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comments I think that we need a skate park. Posted by Sandi Greene on 01.16.2008 at 11:17 amI think that for the sake of the kids that have to live there, they need to put in a park of some kind. People always complain that youth spends the weekend nights wandering around uptown causing trouble and problems but in reality we really don’t have that many options for a weekend night! If its not uptime its movies or bowling and you can only do so much. If they had a place to go like a skate park or something similar than the chance is they could have events and things like that that would change the hum drum of walking the streets of Statesville on Friday night. People say they don’t want the park or the wandering uptown but I grew up in statesville. I think if we had something like that then people would notice that some of the crimes that occur out of boredom might just go down and we can also give youth a chance to do something they may just do well at. Please reconsider and help the city realize how important this is to the town. Posted by Amanda Reavis on 01.16.2008 at 11:25 amI think tht it would be benficial to open a skate park. It would give all of the skaters a place to go and I’m sure it would be a safer environment than the random locations that people have to skate in now. I also think it would be of benefit to the city. The skaters would have a place to go and not be on the sidewalks downtown and it would draw kids and their parents to Statesville. Now that there is a shop opening catering to the skaters, it only makes sense to have a skate park here. Posted by Kevin Boggs on 01.16.2008 at 11:30 amI believe that Statesville should put an place for the youth of staesville to hang out, it would not hurt to put an place for the youth to hang out, if that mean if they want an skate park, let then having it, at least they are not on street get hurt. You run the youth out of malls, they really having no place to hang out without get in trouble. We need to help the youth of future and let they have skate place.Quit build so many houses build an place drugs free for youth of today. Posted by sandra gillispie on 01.16.2008 at 12:34 pmI think a skate park would be a good idea. I see kids skateboarding on the streets all the time. They could be struck by a car, and injured, or worse. There are parks for kids to play basketball, etc.
I think that a skatepark would be a great idea. I have been to Hickory for the past 2 weekends to take my 7 year old son to an indoor skatepark there. He loves it. All the kids that I have observed there have been very well behaved and are very courteous of each other. The older boys even take time out to teach my son new skateboard techniques. I had to sign a waiver the first time releasing the park owners of any responsibility for any injury or damage. I feel that if Statesville would follow the same procedures, a skatepark here would be very beneficial for the youth and for the city. If kids have things to do that they are interested in doing, they have less time to think about getting into things that they know they should not be doing. A skatepark is a way for kids to burn off a lot of energy, develop social skills, and great excersise. I do wish Statesville would reconsider its view on a skatepark. One more thing, I know that if I drive to Hickory for my son to skateboard, there would be plenty people that would drive to Statesville to a skatepark for thier children from the surrounding areas. If Stateville is the “Crossroads” to the future, we need to pay attention to the younger generations needs. Posted by Judy Elliott on 01.16.2008 at 01:16 pmGreat let’s just keep telling our kids!!! Dont sit and watch TV, get off the computer, go out and do something. Dont you think its about time we gave them something to do. Other than get in TROUBLE! What are people afraid of. Our kids might lose weight or God forbid have fun. Parents might find something to do with there kids together other than see a movie, bowling, Oh wait what else is there to do in statesville? Other than school sports and things that dont cost an arm and leg. Are we afraid our Children might get into something we didnt. GOD I hope so. Statement HELP OUR KIDS STATESVILLE Posted by Anonymous on 01.16.2008 at 01:19 pmWAKE UP SURROUNDING CITIES AND TOWNS! Where are these cities and towns going to be when these YOUTHS grow up and move away? Not all youth are bad kids. However, we as the adults do not want to put our time, money or energy into our kids. As a result of this, you have kids doing drugs, committing murders or sitting around just looking for trouble. Statesville needs to think about what the POSITIVE outcome of a skate park could be and stop worrying about the liabilty aspect of it. These kids have no outlet and are very limited in what they can do in Statesville. Where do you think that they are going to do activities? They are taking their money to other cities and towns who do have things for their youth. I bet that if you were to open this up to the community as a community outreach for the youth in your area, you’ll find that you would have parents volunteer to help, oversee and mentor to these kids. It is time for the cities to believe in our kids and give them opportunities. It has to begin somewhere - Why not with Statesville, Mooresville, Troutman???? Show them that you do care about them and show them that the things that are important to them are important to us. Have FAITH that the kids will do the right