "memberships" to cover costs.

And.... having said that...
I have read on some 'net sites that even public skate parks need liability insurance so the city is not sued for accidents. Many of them require paid memberships and have gated parks for this reason. If Pat was still here, perhaps he could give us some info on city liability and how they are covered on both current park and proposed new park.

Anyone else have that info?

Backintown · Member

Is the ordinance against skating down Summit or just the sidewalks?

Backintown · Member

I'm a little upset at the Traveler. One week ago today the Arkansas City Skate Coalition held a bake sale downtown. They raised $500 in donations. Not one word has been said all week about the event, even though there was a Traveler photographer present. Just one week later, not even a full week after their park got disassembled, the Traveler runs a front page story about the police crack down on skating and biking uptown. When is the Traveler going to run a story about how hard it is to be active in this sport? How about one word about how the police tell the skaters to play in traffic. Skateboarding and biking is an environmentally friendly way to get around town. It's not just a sport/hobby it's also a mode of transportation. If the city doesn't want skaters on the sidewalk, when will they be providing a safe bike lane?

-- Edited by Backintown at 12:38, 2008-04-21

finkd · Newbie

while vacationing in wyo and colorado, we visited many towns, in each town bikes and skate boards were very popular. the comunities seemed to embrace the activities, not look at them as illegal activities, but then again those communities had soo much going on i don't think it was something that they had time to worry about. some restaraunts even had racks for the boards and bikes right on the side walk. I even saw people in their 40's riding boards! I suppose the gas prises have caused some of that. and yes I am proud of the kids who raised money for the skate park. too bad the ones pushing won't be here to enjoy the new park if we ever get one. many towns have very nice ones like the one in wichita , all concrete. I just think we need to look into our community a little harder. we are dieing out whether we like to admit it or not. want proof, drive around and count the homes for sale signs! people are bailing out !!!! how many business ' do you frequint each week ? how many spend their money in other towns ? is it true that the city had police cars painted in winfield ??? if the city doesn't spend money in town what kind of message is that sending?

motherof2 · Senior Member

I have been thinking about this topic a lot myself. It is easy to get frustrated with any skateboarder who is not respectful or vandalizes other's property.

However, I believe looking at the bigger picture will reveal that skateboarding and bicycling are positive things. We have two problems in our time which can be remedied by these activities: Obesity and Fuel Prices.

Before we shut the boarders down, we might ought to think. We could all be riding bikes or boards around town when gas gets to $10/gallon. How many parents will be able to afford gas money for their teens to cruise Summit when that happens? Take all of the teens who drive out of the vehicles and put them on bikes/boards and then see what kind of congestion you have on downtown sidewalks. I think AC should seriously consider some bike paths around town. If the adults were using them (and we may soon all be), I believe a safe place would be provided. Perhaps this is a better option than a skatepark. Perhaps this could come from a transportation budget as well as parks and recreation? Don't really know how that works.

Oh, and it's never a bad thing to have kids up and moving. They spend too much time in front of the tv! We mandatory recess and gym classes, don't we?

If you all think $10/gallon will never happen in our lifetimes, think again. They are predicting $7 by the end of 2009.

Wayward One · Member

When is Ark City going to start investing in our youth? The current skate park needs to be torn down to avoid accidents. There is an obvious desire to have a place for kids to skate and bike. We all complain like SG that they are on the sidewalks and the police are doing nothing about it. I for one would rather have my police putting bad guys in jail than chasing after kids downtown. I'm going out on a limb and saying that the focus of our current governing body is not to increase the level of quality of life in Ark City, but to attract money and business. I have only heard that initiatives such as the Walnut Valley Greenway project was nixed even though we were sitting on a good nest egg of grant funds to get started. It's all about priorities. If the city wanted to make it happen, they would. Our kids are still stuck at the wastewater ball fields that we endured as children ourselves. Which of our commissioners will step forward and make a difference for our kids? We will see.

finkd · Newbie

I am just kinda down on the actions of the city right now, I honestly don't think we will see anykind of skate park or improvements for at least 3-4 years. And yes the kids need to help raise the money, but don't you think if the city has big revinue from all the added dui's that maybe some of that money could be used to give our kids something positive to do, instead of giving them more reasons to turn to alcohol. I am not sure if the figures are corect but I heard someone state that ark city has something like 600k more in dui's then winfield. either we have a lot more drunks or our police are on a campain. if we do have that much more revinue what is it used for? other then new patrol cars and police equipment.

Wayward One · Member

I appreciate our officers being vigilent in keeping our streets safe. I had a friend die due to a drunk driver. Stick it to them! I would proprose that the city commission put together a special committee to evaluate current community resources for our youth. This committee can look at funding and operating a skate park along with improving the existing programs for young people. After all, they have a committee for just about everything else.

motherof2 · Senior Member

I hate to burst everyone's bubble, but it appears times are tough this year. The city is having to make cutbacks to avoid raising taxes. This will probably have to wait until times are better.

hippie · Member

Ask your city to open the river access back up so children can enjoy outdoor recreation in an area away from the OLD PEOPLE,

JakeTheHawk · Veteran Member

It it ridiculous for them to outlaw skating on the side walks and streets. Besides skating for fun, that's how some of them get from place to place. Just grab the board and head down to Bobby's place, y'know? Can't really skate through the alley ways and why should mom waste gas bringing him there when Jimmy can get there with some exercise and for free?

Now, I still think they need to rebuild the skate park. It'll get them outta your hair a bit, but still not completely and it'll get those annoying emo (synonym for skater, lol) outta my view.