The skatepark would be much better situated at the Whetstone end of the Elm St parking lot, on the corner of Elm and Flat.
1) it is much closer to where the kids tend to be
2) it does not ravage an area that isn't already ravaged
3) it seems far enough away from from anyone for whom it might be a noise disturbance
4) it would not be detracting from a lovely urban greenspace, the Crowell Lot.
5) Skateboarders will not be racketing down residential streets on their way to and from their playground
6) It is more visible to the community
7) There is rarely a time that there aren't as many empty spaces in that lot as would be consumed by the park. No significant loss of parking revenue. And perhaps even a gain when the boarders arrive in vehicles.
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Skatepark Location
Authored by: cgrotke on Sunday, December 20 2009 @ 03:53 PM GMT+5
People have wanted that spot for a long time, but the Town hasn't
offered that space.
The School board offered some of the existing park where kids and
adults hang out already. That's where the efforts will go.
#1. Next to a school is pretty close to where kids hang out.
#2 Ravage? Perhaps it will "compliment" or "improve." It's an
existing park with swings and a basketball court. As you say in #4, it's
a lovely urban greenspace. Anti-sprawl principles tell us to develop
tightly, right? Let's pack the park with park-like things to do.
#3 The cars and trucks on Western Ave drown out much of the noise
of the park. : ) Noise will be an issue and a good design will mitigate
extremes.
#4 - If this was our only park, I'd agree. We have the Commons,
Retreat Trails, Living Memorial, Elliot Street, Chestnut Hill, etc.,
though. And this one already has some recreational structures
installed.
#5 is taken care with via the existing skateboarding ordinance.
#6 - Western Ave is very visible and there are almost always people
in that park when the weather permits.
#7 Again, The Town never offered that space. People have been
looking for a space for almost a decade.
Authored by: Rolf on Sunday, December 20 2009 @ 07:43 PM GMT+5
Ten years is too long for a community to take to find a place for skateboarders to skate legally.
As Chris pointed out, the Crowell Lot as been offered. Nothing else has been offered.
Until some other location is offered, there is no point in fantasizing about other locations, or suggesting that these other places are actual alternatives. I thnk such suggestions are empty and distract from the good work that is being done towards realizing this goal.
This is the place, and now is the time.
If this location falls through, then other locations can be considered, and will have to be.
Authored by: spinoza on Monday, December 21 2009 @ 08:06 AM GMT+5
It's not the ordinance that keeps this guy from dropping the hill, rather a combination of common sense and innate fear that the vast majority of people have.
I find the skate ordinance discriminatory and loathsome. It profiles youth for an essentially healthy activity, and does little in reality to curtail the dangerous aspects.
It's good citizens have concern and share their questions, but people should also post with a sense of moderate consideration. There was a youtube posted the other day with a somewhat sadistic cascade of skater slams. Was this meant to be cautionary, or to incite loathing? As J.G Ballard points out in his novel 'Crash', there are people who are so drawn to car wrecks that they form clubs and have religious ceremony's reenacting famous crashes. James Dean is worshiped as a demigod. Does this imply all people who drive cars must be stopped.
The park is needed to alleviate the impulse for random and reckless behavior, not encourage it.
Authored by: JoanneN on Monday, December 21 2009 @ 12:23 AM GMT+5
I live very close to the location of the skatepark and I highly doubt it will make enough noise to bother me. I hear large trucks and other vehicles going by and after a while such things just are not noticed anymore. I am happy about the skatepark and happy for those who will have a place to skate.
---
People who fight fire with fire usually end up
with ashes.
~Abigail Van Buren
To love a person is to learn the song that is in
their heart and to
si
Authored by: pleasant on Monday, December 21 2009 @ 02:51 PM GMT+5
I wondered about the fenced in space on Frost St (before it becomes Flat) that just had its back wall painted. Who owns that space?
I would love for the skateboarders in town to have a place to go and hang out. On the other hand, I grew up at the Crowell Lot and I am sad to know that it will be changed before my son can enjoy it the way I did.
Also, having a park is not going to keep skateboarders from skateboarding illegally or dangerously through town. More than once I have come up Birge St (to a relatively blind intersection) to go up Estey and been confronted by an adult skateboarding down the center of the road into my path.
And don't get me started on the rule breaking cyclists.
Good luck to Spencer and the other skateboarders in town. I hope after (more than) 10 years you get what you have been asking for.
Authored by: pjmelton on Monday, December 21 2009 @ 02:59 PM GMT+5
I sincerely do not understand some people's feelings about skateboarding and skateboarders. The animosity is palpable. Personally, I find the truck traffic a lot more annoying than kids (and adults) on skateboards. Get some perspective, skateboard-haters! I mean, really. "Ravaged?" Like basketball courts and swingsets are somehow natural and idyllic? It's a PARK, and will remain one. If we were building it on a nature preserve, that would be another thing. Personally, I think a place where a bunch of adolescents are likely to hang out should be in full view of the rest of the community. Far less likely to end up being a sex and drug fest if it's not ghettoized. No wonder teenagers feel rejected and isolated. Sheesh!
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"Economic laws are not made by nature. They are made by human beings." -- FDR
Authored by: SJD on Monday, December 21 2009 @ 07:33 PM GMT+5
The problem is, they get bored and want to take their skills to a new level, -the skate park won't offer an ever increasing rate of challenge, thus it's off to the streets to find that special stairway, railing or curb drop off that brings it to the next level of wow! -or paraplegic status.
The skate park will only provide a controlled training ground for newbies...
offered that space.
The School board offered some of the existing park where kids and
adults hang out already. That's where the efforts will go.
#1. Next to a school is pretty close to where kids hang out.
#2 Ravage? Perhaps it will "compliment" or "improve." It's an
existing park with swings and a basketball court. As you say in #4, it's
a lovely urban greenspace. Anti-sprawl principles tell us to develop
tightly, right? Let's pack the park with park-like things to do.
#3 The cars and trucks on Western Ave drown out much of the noise
of the park. : ) Noise will be an issue and a good design will mitigate
extremes.
#4 - If this was our only park, I'd agree. We have the Commons,
Retreat Trails, Living Memorial, Elliot Street, Chestnut Hill, etc.,
though. And this one already has some recreational structures
installed.
#5 is taken care with via the existing skateboarding ordinance.
#6 - Western Ave is very visible and there are almost always people
in that park when the weather permits.
#7 Again, The Town never offered that space. People have been
looking for a space for almost a decade.