thing. If they don’t, then have the GRACE to forgive, set the rules and move forward. Our children are the most important thing that we have. We cannot sit back and take a passive role and then wonder why they are turning out bad. Kids are a blessing not a liability. Posted by Anonymous on 01.16.2008 at 02:48 pmI think the cost is the only issue here. I believe that a skatepark should be implemented, when I used to skate I had to drive all the way to Charlotte. Statesville always wants to keep local businesses thriving, but when I wanted to skate my money was spent in Charlotte not here. I would skate, eat, and spend my evening and money in Charlotte. Parents will spend the cash for their child to skate in a monitored environment, sure it’s still dangerous, but the risk is a lot lower than grinding off the handrail at the local BB&T;at 10:30 PM with little to no lighting. What the committe does not understand is that skating is a way of life for these kids. To practice the same trick 150 times and not stopping until you land it is a huge accomplishment. It boosts self esteem, it brings a feeling of satisfaction that you can complete anything you put your mind to. A skatepark would intensify this 10 times over, and I would never put a price on a child’s mental and emotional well being. A lot of people complain that our youth is going to hell in a hand basket...well now is Statesville’s chance to make a change and help our youth. If it costs 700 thousand to 1 million dollars to implent this, lets bite the bullet and make it the best damn skatepark in NC!!! It will attract skaters from all over the state to come and skate and possible business will pay for advertising in the skatepark to help with funding. The only arguement I saw in the article was MONEY, lets find a way to make money second and our youth first. Posted by Mark Niswonger on 01.16.2008 at 03:02 pmThe question is NOT whether or not we should have a skate park. The real question is: Who should pay for it? Private citizens can purchase the property and build a skate park any time they want. But should we take tax money from widows on a fixed income and use it to provide a playground for kids? Heck no! Everyone who wants a skate park should go build one without forcing their neighbors to pay for it. Posted by Kip Smith on 01.16.2008 at 03:21 pmMost of the shop owners complain about the young adults hanging around their business. Here is an opportunity to give the skateboarders and spectators some thing to do and keep them out of trouble. It makes no since to me not to build a park. Posted by Bobby Miller on 01.16.2008 at 03:24 pmOnce again Statesville will fail to lead the way in the county. As the county seat one would think that we would lead the way. Not so. It would be nice to live in a town that elected officials that actually cared about the people that live there. The quality of Life Committee members should consider that as elected officials they are to improve the quality of life for all citizens of Statesville.
There is a lot of concern with a Skatepark in Statesville. The need of a park in Statesville should be a priority. It appears that the budget was considered for a park, however, the total amount allowed was not enough. So why should the council say no? The park could be built in phases,and the money considered in the budget for 2008 would start construction on the first phase. Also, property has been purchased for recreational purposes, which would allow a location for the skatepark without altering the existing plans.
I think that a skate park would be a great idea. It would give the boarders somewhere to go besides just downtown. It may also keep kids out of trouble because they will have something to do. I think that a skate park would be a great addition to statesville. Posted by sarah on 01.16.2008 at 04:55 pmStatesville needs something to keep the children appropriately occupied. City council approves money for so many other things, why not our youth? Posted by Pam Thompson on 01.16.2008 at 05:01 pmSpeaking as not only a concerned voter but as the mother of 7 year old boy who enjoys skating and a one year old who is already trying to follow in big brothers footsteps, I demand that our Council take more consideration than the little bit this committee has given the subject. It is the responsibilty of our leaders to do what we the taxpayers ask. We are asking for a skate park! It is not possible for us to travel the 30-60 miles to area skateparks on a regular basis. And it is not possible to excel at a sport if you are unable to practice. We have accomadated almost every other sport in Statesville why should the skateboarders have to beg. We are even applying for grants and raising money to help. How many people raised money for the soccer complex or the new 8 million dollar aquatic facilty” they are building? And if we all read the paper a few weeks ago the city boasted of the 22 million dollar surplus they have accumulated. We aren’t asking for too much. We are only asking for what the youth in this area deserve. The “premier city” in the area that is not only the county seat but the “hub of the city, county and region” should be far ahead of the game. They should be considering how to build this park for the “quality of life” of our youth and the “overall fitness” of our community. This will benefit Statesville on numerous levels and we shouldn’t even have to be asking for it, the city should have already done it. Posted by Kim McSwain on 01.16.2008 at 05:18 pmIt is sad that Statesville is not getting