The Skate Park would cost between 30 and 40,000.00 based on initial estimates and it would be a "pay-to-play" format. The area would be enclosed and locked when not in use. The Borough would need to purchase additional insurance (roughly 3-4,000 per year), and a pass would be purchased on a seasonal basis by riders. The pass would be a sticker visible on safety equipment. Day passes could be purchased in the form of a wristband. Facility monitoring would be the responsibility of the park manager and police.
The discussion had several fronts:
- Borough has $60,000 received in impact fees that must be used for recreation and spent within three years, they are currently in year two and haven't spent any.
- By offering a Skate Park, would then ban skateboards in the community since they are being given a place to ride. Concerns arose regarding drawing in those from other areas, creating a potential problem area by increasing the number of teens gathering, and question whether or not any of these individuals would pay to skate.
- Also was noted that parental support is critical to any youth activity and if there were parents in the borough who support this, they should attend a meeting making the request or supporting resolution.
- Members wanted to know if the money could be used to pay for the bandshell, which was budgeted for $40,000 this year, or for the pool which is in constant need of repair/update.
From my personal perspective if the borough has a significant amount of money that must be spent on recreation, spread it around and use it in a way that benefits the most residents, not a specific and small demographic.
Nazareth has many nice, small parks throughout the borough, but the equipment at these parks is not equal and some is in need of update/repair. Taking $5-10,000 and using it per park with another $10-20,000 ear-marked for the Borough Park would allow a significant upgrade that many residents and visitors utilize daily. There are also minimal ongoing costs associated with this as opposed to annual insurance fee in the case of the skate park.
As an addendum, I ought to have clarified and didn't in my haste to get the material posted this morning, that this comes down to a classic question for Council, what is in the best interest of the community? If Jack's research favors the skate park, then the Council will need have the information they need to make this decision, but as of the meeting it didn't appear they had the needed support to do so. My suggestion is just that, a suggestion and it is not intended to be considered better (or worse) than any other out there.
4 comments:
Ever stop to watch kids on their shkateboards? Some of them are incredibly gifted athletes. I think they should be encouraged and don't understand the animosity from most members of the public.
Baseball and football are other athletic activities. We have fields dedicated to those activities, but don't ban kids from playing baseball or football in other places.
Frankly, I think the reason for the hostility towards skateboarding is that many of us, in our youth, did not get to experience the activity. I don't wish to age myself, but as a youth, I didn't do anything that involved wheels. Wheels weren't invented until I was in my 30's.
Jack Herbst is very dedicated to youth sports. I see him on weekends, cutting grass at our baseball fields when he could be sitting at home, sipping a Snapple. I think he has a good idea.
consider this... if we outright ban youth from playing in our towns, what message are we sending them... the message that I get is that we don't want them to enjoy the downtown. The town should be about enjoyment for consumers, bypassers and residents. If we ban kids from enjoyment, they won't want to live there when they grow up.
That might be a reason so many small towns in the Lehigh Valley and the region are struggling... if you are willing to ignore education, small business retention and other matters for a minute or two.
I would like to see the skatepark built. Additionally, I would like to see the skating banned on the borough streets, parking lots, etc.
The problem is that these kids are like ants at a picnic. Once the find an unsuitable place to gather and are not run by the poilce. They litter, use profanity, and treat other members of the community with disdain.
They may sound like a generalization, but they deserve the reputation they have earned. If they are such gifted atheletes then why aren't they directing their talents at organizaed athletic pursuits.
They appear to be more like lost souls to me.
In response to the coments from "anonymous" in regards to skateboarders as lost souls, I have this to say.
I run an open Bible study in the Nazareth park with these kids every week. True, some of them have nasty attitudes, and foul mouths, and lack basic social skills, but they are still a.) kids, and b.) shunned, yelled at, and accused of all manner of things, sometimes for no reason other than their appearance.
I would urge you to try and understand these kids a little more, and judge them a little less. I am in no way removing responsibility from these kids for their actions, but we as a community share some of the blame... or praise.
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