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Neighbors resist skate board park
The Spokesman-Review September 28, 2002
City has $200,000 for facility North Side has twice rejected
Amy Cannata
Staff writer
Spokane has $200,000 to build a North Side skate park. Trouble
is, the city Parks and Recreation Department has no place to put
it.
Fearful of traffic, noise, graffiti or just plain unruly teenagers,
North Side residents have twice rebelled against plans to place
the skateboarding facility in their neighborhoods.
Both Andrew Rypien Field in Hillyard and a planned park near the
new Northpointe Wal-Mart store have been discarded as potential
sites because of neighborhood resistance.
"I think they are concerned that it will bring an undesirable
element into their neighborhoods whether it be vandalism or graffiti,"
said Tony Madunich, who is heading up the Parks Department's skate
park efforts.
The department will meet with the Northeast Community Center's
advocacy committee Monday to look at options and will hold a citywide
informational meeting sometime in October, Madunich said.
"We're kind of in the process of regrouping," he sa
id, adding that the department doesn't want to force the park
into a location where it's not wanted.
But that's not the impression that Nevada-Lidgerwood Neighborhood
activist Jeanie Wagenman got when Madunich called her to ask her
thoughts about the site near Wal-Mart.
"It sounded like it was a done deal," said Wagenman,
who said the residents were promised a simple neighborhood
park and then later told that a skate park might be added to
the plan.
"We were promised a small, 3- to 4-acre park with a portion
of grass for kids to play and play equipment," she said,
adding that there is no room for a skate park, and that it would
bring too much traffic to the area.
The neighbors revolted and the location was shelved.
The same thing happened in Hillyard when the Parks Department
began considering Andrew Rypien Field.
"I'm not against it," said Celina Pearce, a member of
the Hillyard Steering Committee. "I just don't know anything
about it. People in Spokane don't know what the skate park will
look like. The only experience we have is the (downtown) park
under the freeway and there is a lot of graffiti."
"We hope that if we get together we can find a solution,"
Pearce added. "I believe the kids do need a place for this
type of activity, because right now they do it on sidewalks, stairs,
any place they can find."
The $200,000 for a skate park was earmarked as part of a $15 million
park bond issue that voters passed in 1999.
Madunich estimated the money is enough to build a 10,000-square-foot
facility.
He envisions a skate park that's very different from the one downtown
underneath the freeway at McClellan.
Instead of an asphalt park covered with graffiti, the Parks Department
is planning for a free-flowing concrete park, with a below-grade
bowl, multiple jumps and "street" features like rails
and benches.
"I'm tired of this park. It's so boring," said Angello
Stepak as he skateboarded at the downtown park on his lunch break
Friday.
The 15-year-old Lewis and Clark High School student said adults
shouldn't
assume all skateboarders are bad. He said there probably wouldn't
be any graffiti at a better park.
"I think if they had a park up there, it would get taken
care of," he said of the North Side plans.
Rather than thinking about downtown's under-the-freeway park,
North Side neighborhoods should envision a facility like Post
Falls' new skate park, said Madunich.
Graffiti-free and nearly trash-free, the Post Falls park has been
well-maintained by users and Parks Department staff since it opened
in July. Located at the corner of Third Avenue and Greenberry
Road, it sits on a busy thoroughfare, adjacent to vacant land
on three sides.
About 30 teens and preteens practiced their tricks Wednesday afternoon
at the park, diving into the concrete bowl and jumping over a
picnic table.
A few kids were smoking, but the majority seemed to be there to
just get in some after-school skating and visit with friends.
Most weren't wearing helmets as required under park rules, however.
"We duck down when a cop drives by," said Zak Bosley,
14.
"One of the things we stress to the kids is you are going
to be responsible for this park," said Bob Kasun, Post Falls
Parks and Recreation Commission chairman.
He added that the park will be upgraded when money is available.
Della Rowland has had no complaints about the Post Falls skate
park. She manages an apartment complex across the street.
