|
• SKATE PARKS from El. - was apprehensive and didn't
<br /> know how to respond," Hoffman
<br /> Firm will build up to 4S parks bps "Everybody t understands a t
<br /> par k? I think there is some pre7)'u-
<br /> thi summer; double 1999s rate dice against skateboarding. What
<br /> I have found is that adults don't
<br /> 'The sport is growing, and not "I had those thoughts of kids want a spot for kids 10 to 16 to
<br /> I just in suburban areas," said being chased from the parking gather." '
<br /> Dave Benson, chief financial offi- lots and library," said Chuck Yet the suburb's skate park has
<br /> cer for True Ride Inc., the Du- . , Plante of Maple Plain as he been so popular that the city
<br /> luth -based firm that built ramps : watched his son, Austin, skate at recently scrapped plans for a -' .
<br /> at the Overpass and several `other the Overpass one recent weekday second outdoor hockeyrink and
<br /> area skate parks. "It's like bees afternoon. He no longer has used the $15,000 budgeted for it
<br /> coming to honey x those thoughts "This provides : z to buy more equipment for its
<br /> :Benson said TmeBide r , asafety physicalftnessandca r skate park. new spme and half
<br /> '
<br /> build as many as 45 parks nation maradene.' it." ` , r pie should amve this •
<br /> widethis ce'asjnanyg'. : #illsom'Lrj9ficeI6 P'l!i b ' • .. " y
<br /> Ii it did in1999:'Dps week, itwill j - MattSherbonoffiop eel Ea i as2 k idsu ` s near " t' t
<br /> eliver equipment to Chanhas ;that skateboarders gets bum rap. ' Chan'hassbn'City Hall on I' ''
<br /> en, which is expanding its exist ' This is a good place to make . weekends It has the highest user
<br /> 1ng park. True Ride also is taking the right kind of friends," said rate of any facility in the city,"
<br /> the sport to the Marshall Islanddss Sherbon' wearing an m
<br /> eang,' Hoffman said. '
<br /> in the South Patific, whereit wt"11
<br /> set up a park year. _ . r- To each his own park
<br /> There are more than 300 skate a Skate parks differ from one an-
<br /> Parks in the United States, with Y
<br /> Admittedl 1 other. Most, like Chanhassen's,
<br /> 300 more on the way, according City Council was are Tierl parks. meaning they
<br /> to the SkateparkAssociation of ' have no ramps higher than 3 feet. •
<br /> the United States, founded by the apprehensive' and Cities with Tier I facilities don't
<br /> mother of a teenage skateboarder didn't know haw t0 need to have extra insurance to
<br /> in Santa Monica; Calif. operatoand, in many cases, don't
<br /> (http:/ /wWw.spausa.org). Locally, respond. Everybody charge user fees.
<br /> St. Anthony and Oakdale will Parks such as the Overpass
<br /> open parks in early September. understands bal that have ramps higher than 3
<br /> And Richfield,'Edina and Bloom- feet must be fenced in, have
<br /> ington park departments are fields, but what is a supervision during all hours of
<br /> jointly exploring the possibility of skate park? I think operation and obtain insurance
<br /> building a skate park in coopera- through the League of Minnesota
<br /> lion with the Southdale YMCA. the is some Cities Insurance Trust Annual
<br /> re
<br /> Skeptics become prejudice against premiums range from $2,500 to
<br /> P p $7;500, said Lourdes Sanchez,
<br /> supporters skateboarding. the trust's communications
<br /> Once leery of providing play- coordinator.
<br /> grounds for skaters, partly be- Wha I h ave f Safety is also non - negotiable.
<br /> cause of the fear of multimillion- that adults do
<br /> n't At the Overpass, for example,
<br /> dollar personal -injury lawsuits, skaters — in -line and boarders —
<br /> and partly because of public want a Spot for must wear helmets and other
<br /> backlash against promoting what protective gear. They also must
<br /> some see as a sport for troubled kids 10 to 16 to sign a waiver promising to abide
<br /> young people, community lead- g other. n by facility rules and pay $9 daily
<br /> ers are now bestowing their to skate, or a reduced rate if they
<br /> blessings on the activity. Some have season passes.
<br /> — Todd H Chanhassen's
<br /> are even pledging financial Ray of the Hopkins
<br /> support and Recreation director of parks and recreation. and Recreation Depart -
<br /> In Hopkins, for example, the . ment said there have been few
<br /> city created a task force two years problems at the Overpass. The
<br /> ago, comprising young people - , most serious was graffiti, which
<br /> and Park Board members. In tongue ring and baggy Tommy was quickly cleaned up, along
<br /> March, the task force received a Hilfiger shorts. "Just because of with a few injuries common to
<br /> $135,000 boost from the Jaycees the way we dress, we are made to the sport cuts, scrapes, sprains
<br /> for equipment. Insurance was se be the bad guys, and that makes and broken wrists.
<br /> cured, the Minnesota Depart- ' me mad. I'm here to have fun, . For Sherbon, who has broken
<br /> ment of Transportation offered Land this keeps ine off the street ; an ankle, a wrist'and three nibs in
<br /> free use of land under the Hwy. and out of trouble.' People just ' the year since he started skate
<br /> 169 bridge near Rxrelsior Bottle- don't understand. - - boarding, places such as the
<br /> vaid; and the City Council signed Todd Hoffman, Chanhassen's Overpass and his favorite park in
<br /> off on thedealthispast director of parks and recreation, aanhassenhavebeenaboon:,
<br /> The $rlRdpened in lithe. said educating people wits a big `' Ch I ve found friends I've found
<br /> Places such as the Overpass issge when talk of a skate park > my thing "and this has given us 0
<br /> are,ttiiangmg the way some view came up there" ` ; k m t spo t community . I hope ° -
<br /> the ort. _ ? `Aamrttedl u nr1 thesis iieJPaiklineverycity ".fr
<br />
|