A park anytime soon, but I assumed that A million dollar skatpark would not happen in Statesville right now. For whom it may concern A great skatepark could be built in Statesville for less than A quarter of A million, maybe that option should be looked into A little more than it has so Statesville can have the long over due skatepark the skaters deserve. A SKATEPARK IS BETTER THAN NO SKATEPARK Posted by Michael Mahaffey on 01.16.2008 at 05:49 pmAt what point do we put our children first in this community? We see uniforms on athletes that participate in organized sports and congratulate their efforts. As a community, we see youth that ride skateboards that do not fit the “norm” and refuse to see their efforts as accomplishments. Learning to ride a skateboard is an accomplishment. Learning different tricks and taking the time to practice keeps our youth busy, the same way that sports keep kids busy. When our youth is involved in something that they love to do, that takes hard work and determination (as does any SPORT), they are less likely to be involved in activities that lead to delinquency.
Statesville definitely needs a skate park. You might consider incorporating a part of it for inline skating and then more adults and kids will take part. I started inline skating here in the Villages in Central Florida almost 2 years ago but in Statesville, I doubt that I would have started. If you had a good park that inliners could skate plus skateboarding, you would have a wide range of ages participating. Statesville would be a forward moving community if you decide to spend the money for this sport. I also notice a new store is opening just for the boarders...way to go! Posted by Ellen Danich on 01.16.2008 at 06:20 pmIredell County needs a Skate Park for everyone to enjoy. These kids cannot skate in public, and need a place to practice their sport they have chosen. We have soccer fields, gyms, and pools. Why not a skating area? Posted by Amanda Swierad on 01.16.2008 at 07:19 pmEver wonder why so many of the good folks of Iredell go to other counties to shop? Perfect reason take your kids to a county that spends some money to attract the kids and the parents. Not having a skate park in Iredell or anything for the kids to do is a great reason to call Iredell home and drive out of town for everything else. Great job Quality of Life committee! Posted by Jeff Taylor on 01.16.2008 at 07:42 pmWe are both in the agreement that young adults need something to do and a place to go where they are not going to get into trouble. These kids just want to do what they love and we wonder why kids get into trouble, well if we don’t give them a place to go they are going to find it anyway!! All of the other cities around have a place for these kids to go so why do we have to be the Mayberry town that doesn’t want change or to grow. If we don’t grown and change w/ the times we will eventually die out and fade anyway. If you want to admit it or not these kids are going to be our future and if we don’t work for them then they are not likely to work for us when we need something. THINK ABOUT IT!!!!!!!!!! Posted by Roddey and Cheryll Gibson on 01.16.2008 at 07:52 pmIs anyone really surprised? Statesville continually makes poor decisions and thus the growth of this town is stunted, and the crime rate is soaring. Posted by Nicole on 01.16.2008 at 10:01 pmI can NOT believe this!!! Again, Statesville/Iredell County is telling its residents to go to ANOTHER county to spend their money!!!! There is no where in Statesville for the youth/teens to shop, no where for them to hang out and have fun, no where for them to want to go except to Hickory, Winston, or Charlotte. Do we not want to put the residents $$$ back in our pockets??? It is sad that Statesville has nothing to offer its own residents or attract new residents to the area. Crossroads in the Piedmont??? City of Progress??? Puh-leeeeezzzz!! Posted by Anonymous on 01.16.2008 at 10:24 pmRight now, I am so disappointed in the city I live in. The elected officials will not support the public’s attempt to improve the quality of life. I do not feel money is the real issue. The city mentioned it only had a small amount of money to set aside for a skate park. There are recreational grants out there, local businesses are willing to pledge money, and the public has already raised several thousand dollars. The internet is filled with stories of how towns got funding for their skate parks. If this park is going to cost 1 million and Statesville can’t spend that much in 2008, then it is logical to spend a small amount on a partial park and keep building in phases until the million has been acquired and the park is finished. In just a few years, Statesville’s youth could be advertized in sports magazines, ESPN, Fuel TV and MTV. We have already hosted the world championship slalom race here in Statesville. There is support form the public! Please do not neglect the youth. I feel it is our duty as Statesville citizens to be present during the town council’s meeting. I do not think the council will vote against the youth’s request while all of Statesville’s youth stare into their eyes begging for help. Let’s over rule the “Quality of Life’s” recommendation on Feb 4th during the council meeting. Posted by Mark Nix on 01.17.2008 at 12:14 amTo no surprise-Statesville falls short again. While Mooresville and Troutman move ahead! Statesville=City of Progress, Crossroads to the Future? I think not. Our surrounding cities are PROGRESSING by leaps and bounds. When will Stateville