After a loud grand opening celebration, the park has been quiet,
she said.
"As far as I'm concerned, it's been fine. The only thing
you hear occasionally is a skateboard hitting the cement,"
said Rowland.
"It keeps the kids off the street and gives them something
to do," she added. "I enjoy sitting outside and watching
them."
Sixteen-year-old Corey Lynn, a student at East Valley High School,
traveled to the Post Falls skate park from Newman Lake on Wednesday.
Lynn said he would like a similar park closer to home. He'll soon
get his wish.
A $500,000 skate park outside the Spokane Valley YMCA at Mirabeau
Point is in the works. Construction is scheduled to begin next
year.
The city of Spokane should stop trying to find a North Side location
for a new park, and just invest its $200,000 to improve the existing
downtown park, said Steve Sanchez, owner of the nearby Spirit
Skate Shop.
The park has no "flow," he said, explaining that the
ramps and other features create situations where skateboarders
have to halt their momentum to avoid walls. The surface is also
rough asphalt rather than new, smooth concrete.
The city could build a North Side park later, said Sanchez.
"Once we have a good park downtown, more people will be accepting
of the idea of a skate park outside the core," he said.
Replies to: Neighbors resist skate board park
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This is my second comment on this subject. I am a resident of
Elk, WA. We are in Spokane County (not city) and we are not incorporated,
so we do not have a governmental outlet. We own our own community
park on the Little Spokane River in Elk. There is a great backing
of people in our community to have a skate park for our youth.
If we were willing to put it in the community park, is there any
way to get any funding or help with the project? There was no
mention of liability involved with such a park. Do you have any
information on that subject?
Thank you - Billie Martin, secretary-Elk Community Park Board
Editor - Bridges After-school Program, Riverside School District
Staff Writer - Elk Sentinel
elkites@earthlink.net
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We have cemented over so much of our childrens' world and yet
they found a way to have fun on cement. Good grief Adults, don't
take that away from them too.
Let's just be sure to ask ourselves exactly what we do offer the
children of our community to show them that we care.
kdellwo@netzero.net
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Take a trip to the town of Newport, Washington and see what the
young people, with the assist of local businesses, have done to
provide a skate park. For heaven sake, give the kids a decent
skate park facility and they won't have to gravitate to your friendly,
neighborhood streets! Start treating our local teens as people
rather than prospective felons!! As adults, we've all been in
their shoes; a primary difference is that of "wheels attached
to a board rather than skates". As far as the graffiti is
concerned: I think you will find little of it around their skate
park, especially if you provide a graffiti wall for them on their
ground. Thanks for listening. Ps I have 4 teenage grandsons, whom
I love dearly. They keep me young!! Blessings, Donna L. LeClaire
jerrydonna@omnicast.net
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I work with the Bridges After-School program at Riverside School
District. I am the "Bridge" editor. Several of the boys
on the Middle School editor's team are interested in trying to
promote building a skateboard park in the Elk area. We own our
Park on the Little Spokane River in Elk (Elk Community Park) where
there is room for a skateboard park. My question is about insurance.
There was no mention of insurance or liability in your article.
Do you have any information on the subject?
elkites@earthlink.net
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Opposition to a skate park. You're joking right?
Their argument makes sense until you realize that vandalism and
graffiti will happen to a regular park no matter what.
Even with or without a skate park.
Take a look around the parks in your neighborhood.
I guarantee that a park or two near you has some vandalism done
to it.
If everyone is so concerned about graffiti and vandalism if a
skate park is built, simply hire security and install security
cameras.
Truth is, kids need things to do.
Providing a skate park will help give kids something to do instead
of sitting around the house being bored.
andrew_waddilove@lycos.com
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I am a strong supporter of providing our children with a safe
environment for them to ride their skateboards, stunt bikes and
roller blades. Take a look around, there isn't a 14 year old that
isn't on some sort of wheels. Improving the skatepark under the
freeway shouldn't even be a consideration, it's what gives skate
boarding and skate parks a bad name. It isn't a safe environment.
