Help - List the benefits of having a skatepark in your town

[unicycledood]

Joined a committee that's working on a proposal to get funding for a new skate park in a near by town. We're presenting our proposal to the council on Friday. If you guys can list a few things that benefit the community by having a skate park in your town, please do so. Constructive comments please!

[Hazmat]

Originally Posted by unicycledood

Joined a committee that's working on a proposal to get funding for a new skate park in a near by town. We're presenting our proposal to the council on Friday. If you guys can list a few things that benefit the community by having a skate park in your town, please do so. Constructive comments please!

Well...
- If you are bored, you have somewhere to go/ride.
- Skateboarding and rollerblading are two of the fastest growing activities in the United States with more than 14 million participants. Most skaters ride wherever they can - in the streets, sidewalks and parking lots, and just about anywhere they aren’t chased from.
- Community groups and civic leaders have identified skateparks as an answer to the lack of suitable places to ride. In recent years, hundreds of municipalities have come to embrace the recreational and societal benefits of skateparks, and three new skateparks are built every week in the U.S.
- Skateparks, even the more challenging ones, are far safer than kids rolling through busy streets, and there is a lot less damage to picnic tables and other items throughout the community that skateboarders use as obstacles when they ride. In addition, when parks are built right — with local skater input and involvement throughout the process — the kids develop a sense of ownership and pride for the location.
- Skateparks provide a place for skaters to go and practice the sport they love with friends. It gives them the opportunity to improve, to achieve small victories on a daily basis, to grow more confident in themselves and their own abilities.

[ThisGuyIKnow]

When you have a skate park in town skaters have no excuse for being a nuisance in other areas where they get in people's way and damage public property such as stairs and benches.

Oh, Hazmat mentioned that, already. It is by far the most appealing reason to non-skaters/non-parents.

Skating can be a nuisance to those who want to use public areas for other reasons, so by having a skate park you can prevent skaters from being a nuisance and safety hazard elsewhere.

[critter]

It's great exercise! There are a lot of people looking for fun ways to stay in shape. Starting kids young exposes them in balance, cardio, and strength.

Example: I saw a kid at the skate park. He couldn't really even skate. He was pushing the board around on his butt. He was so excited that he screamed out with great passion, "I never felt so alive!". The boy was only 6 years old. He told me that he usually stays at home at plays video games. That kid has just realized the joy of physical activities.

Now that kid is world X-game champion. No, I really bullshooting you. But still, to hear him with such exhilaration makes all skate parks worth while.

[critter]

Kids will spray paint the skate park with graffiti instead of a bridge or building.

[Riot]

The best argument you'll be able to use has been said, twice already.

All the destruction will be kept into a confined area.

You'll likely want to word it better than that, and I'm not entirely sure how you can argue against the insanely high insurance costs...

but hey, you have my best wishes.

[joeking36]

i don't reckon point out the destruction it will stop.. if i was the council i'd be thinkin why should we build these destructive people anything..

** gives the local derolict kids somewhere to smoke and violently pash their ugly girlfriends.. thats what my skatepark does. have fun with that one chris

[crosseyed]

provides people with the oppurtunity to improve their skills, so that maybe one day they could reach a high level in that sport? such as bmx, skating etc.

[Michaelgoround]

Originally Posted by Hazmat

Well...
- If you are bored, you have somewhere to go/ride.
- Skateboarding and rollerblading are two of the fastest growing activities in the United States with more than 14 million participants. Most skaters ride wherever they can - in the streets, sidewalks and parking lots, and just about anywhere they aren’t chased from.
- Community groups and civic leaders have identified skateparks as an answer to the lack of suitable places to ride. In recent years, hundreds of municipalities have come to embrace the recreational and societal benefits of skateparks, and three new skateparks are built every week in the U.S.
- Skateparks, even the more challenging ones, are far safer than kids rolling through busy streets, and there is a lot less damage to picnic tables and other items throughout the community that skateboarders use as obstacles when they ride. In addition, when parks are built right — with local skater input and involvement throughout the process — the kids develop a sense of ownership and pride for the location.
- Skateparks provide a place for skaters to go and practice the sport they love with friends. It gives them the opportunity to improve, to achieve small victories on a daily basis, to grow more confident in themselves and their own abilities.

Good points harry! Especially the one about it having to be good to keep skaters/whatever off the streets.

Originally Posted by critter

Kids will spray paint the skate park with graffiti instead of a bridge or building.

True that! For some reason they painted over it at my park though...

[Dr D]

The best thing a city can probably offer is a location.

As far as funding goes, prepare a presentation and start talking to the Lions Clubs and Kwainis. Most of the service clubs in the area will be willing to donate if you can put together a good presentation. With a bit of luck you might get one of them behind you to start a fundraising campaign.

Good Luck!

[BillyTheMountain]

Skateparks bring youth gangs, drugs, gang wars, accidents, law suits against the city. Spray paint, graffiti, vandalism, theft. They encourage kids to drop out of school and society.

[ezas]

In my town the skatepark become a headache for the city and they closed it down. It recently reopened.

Here is the story so maybe you can address why they won't happen with 'your' park.

http://www.skatepark.org/the-rise-an...kate-park.html

This link will be helpful as well: http://www.skatepark.org/public-skat...ent-guide.html

[Matt_V]

It keeps skateboarders off of the streets.

Keeps kids active and helps them get the exercise that they need to grow into healthy adults. You could talk about childhood obesity rates being on the rise...

Show them some of your unicycle videos and when they see how awesome it is they will give you whatever you want.

[Michaelgoround]

Originally Posted by matt_v

show them some of your unicycle videos and when they see how awesome it is they will give you whatever you want.

+1

[UniB]

the true question is why NOT have a skatepark?