Skateboard Park

[1911A]

I brought the need of a skatepark ....

Need?

I suggest you get together with a few folks who also want a skatepark, privately fund, and build it.  If it proves to be the boon you believe it will, you'll have the park and a nice profit.

If not, you've not exploited taxpayer money on a boondoggle.

[snowcamper]

I still go back to the bake-sale car-wash thing... Why can't the kids work for it?

[1911A]

I still go back to the bake-sale car-wash thing... Why can't the kids work for it?

Why should they if their parents can have you pay?

[chathambooks]

Hello All.  My name is Tony and I'm 36 year old father, working professional, skateboarder and tax paying citizen of Pittsboro and Chatham County.  I brought the need of a skatepark to the attention of Mayor Voller and Parks & Rec.  Parks and Rec supported my idea but said there is currently no funding in the budget.  Fine.  If you drive through Pittsboro you have to be blind to not notice the teenagers skateboarding.  There's no argument. In fact there are only more skaters.  We build baseball fields, basketball courts, soccer fields, tennis courts and all other types of recreational outlets for our youth and adults.  Why not a skatepark.  The added benefit of a well built and designed skatepark is that people will travel from all over the state and east coast to skate the park and help bring some extra revenue to the city.  Ball fields and tennis court are all the same from city to city.  They have dimensions and do not differ.  All skateparks are unique and skaters like to skate different terrain.  This may be hard for some of you to understand, but the facts are out there that well built skateparks bring visitors to your town.  As of today (8-31-2010) the city or county has not spend a single dime on the skatepark.  However, I spent my after tax money on 100 skateboards that I'm donating all of the proceeds to research and drawings for a skatepark.  I have some students and teachers that are helping to sell the boards at the local schools and generate interest.  If you would like to purchase a skateboard for $50 you can email me directly at tony@pittsboroskatepark.com.  Below is the picture of the board.  Thanks for your support.

Hello Tony. I admire your goal here. But I must say that there are proper roles of government and right now my personal opinion is that this is not one of them.

Our children are enduring 1 1/2 hr bus rides to school and back because there is no money. Our students are in relocatables because there is no money.

I'd like my daughters to have ballet classes too but I cannot afford - I don't have the money.

How would my daughters ballet classes be any different than your skatepark?

If your skateboards show up at my son's schools for sale I will be ticked. My children's school is not the place to push Randy's skatepark.

My husband loves the idea of turning the old chevy dealership into a mini golf/arcade plaza. It would be a great thing for our family to run - we could be with our children more and the county would benefit from family nights with their kids. But guess what- if we want it we must sack up and come up with the cash. NOT OUR GOVERNMENT.

Government is not the answer to all of society's ails. And for the record I have never seen ONE SINGLE skateboarder in downtown PBO and I have, uh-hum, HAD several clients there and spend a great time of time downtown.

[Tony]

Lot's of anger here about the idea of a skatepark.  I guess that's one of the benefits of a free country.  A group of us are raising money for a skatepark.  If that upsets you then I'm sorry and you don't have to purchase a skateboard.  If you have never seen a kid riding a skateboard in Pittsboro then you really must have blinders on.  I have spoken with several business owners that support the idea.  I'm all for supporting any type of athletic or recreational activity.  We do not charge for the other ball fields or ask people to raise money to have them built, so why is a skatepark any different.  If you can convince the city to build an outdoor dance hall where you children can practice ballet or any other type of dancing than I'm all for it. I'm not asking to pay for skate instructors.  Furthermore, many children have become plain lazy.  They spend too much time playing video games, texting, and watching TV.  If a skatepark inspires kids to skate that don't play traditional sports than that benefits the entire community.  If you don't see the need for recreational activity than I'm sorry. 

A business venture vs. a public park are two entirely different topics.  If you can get a loan than buy the old Ford dealership and have a go at it. 

[Snowball]

Will people in Bennett benefit from it? Siler City? Moncure? No, Pittsboro will.

You don't think kids will come to PBO to use the skate park?
The park would be a recreational facility for our youth. Aren't people on this board always complaining there aren't enough recreational activities for the kids?
You can't win around here...

