It’s time for city to get a skatepark

Opinion

January 13, 2009

By Wes Browne The Richmond Register Tue Jan 13, 2009, 11:46 AM EST

Sometimes you hear the same rumor for a long time, but it is never realized, and you eventually give up hope. You know the rumors. Led Zeppelin will reunite and tour. The new Harry Potter film will be released soon. Richmond is getting a skatepark.

More than a year and a half ago, a few people, myself included, set about trying to make the Richmond skatepark a reality. Our efforts have met with encouragement and good wishes, but little in the way of results. Our mayor favors a skatepark. The city manager is open to it. A recent poll found local businesses support it.

At one time, Richmond dipped a toe in the skating pool. The city purchased modular skating equipment for Lake Reba. Unfortunately, we soon learned, modular equipment breaks down and becomes dangerous. Any credible skatepark is designed for the site and constructed of permanent materials — concrete, steel.

The city contacted a skatepark design and build firm, SITE Design Group Inc. of California. SITE has designed and built more than 100 skateparks nationwide. They built the bowl in the backyard of Tony Hawk, the pre-eminent professional skater. SITE uses local laborers and materials to build skateparks. They want to build ours.

So why aren’t we moving forward? The economy comes up. A skatepark is actually one of the more economical civic improvements a community can make. We can have a skatepark designed and built for less than $500,000. How much was that swimming pool again?

Surprisingly, now is perhaps the best time to build a skatepark. President-elect Obama requested “shovel-ready” projects for federal funding. The U.S. Conference of Mayors submitted a list that includes numerous requests to build and repair playgrounds. Our skatepark can be shovel ready.

It’s true, we don’t need a skatepark. We don’t need indoor plumbing, but it sure is nice to have. There’s a saying: “If your city doesn’t have a skatepark, it is one.” Richmond is one.

Skateboards are to the city as four-wheelers are to the county. Many of their riders don’t know just where to take them, so they trespass. When asked to leave they give the same response, “Where are we supposed to ride?” Instead of shooing discouraged skateboarders from one parking lot to the next, or worse, confiscating their skateboards, let’s give them somewhere to go.

Skateboarders are sometimes pigeonholed as male teenage punks. That’s not true. Some skateboarders happen to be in their teens, and a percentage of teenagers engaged in any activity tend to be punks.

Ever been in a gas station when a youth group shows up? In the past year, I have photographed two skate-parks. At both I found teenage boys, but there were also girls and adults.

Perhaps the relatively recent popularity of skating is part of what has held Richmond back. Regardless of age, we all grew up with team sports: football, basketball, baseball. Far fewer of us grew up skating. We spend money on football fields, basketball courts and baseball diamonds without questioning it. Team sports aren’t for everyone.

Between Lake Reba, Irvine-McDowell and our other parks, we have traditional sports and family parks covered. A gap exists for older children who are not involved in team sports. They need constructive activities. Communities that build skateparks consistently find the parks curtail negative activities by bored kids.

People who did grow up skating are reaching adulthood. There are skaters in Richmond who are police officers, builders, settlement consultants and plumbers. As Mayor Lawson points out, it’s an Olympic sport. Why shouldn’t we support it?

Liability for injuries at the skatepark is a common concern. Or as people put it, “Can Richmond be sued?” The answer is, there is always a risk of a lawsuit. The better question is, “Would Richmond win a lawsuit?” The answer is yes, as long as the city does not charge admission to the park. Kentucky adopted the Recreational Use Statute, which eliminates liability for landowners who make their property available without a fee to the public for recreational use.

It’s time to stop making our skateboarders feel like criminals, and give them a place to go. If you agree, contact the city of Richmond and let the commissioners know it’s time Richmond got its skatepark. Visit richmond.ky.us and click on the “Contact Us” link.

Led Zeppelin may never tour again and Harry Potter isn’t coming back to theaters until summer. There’s nothing we can do. But we can get this skatepark.

Wes Browne is a Richmond attorney. Reach him at wes@brownelaw office.com.

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