On the few occasions I took my son and his friends there I was
harrassed by panhandlers and offened by the profanity used and
grafitti displayed. Please take a look at our neighboring communities.
Airway Heights recently transformed an unsued tennis court in
one of their parks into a skatepark that is located in a very
nice, clean neighborhood. It's a safe environment and one I am
comfortable having my son, his friends and myself in. Post Falls,
Coeur d'Alene, Deer Park all have recognized this great need.
We need a skatepark on the Northside. Please give these kids a
chance to have a safe, fun place to skate. I'm sure our local
business owners would appreciate not having run these kids off
of their properties for lack of anywhere else to ride. Times have
changed, the activities these kids are interested in revolve around
these sports let's work together with the Parks & Rec Department
to make this happen.
spearman@icehouse.net
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After being born and raised in Spokane, I moved away to Vancouvr.
One reason was I knew my two kids wouldn't have anything to do
in Spokane. Everytime somethng good is planned for children, it
get shot down by complaining neighbors. I remember when someone
tried bringing laser tag to Spokane. Shot down.
Is it any wonder youth crime is skyrocketing?
iidkyimys@newmail.net
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I personaly think all of these so called adults should stop and
remember when they were teens. Kids have nothing to keep them
busy they have no plce to hang out so they get in trouble. If
the adults in the community keep putting a stop to everything
for children then what are those children to do? Everyone wants
to talk about these kids and say " don't they have anything
better to do"...... well the answer is no they don't have
anything better to d because you have all put a stop to everything
that has to do with children. Give these kids a break!! Build
that skate park and let the kids be kids !! how many bars are
in spokane? how many places are there for adults to go gamble?
I say build that park and give these kids something to do.
itsstilookie@aol.com
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An article yesterday said the park departmnet wanted more money
from the budget and today they are trying to spend 200,000 dollars
for something that people do not want. Hmmm. Really don't see
why the public should pay for a skate poark anyway, just because
kids want to have it. Its unsafe, ugly, and a waste of our land
to serve a small number of kids, who should be playing in their
back yard anyway. If kids decide they like bunji jumping, do we
build them a tower? And what if they decide, gee its fun to shoot,
do we build them a range? Its time we stop catering to kids desires
and then wonder why they grow up to believe that society owes
them and should take care of their wants. We played baseball in
open fields and unused lots as kids and still grew up without
society paying for and giving us everything we ask for.
freewolf46@yahoo.com
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The new park would be prefect if located on the south hill. Surely
a small corner of Manito or Comstock could easily accomidate this
welcome addition. And when one stops and considers how many people
live on the south hill, it is only logical that it be built in
this part of town. The northside is far to overcrowded with all
the shopping and the like.
billythekid@mymontana.com
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In the small city of Marshfield, WI a nice skate park was built.
It is surounded by chain link fence and it has a lot of skating
jumps and such and I'm told it is a very nice park. I'm not a
skateboard user--at 52 I don't think so!
It is near the shopping center where I go to shop. I have notice
that since the skate park has opened there doesn't seem to be
as many kids riding there skate boards on the sidewalks which
is dangerous to pedestrians and motorists alike. I think it is
a good thing--gives the kids an outlet for there preference of
sport. I sometimes think the people of Spokane are such fuddy
duddies. They always talk of having things for youth to do but----.
I used to live in the valley for many years and I read the Review
on line. Thanks for giving me the chance to respond. Joanne Zupanc,
Loyal Wi
jzup@tznet.com
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I think that there should be one. Kids are going to skate regardlessif
there is a park or not. There are plenty in Seattle and there
is no vandalism, loud noise, or anything like that around them.
Spokane is supposed to be a great place to raise a family...yeah
right. The short sightedness of the people of Spokane has struck
again. As long as there is no decent park to skate in kids will
be at places that will be loud and obnoxious to people.
jameshenry7861@msn.com
Hillyard
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