Skateboarding; to Integrate or Outlaw?
We have it pretty good here in the UK really, considering that in a lot of American states it’s illegal to skateboard on the streets. And even where it isn’t yet illegal, skaters regularly get picked up and taken home by the police for zipping down the sidewalks. True they might have a slightly more aggressive skating style on the streets over there (as i’ve said on this blog before, skaters in this area are very polite and considerate on the tarmac) but simply outlawing skating is surely not the way to progress. It leaves people like 16 year old John Otto to solve the problem, struggling to find sponsorship and charity support to create skate park refuges for his fellow skaters.
It certainly demonstrates the enthusiasm and passion for the sport though, when Otto proposes, scopes out and gets permission for a $50,000 skate park in his home town of Farmington. He’s been joined by Mitch Ogden, owner of Datacorp, and together they have drawn up plans and talked to the City Council.
Otto has found two abandoned tennis courts they could use, and is hoping to get donated building help and materials to save a bit of money on the project.
“This solves the problem for everybody,” he said. “It’s safer for the skaters. It’s safer for the pedestrians and drivers, and it gives the skaters a clean, drug-free environment to let loose.”
And although we all know the ‘drug-free’ part was thrown in to attract the approval of the Council, there is definite truth in everything he says.
Otto and Ogden are hoping the persmissions are all obtained and the park built by the end of next year. That might be a bit optimistic given the amount of money they have to raise, but i guess it all depends on the enthusiasm the City has in supporting this project. Good luck to them…
And all that leaves us with the question; is it better to be oppressed and forced to set up our own niche areas and communities… or to be accepted into the community and remain somewhat diluted in our enthusiasm?
Different things will come out of both situations no doubt, but it’s hard to tell which is more desirable.