planners WAKE UP and see your citizens are eating, shopping, and spending.... their money in these cities????? Building fast food resturants does not make us the city of progress. Posted by Anonymous on 01.17.2008 at 05:32 amSkatepark? OK, but let’s finish our great greenway trails, too. Much money and effort lies wasted because the trail is fragmented by lack of bridges. I’ll bet a lot more people walk and bike than skate. Posted by Anonymous on 01.17.2008 at 08:57 amAt one time the quality of life commity left an impression that they are interested in the youth, future leaders of this same community they are leading now, only if they are interested in the sport it seems. They made it seem that thet had the kids best interest in mind, they have spoken and now are being ignored. They will have to take some responsablity when I kid is hit by a car, a bussiness owner gets made at a skateboarder for skating in front of thier store, we told them what is needed, do they care? NOT ENOUGH! They say it cost to much? At what cost or value do we put on the childern of Statesville that skateboard? That should be the question. Skateboarding will not go away! See you down town! Posted by Shawn Baugher on 01.17.2008 at 10:25 ami am 65 yrs old and won’t use a skatepark, but our teenage kids and young adults need somewhere to go and be safe,we won’t give them anywhere to go ,when they get old enough to drive we won’t let them cruise uptown at night. then we wonder why they join gangs our get in trouble.we are a bunch of old foogies. what are we thinking? Posted by jerry boger on 01.17.2008 at 10:34 amA skatepark in Statesville is very much needed for our youth! It keeps them from skating downtown on business property and it keeps our youth in good shape and away from the TV and playstation. Statesville has nothing here, we go shopping out of town so I guess we’ll be skating out of town if this doesn’t happen. Do we want to keep our money and tourists away from Statesville? No! Build it, they will come! My son loves skate boarding and since he has grown to love this sport he is in the best shape he has ever been in and have never been told he has a behavior problem. These are good kids, kids who attend church and make good grades and like any sport there are a few who mis-behave. Are we steering away from building just for those few? Do we not want to help our youth? There is no difference in funding a ballpark or a skatepark, both parks have noise, and some ball players have bad attitudes as well.You want skaters away from downtown, then give them a place to skate, plain and simple.Some kids work their problems out by getting on their boards instead of punching someone or destroying things. Before you say no, get to know some of these kids and watch them skate!! Posted by Heather Thomas on 01.17.2008 at 11:15 amok.i read the front page of the news paper yesterday, and my friend daniel made the front page about the new skate store here in statesville. i think its prety lame that we have a skate store & not a freakin skate park. i dont think $ is an issue, i think that whoever is supposed to pay for the park needs to let loose and give the town of statesville something to do, because there is absolutly nothing to do in statesville. we need to spice up statesville or “skatesville”.i’m very dissapointed about this issue.There is no need to get kids & teenagers hopes up about a new skate park & then tell us we cant get one for a while because of $ issues & they dont have time to deal with it basically. so get a life and give statesville what they want. Posted by breanna autry on 01.17.2008 at 11:36 amIf the City of Statesville has an effective vision and desires to finally grow effectively, we should listen to and encourage our young people to participate in the process of building this community. The skating supporters seem to be working hard to bring a skate park to reality and this should be supported and encouraged in the private and public sector. Surely our government,business,community and church leaders can figure out a way to do this and show our youth how effective leadership and collaboration solves problems and seizes opportunities. Posted by Gary Miller on 01.17.2008 at 11:48 amOK, Exactly what has Statesville, NC become?? A big hole in the universe filled with senior citizens and NOTHING to do, not even shopping for cying out loud! There is nothing in Statesville for kids and teenagers espically. The city council has spent millions of dollars on Soccer fields, ball parks, and MORE places to eat. Like we need to be fatter.. What about the kids that skate. Skateing of any kind is an excellent way to keep our kids active as well as having a place for them to release their stress and meet new people. It is a sport just like any other. Except skate boarding actually takes talent and lots of practice. There sre signs posted that read NO Skateing. Well build a skate park. This would only benefit the community. And, Statesville needs to start MAKING THINGS HAPPEN. There are so many good, positive things happening in other cities, such as, Troutman and Mooresville. Do you really think that the young people and THEIR parents want to have to go out of town just so we can have a good time with our family and friends. That would just be one more thing added to the list of something that is required to go out of town. You should start to realize that we are in new generation and start being more open minded to NEW things. Skateboarding ROCKS! Posted by Lesley Ketchie on 01.17.2008 at 12:01 