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Why doesn't Sierra Madre have a Skate Park?

Matt wrote about 1 year ago, Modified about 1 year ago

I have been asking myself this for a while now. My 2 big goals I wanted to make sure were accomplished before I quit working for the city were ensuring that a new Youth Activity Center and Skate Park were to be built. After dealing with the dilapidated facility and the make shift skate ramps for years I thought we had secured the future of both with the City Council approving the plans, location, and funds to do them. It took countless meetings with the kids, architects, parents, and community members to come up with the plans and a lot more effort to persuade the City Council to get behind the projects.

Once their decision was made I felt it was time for me to branch out and develop my professional career in the business sector. Several years have passed and only the Youth Activity Center has been built, it's a great facility, but no skate park. I have no idea why...... I suppose I am a little to blame for not overseeing the follow through, and I suppose this is my effort to pick up the ball again. I don't skate and I haven't ever, but my many years serving as head of the YAC as well as experience with many of my peers has showed me how skating is such an incredibly positive activity for our youth and adults.

I would like this discussion to explore what happened and if we should get together and get this done. It doesn't feel like the same Sierra Madre I grew up in when I see many kids sitting on the curb with their heads hung low being scolded and ticketed. I am not advocating skating in the downtown district or other off limits areas; however I am surprised that we are the ONLY city in the area not serving the community in this way. If Sierra Madre is to remain the shining city on the hill we must remember the true treasure of Sierra Madre is our commitment to serve ALL in our community.

30 Reasons for Skate parks and more coming soon:

Wednesday, 19 September 2007 thanx http://www.skatepark.org

Need to build a case for skateparks? Here are a few good reasons to get you started.

Skateboarders need safe places to recreate.
Skateparks, if designed and constructed correctly, are fiscally conservative and require very little maintenance.
Compared to other sports, skateboarding is underserved in the area.
Skateboarding has millions of participants nationally and it’s still growing while more traditional sports are in decline. There are currently abundant facilities for these other sports.
Skateboarding is a multi-million dollar industry.
Skateboarders represent a vital part of an urban community.
A skatepark can attract skateboarding tourists if designed to do so.
With national health issues looming for today’s youth, it’s time to offer a greater number of healthy, athletic choices.
The cost to participate is accessible to every economic class.
Thousands of other communities have come to understand the value of skateparks.
Skating in a park is much safer than skating in the streets.
The community already has hundreds, and maybe thousands of skateboarders.
In the future there are going to be many legitimate places to skate in the city. The time to embark on that positive future is now.
A skatepark is a place where skateboarders and other people who might not cross paths in the street can come together.
Skateparks can displace other less desirable activities in an area.
The skatepark can be an attraction for family vacations.
Skateboarding is “cool,” And a skatepark will enhance the community’s reputation.
Good skateparks often have volunteer teams to help maintain the facility.
Skateparks can draw skateboarders away from less appropriate areas.
Young and old people use skateparks.
Skateparks support vibrant, healthy communities, just like many other athletic facilities.
Skateboarding is mainstream.
Skateboarding is a popular spectator sport.
Skateparks are flexible in design and can work in many different size plots.
The skatepark can be a place to go after school.
Neighborhood skateparks allow younger skaters to recreate safely close to home.
Skateboarding is happening with or without a skatepark.
There are experts who can help the community plan out their next skatepark.
The best time to start the new skatepark is today.
If a city doesn’t have a skatepark, it is a skatepark.