Today's Morning Call has an article on the various skate parks in the Lehigh Valley and how they have fared (read it here).
From those opened many years ago to Nazareth's recent opening, the article provides a brief assessment of how different communities have had different levels of success. A few that had been opened were closed, but a gain a variety of reasons. One was due to a lack of insurance.
It also seemed there were different models for the parks from the parks design to its 'business model' (ie some charged money and had attendants and others did not) and officials quoted seemed to have had different reasons for providing parks.
All in all, I don't think any 'conclusions' could be drawn from the article. To date the Nazareth Park appears to be appealing to the users it was intended for and at least one concerned Councilman, Jack Herbst, seems to be working hard to encourage its success by interacting with the park users, their parents, the skate group, and Council. This communication and advocacy above all could be the difference maker for the Park's success.
10 comments:
as to the state of skate parks:
ours is a mess
first off let it be known I went to the opening, I fully support the need for a rec spot for skaters
with that said the trash is appalling
don't do a drive by---get out of your car and go creekside
see the line of refuse abutting the curb
guess Bowers is dodging the heat on this topic but Herbst if you read this get your guys on board and clean it up, its disgusting
or better yet give our park mgr, who was splashing in the pool with her nieces tonight, the authority to shut it down until it inspects clean
what a message my kids got while sloshing in the creek; skaters are messy litter bugs who smoke and curse----
skate parks are a privelege not a right---treat it as such---
That's a blanket statement of an opinion. Are ALL people who ride skateboards 'messy litterbugs who curse'?
As adults and parents, part of our responsibility is to teach our kids not to attach labels to groups of individuals.
I live behind a park where soccer games are played. Some of the parents who sit on the sidelines leave behind their water bottles and other trash. Are ALL soccer watching parents litter bugs, I am sure some of them curse too! :o)
why are you so quick to jump on these kids? what is your opinion of the adult skimming funds from the ambulance -- I didn't see one. Why are so many adults quick to jump on kids for bad behavior, but so silent when it comes to adults exhibiting bad behavior? Who are their role models?
My point is that your opinion so broadly stated does not help our community.
Whomever is leaving trash anywhere except a trash can-- PICK IT UP!
Justmyopinion,
How do you know it was the "skaters"? Where is your proof? Pictures? Video?
To say it is the skaters is just plain wrong. How do we not know it is some of the "skater-haters" that are doing it in the dark of night to achieve their objective of shutting down the park?
Point is, you make it a point to pin all the park's ills on this one group.
I agree with amused. I have seen soccer fields after a game has been played there, or practice for that matter. They are a mess. Where are your complaints there?
Maybe you should give a little more thought to your opinion, throw away your clear bias, and think before you post condemnations of a single groupe.
ahem---where do i begin?
the trash is on the inside of the skate park, between the curb and the chain link fence--it is in the skate park so you tell me, did the swimmers leave it behind?
and I coached soccer for four seasons and yes some bottles etc get left behind and we as coach staff tried to manage the problem which is what my suggestion was about the park mgr intervening-----
maybe a blanket statement in regards to the creek rubbish but when you have frequented a location for 6 plus years and just now find it littered with trash it is difficult to not attribute it to the newly installed skate park which is just feet away and showing a row of refuse---maybe the swimmers and park goers just decided to now throw litter about
but highly doubt it---
my only point is keep it clean folks so we can all continue to enjoy the park and watch the skaters without having to take in view of a line of trash
just wanted to report
happily the act has been cleaned up
the skate park looked great today
maybe someone was reading?
Justmyopinion,
That is great! Now, I hope those soccer people read this and clean up their mess at some of the fields.
I am also SO happy that you are completely outraged by the "skater" leaving garbage. It is SO much more of a serious crime than, say, robbing the coffers of a volunteer agency.
You have proved what I thought to be the case. Adults can pretty much do as they want in this area, and nobody says much (minus the schools or borough government).
But, and this is a BIG but, if it is a kid that may not conform to what this area sees as societal norms, anything they do is fair game.
You are either a hypocrite or oblivious to what is going on around you. I can say this because I don't see any posts by "justmyopinion" on ANY of the ambulance theft posting.
u know. i want to be open about this so i am taking pictures everyday for the next 2 months i will post my blog on the state of the nazareth skate park. I am also considering posting video of kids using the park at variuos times. I will post all incidents on there.. more to come. First day, i cleaned up 10 pieces of trash directly arround the park perimeter myself, saw a kid riding a bike in the skate park and smoking at the same time. I also watched them skate for awhile and was encouraged by how much fun some of them seemed to be having.
HEY. I now have a blog on my musings at the park. I hope it offers an informitive, non judgemental views on the happenings there. I welcome intelligent insite and humerous blogging, but whatever you do, dont get your panties in a bunch about anything that is said. I will reveal myself one day, but for now lets just have fun.
http://nazarethskatepark.blogspot.com/
justmyopinion....you need to shut your mouth. you don't know who leaves the trash there. alot of the lowlifes come in and watch the skaters they sit and smoke and leave their trash .... not saying SOME skaters dont smoke or leave some trash but you cant blame it all on them so grow up.
Mike, you could have made your point, and it would have been much more effective, had you not attacked the individual by telling him/her to 'shut up' and 'grow up'.
This forum is open to express opinions and ideas and the goal is to have constructive comments that not only point out problems, but offer possible solutions.
Am glad you decided to comment, please keep the focus on the idea, not the individual.
Have a great weekend.
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