pmStatesville has so many benefits, yet so many downfalls.I remember the “Shop Local, Share the Wealth” plan that hit years back. Look at our mall, and lack of many other things to keep people in town! A skatepark would do just that. Not only would it provide physical activity for kids who need activity, it would put us at an advantage that we seem to have never had in this area. Right now there is NO place for kids of all ages to go - when are our leaders going to realize this?! Kids do not get into the trouble when occupied with activity as they do when trying to find something to do. Spend some money on something positive for parents,youth and business owners that is affordable. If a private owner comes in to “make money” it will not provide ALL social segments to have an opportunity. Let’s give all walks of life something in the community...not everyone plays soccer, football, or swims. Posted by Anonymous on 01.17.2008 at 12:49 pmWe need a skatepark! There is nothing for the kids to do in this town. I know you have heard the saying, “Idle hands are the devil’s playthings”. If we give them something to do, the majority of them are going to stay out of trouble. They are not welcome at the mall (who wants to go to our inadequate mall anyway?). Funstation is not something you do weekly and you can only spend so much time at the movies! We have left out the families who cannot afford to pay for these activities as well. There is nothing else for them to do. It keeps them active instead of laying in front of a television or a video game. I am proud of being a Statesville resident and want to be able to stay here for activities instead of supporting commerce in Hickory or Charlotte (our closest skate parks). There are rules set up so they cannot skate in town. Give them a place to skate and they will stay off the streets! Posted by Sheryl Cornelius on 01.17.2008 at 02:07 pmSkateboarding is the only sport with a large following that does not have facilities unless you consider the store fronts, sidewalks, steps, etc. downtown as the skateboard park. I guess skateboarders will continue to utilize what is available, business owners will call the cops, cops arrest the skaters, parents boycott the store that called the cops, the business owners lose business, downtown gets even more deserted. Sounds like the Quality of Life Committee has it all figured out. Posted by Anonymous on 01.17.2008 at 02:27 pmI’m fifty years old when i was grow up, we hung around town on saturday,when to movie,at playhouse,dime store,woolwroths store, belk,jc.penny,there were store in downtown stateville,you see poeple walk the street,what happen to all of that, now are youth are in statesville they have no place to go, if they go there they are going to get in to some kind of trouble. Even ride there skate board on sidewalk.we need to bring statesville back to life, statesville is died,and it going to keep going down if the young generation don’t start fight for what they want in town. Youth you want this skatepark, start an petition up,start one up in the every school in iredell,kids sign this then when they have the meet on Feb 4 be there fight for what you want, that mean even having fund rasing do it, show the committe what you want in stateville and bring stateville back to life again. let us youth bring statesvile back to where it was before. parents let help are youth to do this. Posted by sandy on 01.17.2008 at 02:31 pmWe have been asking the city for a safe place to skate for years, why will they not listen? Does the quality of life committee even care what we think, we are the people they serve. Were is the quality of life in leaving skaters in the very place the city wants them the least? Maybe they should really listen! Posted by Carie Baugher on 01.17.2008 at 04:28 pmI am 4 years old, so my mom is typing my words for me. But I am telling her what I want to say about a skatepark in Statesville. I want a skatepark in Statesville because I want to skate and do cool things. I want to do tricks like my Uncle Tanner. I can only skate on my belly right now, but when I grow up I want to do tricks. Please give us a skatepark. Posted by Hayden Stroud on 01.17.2008 at 06:10 pmCome on Statesville!Let’s give our youth something to do here!What is the difference in football,soccer,baseball,volleyball,etc...Well, one thing for sure, they have somewhere to play,practice,enjoy there sports.Why can’t this town give our children anything to do,besides eat.That is one thing for sure that Statesville has to offer is every fast food restaurant you can imagine and it is all on the same road!!!!Wake up!Our town is going into the ground.We have absolutely nothing to offer.I can’t believe we are still on the maps!We can’t spend money on something for the youth to enjoy that involves any kind of hazzard but we can let them out on the streets and tell them to “find something to do” that will lead them into trouble.They have no where to go and nothing to do but find trouble.Wouldn’t it be nice for people to actually come to our town to go to our SKATEPARK and put a little more money in our town.Maybe eventually have a mall again.We wouldn’t even have to fight to get a new football field or a new gymnasium.There are just as many youth that skateboard as there are that play football,baseball,soccer,etc.Don’t get me wrong, i am not “knocking” these sports,I have a very active stepson in most of these sports;but skateboarding is becoming even more popular than ever.Raise our children up in all their accomplishments and hardwork,REWARD