Most skateboarders are, by definition, non-drivers.  That means mom will need to transport her child to the skateboard park. If I have to drive out of town to take my daughter to a skateboard park, I will take her to a town where I can accomplish some other things after I drop her off, like department store or mall shopping. I don't think those things can be accomplished in Pittsboro.

[Muddylaces]

Lot's of anger here about the idea of a skatepark.  I guess that's one of the benefits of a free country.  A group of us are raising money for a skatepark.  If that upsets you then I'm sorry and you don't have to purchase a skateboard.  If you have never seen a kid riding a skateboard in Pittsboro then you really must have blinders on.  I have spoken with several business owners that support the idea.  I'm all for supporting any type of athletic or recreational activity.  We do not charge for the other ball fields or ask people to raise money to have them built, so why is a skatepark any different.  If you can convince the city to build an outdoor dance hall where you children can practice ballet or any other type of dancing than I'm all for it. I'm not asking to pay for skate instructors.  Furthermore, many children have become plain lazy.  They spend too much time playing video games, texting, and watching TV.  If a skatepark inspires kids to skate that don't play traditional sports than that benefits the entire community.  If you don't see the need for recreational activity than I'm sorry. 

A business venture vs. a public park are two entirely different topics.  If you can get a loan than buy the old Ford dealership and have a go at it. 

Now is not the time for this.   But if your able to pull it off without any tax dollars I can't see why not.   I kind of see it like the YMCA really wanting a pool.   

[Tony]

I would politely disagree that most skaters are non drivers.  Go to the Durham and Raleigh free public skateparks and you will see that people older than 12 still skateboard.  Folks like myself who started riding skateboard in the 80's are still skating.  I will get you an age statistic, but a good skatepark will attract people who drive as well as skate from all over the county, region and state.  They will spend money when they come to pittsboro to skate on gas, food, drinks, etc.  As a parent i would not discourage my child about any activity they were passionate about if i have to drive them somewhere.  My oldest son is only three so he loves everything.

[snowcamper]

Not sure you should be teaching your kids to think about the government as a magic money tree.

I guess that's one of the benefits of a free country.   Until you start asking the sheriff to take some of my money to keep your kid entertained.  That's what you're doing when you become a special interest and petition for a piece of my tax pie.  You're actually attempting to make the county less free, as you want to coerce the money from me and my family.

If you can convince the city to build an outdoor dance hall where you children can practice ballet or any other type of dancing than I'm all for it.
But from whence comes the county's money?  You're literally saying that if one group can get the county to rob Peter to pay Paul, then we should all be trying to get them to do it for us...

Have a car wash, bake sale, skate-a-thon... and put some sweat equity into it.  Ask those same "businesses" that support the idea to put their money where their mouths are.  The county is broke, and spending money on such a specific, small group of people is not an appropriate task of government.  The fact that they might just buy some McDonald's and some gas while they're in town is far from persuasive.

[Larry]

The tangible and intangible benefits of these projects are many.  Inequity between recreational activities is natural and obvious, but the direct and indirect affect of their total success is a known good that differentiates communities and their citizens.  Football programs get an extremely unfair percent of ching on the balance sheet, but, a strong program can support many other activities and initiatives that would flounder or fail without the program's financial and intangible affect on the school system and overall region.  It also helps attract successful people.  And, although the ROI is obvious, there are still people who will never understand why the football program gets more than the lacrosse program.
successful people bring businesses and money to your pockets and a much sweeter tax base to grow your money from.  If more wealthy families are to chose chatham county over quality areas like Southern village that invest in these types of projects, the quality of life for their children will definitely be a major factor for their decisions.  Successful people are typically thorough and focused people with vision and a natural gift for complex decision making.  They don't like living in area without that feeling that it is good for them and their kin.  and, just like most people, they care more about their kids more than anything else.
Another thought- tourism is the best business on earth.  Even when you are simply pulling in the dough from other counties.  Take a look at other areas that host tours and competitions.  And, for the truly self centered approach, look at how much money their bring into an area from other areas.  I know someone who was in the biz, and the biz is good.  Trust me.  Good for everyone, just takes some diligence and partners.
Is it unfair that more money will go to the football team than my daughters sports?  Or, to a skate park my nephew may never use?  On one single flat myopic level, it is.  With a realistic and complete view, it is the right decision and one that almost every taxpayer on this board  is making with their property taxes every year and we sure as heck don't want to start killing their budgets because times are tough.  Just as a few wealthy new families can make a difference, so can losing good families and businesses. 
 Tony, keep in mind that every success story has a small group of people who will never like what you do for various reasons.
I don't disagree with the concern about tax money, but, this can be mitigated with sponsors and partners.  Neglecting intangibles in decision making can be a bad mistake for any community.
Don't worry - you have many supporters and far too many reasons to back the project.

