Skateboard Park

[whatsup]

Whoa, as I hear more about this I think we need to give Tony a break here.

If he is looking for a skateboard park within the budget and structure of the parks and rec department I think it makes for a good discussion.

Several of the baseball fields in the county were put up with gov and private monies.

Take a look at all of the activity that Siler City's ball fields generate with rec and tournamant games

A skateboard park could possibly be part of the overall parks and recreation mix.

[NoSoup4U]

I wonder if part of it may be that some don't see skateboarding as a worthwhile or productive activity for kids.

[snowcamper]

Or maybe it's because a "skate-park" is essentially a single purpose entity, focused on a squeaky-wheel special interest group.  A regular park usually is multi-purpose, available to everyone, every age, every physical condition type of space.

I'm not down on just skate parks:  I'm not sure the parks and rec department should be building ball fields, frisbee golf courses, or the like either.  They could certainly provide the space, but the special interests should build the facilities.

I've met the grand-kids at the Kiwanis Playground in Pittsboro... It is my understanding that this was built with funds from private entities.  There is an excellent example of how to get a skate park.  I'm assuming the land was donated, but the actual activities were raised through traditional fundraisers, private donations, etc....

Many traditional parks are built and maintained via private donations, Eagle Scout projects, fundraisers, prisoner work crews, volunteer work days, churches, corporate sponsorships, Non-profit support, private foundations, etc.

When someone's first response is to reach out to the government for a handout, that is not a proper function of government.  If every other avenue has been pursued and there is still some form of redeeming social value, then put it up for a vote.  If they simply don't have the public support to build it privately, I doubt there will be public support to build it publicly.

[missjane]

Tony, it's not the skate park per se some folks object to. They have a different mindset that translates into a political point of view. I'm not likely to ever get near the skate park and don't have kids, but I wish you luck with it. I see you have over 400 likers on FB, so you seem to have tapped something positive.

[Chill]

Have you applied for grant $$ through the Tony Hawk Foundation?  Also, another avenue would be to look into having the park be a dual use venue by mixing it up the BMX kids/parents.  Dual use parks seem to be all the rage now days.  Good luck!

[snowcamper]

everyone who complains about taxes, or hates paying their property tax bill every year, or hates seeing the escrow amount go up on their mortgage payments... needs to understand that they, personally, have to give up/forgoe some government candy to achieve smaller government and lower taxes/more money in their own pockets.

"Fans" on facebook might or might not have any skin in the taxpayer game, so their input is minimally important, if at all.  People with nothing to lose often support any and all ideas.  Our County Commissioners have no repsonsibility to "Fans" or skateboarders from Pittsboro, or any other such thing.  The most popular ideas are those done with someone else's money and someone else's sweat.  One must wonder how many of those "fans" are even tax-payers or old enough to vote....

I wish Tony luck with the park as well... just not luck funded by my tax dollars.  I've got a lawn that needs to be mowed, I usually buy baked goods at bake sales (leading, in part, to my inability to mow the lawn), I need my car washed, and I give my own money to worthy causes, and there's lots of items on my honey-do list that I'd rather pay some kid to do and simply get Mrs. Camper off my back...  Heck, I'd even volunteer to give some construction pointers if the skaters are the ones swinging the hammers, digging the holes, and hauling the lumber...  Mrs. Camper would make some lemonade for the workday

I'm just not willing to fund such idea with my tax dollars, nor anyone else's.

[Silk_Hope]

Another thing about private funding is the kids that work for it will appreciate it more. In general kids especially don't appreciate gifts. When Mommy and Daddy pay there is little appreciation, when the kid has to get into their own piggy bank that is a different story, all of a sudden what they want is really not needed.

[snowcamper]

To help Tony and the others out, here is a link to the BBS Community Calendar, where they can post the "skate park" fundraising events, workdays, auctions, or who to contact to donate money and materials to their newly-established, zero overhead,  501(c)3 organization:

http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/board,2.0.html

[Muddylaces]

While living in Massachusetts I was part of a mountain bike group that wanted land to ride on(that's where muddylaces comes from).   We were able to raise money ourselves to buy land.   The skateboarders should do the same thing.

http://www.nemba.org/Articles/VietnamFAQs.html

[Trace]

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.

I see kids skating all the time in PBO and Siler City.

[Patty52]

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.

I doubt they will be ON Hillsboro Street or US 64. Since I have lived two blocks from downtown Pittsboro for over twenty-five years, I can tell you that I have seen skateboarders on my street frequently during that entire period, as well as other kids "hanging out" activities - bikes, scooters, etc. The parking lot at Main Street Station often has a group of boys skateboarding, especially on Wednesday evenings.

[Spyder]

Having skimmed through this thread I agree with both sides.

Tony, I applaud your efforts to help keep kids in shape. I agree most spend way too much time on video games, computers, texting, etc. Hope you push Personal Protective Equipment on these kids as skateboarding can be quite dangerous.

Also agree with the comments on tax money being used for what most considered more important uses.

Last thing to add is we have a relative that previously worked at a skateboard park in Asheboro. It is operated by their city park and recreation department. He told us they had very little activity there, sometimes being on the clock 5-6 hours daily for just a handful of people to show up. Granted this might not be the case with something in Pittsboro. BUT Asheboro has a much larger population and offers alot more variety in the way of restaurants, shopping centers, etc. and the overall attendance was very poor based on his time there.

[WolfpackFan]

I thought we were told that people would come from miles around and this would generate revenue for the town.  Now I hear there is one in Asheboro that no one really goes too.

[John Florida]

How many kids are into it that this would sevice.point being if it's a small number it's not worth the investment.

[Muddylaces]

How many kids are into it that this would sevice.point being if it's a small number it's not worth the investment.

John,

Sounds like you are talking about a business plan.   The Chapel Hill/Pittsboro Bus is proof our current elected officials don't believe in them.

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