The Perils of Skateboard Parks
The Arcata Eye reports on an accident at Arcata's skateboard park. They also mention other things that come along with the creation of skateboard parks, like people misusing them, graffiti and such.
Hate to be like this but it seems such things aren't given much consideration when projects like this are planned. Seems there's always someone that wants to screw things up for everyone else.
Makes me wonder if Eureka's proposal for a skateboard park is such a good idea.
As an aside, if find it difficult to believe a bicycle causes more wear and tear on the park than a skateboard.
posted by Fred Mangels @ 8:51 AM
25 comments
25 Comments:
This type of injury, the graffiti, the defiant, self-destructive attitudes, all these were predictable.
In fact, if you look up the public comments made before the park was approved, I think you will find these problems WERE predicted.
I'd be interested in knowing which individuals did such a good job predicting how things would turn out.
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the only metal found in the skateboard's truck is actually an alloy mix that is much softer than steel. so the trucks actually get worn down when grinding on coping. The axle of the skateboard truck is the only steel found in the skateboard. the axle can cause some minimal damage when struck hard against the concrete surface. But that damage is minimal and considered normal wear and tear.
Ont he other hand Bikes are mostly steel cosntrcution and wheigh 30 to 40 puonds. The bike pegs that are used to grind on skatepark coping are also made of hard steel. The hard material of the pegs cause cosiderably more wear and tear than a skateboard truck. In addition, the end of the pegs do not have a wheel like a skate truck so the end of the bike peg grinds down the actual concrete deck as well. Also the sproket teeth from the cranks on bikes can puncture the coping. thus the more damage. I would call it wear and tear. there are solutions to all of this but they are only controlled by supervision that is not always feasible in parks.
Skatepark builders can build for both but the allowance of bikes will greatly dictate what features can or can't be in the facility, its supervision, and its warranty.
since bikers are typically not "harrased" as much as skateboarders; most times, the skaters advocate more in the early process and so skateparks get built and designed for skateboard use. simply due to advocasy.
I hope this clarifies the wear and tear issue and some of its roots in their terms of use.
Did you guys even read the article?
"According to Diemer, the City’s insurance agency is content with the signage provided at the park, as well as the regular visits by APD and would back Arcata should a lawsuit arise from injuries suffered during illegal use."
In other words, the city did anticipate people misusing the park. If you want cities to avoid providing services where people have a good chance of being injured, then it's time to ban cars and make everyone walk. No wait, walking could cause injury. Instigate a 24 hour curfew and force people to stay home and do everything by licensed courier.
The fact that this guy was actually escorted out of the park by an officer 90 minutes before his fateful return means that any resulting lawsuit will get thrown out of court that much faster faster. Everything worked as it was supposed to in this incident. It's an excellent example for Eureka to follow.
Point well made.
Still, call me the naysayer, but it's just one more instance of a taxpayer funded project being an even further drain of taxpayer funds (and police manpower).
I know, that's inevitable if you want to do just about anything.
As far as insurance, I believe the City would have to have insurance for any project or property they own, so it's not like they got insurance out of foresight.
Yes, skate parks require policing. So do parks and playgrounds. Let's just get rid of everything that makes our community nice. You're not a naysayer Fred. You're a curmudgeon.
Yes, it is likely the city got insurance out of foresight. The two go hand-in-hand. You don't get insurance without asking, "Uhhh, tell me again why we need this?" As has already been stated, accident fears were raised during public comment. Everyone knew what to expect. You go into it knowing someone will likely get injured at some point and sue. The skatepark and city parks are created despite that fact, in defiance of that fact. We can have nice things and we can't let stupid people ruin life for the rest of us.
"...but it's just one more instance of a taxpayer funded project being an even further drain of taxpayer funds (and police manpower)."
Perhaps.
But then again think about the great opportunity it provides kids and how in the long run it might even have the opposite effect on the city's coffers and police. It would help keep some skateboarders off the streets and sidewalks. It will take involvement of kids and parents in keeping the park functioning. And it will bring a larger public presence in Cooper Gulch which is likely to reduce some of the other problems there as the disc golf course has already done.
Righty-o. I'll take skaters practicing their craft at a skate park over teens sitting around with nothing to do but stir up trouble.
(and that's what skate parks really are about... taking a leisure activity and turning it into a craft, an art form of sorts.)
11:21 wrote, "You're not a naysayer Fred. You're a curmudgeon.".
That's the word I was looking for: Curmudgeon. But I'm often a naysayer as well.
Notice how everytime the Arcata Eye complains about something that something usually gets taken down or goes under? No more live music at Muddy Waters thanks to Hoover. What else has Hoover infected with his poison tongue?
***K YOU HOOVER! Skaters unite to fight the right wing engineerd corporate media attack on the skate park!
Maybe Hoover would prefer us skaters do our thing at Jacoby's Storehouse rather than the skate park? Truth is skateboarding is instinctual for most skaters and we will skate regardless of whether or not we have a "state sanctioned" place to skate! So I say again **** YOU HOOVER!
I say old people should be euthanized. They consume resources that could be spent on children or youth - the people who are or will be productive members of society. I see these old people homes that employ people to clean up when an old guy poops his pants after watching Maury Povich. I say let the old bastards rot in their own feces.
Shut up Shane.
Shane's not like that.
Freds just jealous that he can't skate. I'd take him to the skate park but knowing him he'd start trying to show off in some lame attempt to impress high school girls and then he'd fall and break something.
Now fred's got high school girls giving attention. I geuss its insurance so that when the elder mangles passes into the great beyond he can move some 18 yr old in real quick.
Fred, it's ok you think I'm hot. But you remind me of my grandpa and that's just creepy. But my friend likes you...I'll wait for her to tell you who.
Fred might be your grandpa.
The skatepark is fine until the hooligans take over. Most of the time it is a great place for the kids to ride, until mid-afternoon when some of the older youths (18-25) smoke dope and drink and cause problems for the younger kids.
AS I said - "It will take involvement of kids and parents in keeping the park functioning."
"Skate parks require policing"
And I'd rather see our policemen busy shooing young adults out of the skate park so the skaters can enjoy it in the way it was designed and meant to be used...if the older kids can't skate perhaps they will take up disc golf.
It's awesome working for someone who wields as much power as Kevin. It must be just like this at the ER.
Oddly enough, though. Muddy's (Hot Cup, now) does offer live music. Just about every night. Good food and coffee -- and all ages! -- too. I highly recommend it.
Good to see you pipe in here, Jennifer. A word of warning, though, if you haven't been here before: It can get ugly here.
Comments about skate parks always ignore the obvious.
Instead of risking their lives and limbs running their skateboards around towns or around skateboard parks, why aren't these young people helping out around the house, taking care of younger brothers and sisters, doing their chores, or even (dare I say it?) doing their homework?
YEah. ANd why aren't you feeding your kids something besides cheeseburgers?
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