 

[1911A]

This is not "investment"; it's spending scarce taxpayer money on the frivilous.  If such amenities as a skatepark are seen as a "community" good, and profitable, then it behooves a private citizen/s to risk privately-raised money on them.

These are the same scams run on the public about taxpayer-funding for sports-team stadiums, the majority of which leave the taxpayers holding the bag.

[snowcamper]

I would also question if Football programs bring in "successful" people in the modern, service oriented economy.  I don't know too many Chinese, Brazillians, Russians, or Indians who really care about out football team when they're looking for a place in America to invest.  For that matter, I don't know too many Canadians, Europeans, or Mexicans that would either. 

I don't even know many Architects, software engineers, biotechies, computer game programers, research scientists, engineers, accountants, nurses, doctors, etc who would care at all....

Maybe back when we were lookin' for someone to build a car, or work on a railroad, or lead the union "enforcement" squad, we might have needed the types of folks who play good football... I'm just not sure that's where the economy is, let alone is headed, right now.

Or are you justifying your thought through the extra $1 double cheesburgers football players eat, just like the skate-park guy?

[Tony]

Not sure you should be teaching your kids to think about the government as a magic money tree.

I guess that's one of the benefits of a free country.   Until you start asking the sheriff to take some of my money to keep your kid entertained.  That's what you're doing when you become a special interest and petition for a piece of my tax pie.  You're actually attempting to make the county less free, as you want to coerce the money from me and my family.

If you can convince the city to build an outdoor dance hall where you children can practice ballet or any other type of dancing than I'm all for it.
But from whence comes the county's money?  You're literally saying that if one group can get the county to rob Peter to pay Paul, then we should all be trying to get them to do it for us...

Have a car wash, bake sale, skate-a-thon... and put some sweat equity into it.  Ask those same "businesses" that support the idea to put their money where their mouths are.  The county is broke, and spending money on such a specific, small group of people is not an appropriate task of government.  The fact that they might just buy some McDonald's and some gas while they're in town is far from persuasive.

On the contrary.  I work for a privately owned company and go to work every day and pay taxes.  The economy and the community depend on folks like myself who don't have a government job, make a decent wage, pay property taxes and spend money in the community. 

I guess with your rational we should eliminate all parks from our society for youth and adults because tax payers shouldn't shoulder the load and sheriffs don't have to watch our children.  We should eliminate sports from schools and the extra cost for ball fields.  Save the tax payer some money.

You should be able to understand by now that we are privately raising money for the skatepark.  You do not have to contribute.  Once i have raised money through my board sales I will ask the same business if they would like to make a contribution or match what we have raised on our own. Once again the city did not pay for the 100 skateboards.  I did personally. 

I'm sorry you have a problem with a skatepark or any other park for that matter.  There are publicly funded skateparks coupled with grants, private donations and fundraisers all over the county.  In NC alone there are at least 12 public skateparks.  Who knows we may get a skatepark in Pittsboro and your children just might fall in love with skating.

[Silk_Hope]

Being that skateboarding is a "dangerous" activity who pays for the insurance?

[mary51802]

Will people in Bennett benefit from it? Siler City? Moncure? No, Pittsboro will.

You don't think kids will come to PBO to use the skate park?
The park would be a recreational facility for our youth. Aren't people on this board always complaining there aren't enough recreational activities for the kids?
You can't win around here...

Most skateboarders are, by definition, non-drivers.  That means mom will need to transport her child to the skateboard park. If I have to drive out of town to take my daughter to a skateboard park, I will take her to a town where I can accomplish some other things after I drop her off, like department store or mall shopping. I don't think those things can be accomplished in Pittsboro.

Areed snowball.. if there was good shopping nearby and such it would be better. I am not against it but agianst the county funding it. If a private investment people build there no big deal but for the county they need to build it in the middle at least.

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