THEM!!!GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITY.OUR YOUTH IS NOT ALL BAD! Posted by Lisa Hartness on 01.17.2008 at 08:04 pmThe last line of the article says it all. Again. I drive a station wagon and on my many trips to Mooresville to Harris Teeter, Target, Kohl’s, etc I would be happy to transport some skaters to the park there when it is built. We would go right through Troutman so I could drop you off there also! Guess the skaters will have to join the shoppers and take their money out of town. Too bad. How many more opportunities will Statesville miss? City of Progress. Not so much. Posted by Mary Ann McCommons on 01.17.2008 at 08:27 pmStatesville needs a skatepark. Period. This town has been falling behind times for the past decade. Our leaders have been sitting behind thier desks for so long that they have lost touch with the community. If they really wanted to keep this town small and quaint, then they should have never let Walmart or any of that mess over there happen. They open the door wide for the wrong type of growth. Quality of life is based on 3 things: a decent place to live, a good place to work, and a nice place to play. This has been true of all great cities. From Rome to New york, these 3 things are what determine the quality of life. I don’t even need a committee to tell me that. And like ancient Rome,our leaders may be the downfall. Many large companies have left Statesville, forcing us to go outside our town for work. And as for places to play, Statesville is behind there as well. Youth activities are extremely limited. We have less park and recreation areas based on population than most towns. Oh, and if you want to play tennis on the public court, you can’t because all times are usually booked for private lessons. More politics there. Also the topic of safety is often brought up. Well, I have been hurt worse and more often by cars when I was on my skateboard than ever in a park. Skateboarding needs a place designed for the sport. It is actually much safer to skate in a park than anywhere else. Also I did not know I could make a difference in the way the city is managed. Now, instead of just complaining about things, I am helping to get things the city needs. I ask everyone, we need support from the public. This towns officials work for us, the people. They are paid by us, the people. They have to listen to us, the people. A pubic reaction will drive a skatepark into reality. Posted by Wesley Lundy on 01.17.2008 at 11:39 pmWe moved here from Naples, Florida in the weeks following Hurricane Katrina. We had the unusual opportunity to literally choose from anywhere on the map to live. After months of research and looking, we felt as though we had arrived home the minute we drove into Statesville. We were drawn by many reasons but mostly because of the combination of the ambiance of a smaller historic town and a family friendly environment. As a Florida native, I moved from West Palm Beach to Naples in 1996. At that time Naples was experiencing a 23% gain in population and was rated in the “Top 10 Fastest-Growing Metropolitan Areas” according to the US Department of Commerce 1997 Population Profile of the US. At the same time, according to the Planning Department of the City of Naples, it was losing its place in the commercial life of the County. A shopping mall and a Walmart had been built outside of the downtown area. Consequently, most of the retail customers had left the area. Shortly after moving to Naples, I took a job with an interior designer who was located on 5th Avenue which is the town square; as Broad Street is to us. I immediately noticed that the people who did shop and work on 5th Avenue frequently had to share the sidewalks and roadways with skaters. They were ramping down the steps, riding off the hand rails and jumping off the curbs. Naples police force tried to keep it at bay but with the ever increasing population, it became taxing to their resources. Naples took what I thought was a radical step in revitalizing the area. They planned to revitalize the downtown area by converting the empty second floor spaces to upscale flats, addressing parking issues, adding a community theater, an inn, and open a skate park at a nearby recreation center. I was skeptical about the redevelopment plans for 5th Avenue but I was flat out against the skate park. Honestly, I didn’t like the skaters and thought it was a waste of money and tax dollars to give them a place of their own. The skate park was installed very early on in the redevelopment plan. On March 3, 2007, Naples Daily News reported on the grand re-opening of Velocity Skate Park stating: “Created in 1997, the park was first known as Sanctuary, and lived up to its name as it was a haven for skateboarders and BMX bikers to practice their sports of choice without bothering residents or business owners.”. Sure enough, the skaters left the downtown streets and sidewalks and the construction began. We lived through the noisy, messy changes and began seeing great things happening. High profile attorneys moved in, galleries opened, chic eateries set up cafe spots and the downtown came to life again. Additionally, I drove by the skate park nearly every day and noticed that the park was very busy having taken on a life of it’s own. Eventually, I began to see the real benefits to Naples and to the community. Because of the foresight of the city planners, Naples is not only a top travel destination but it is also a great community to live and raise children in. Since 1997, Naples has upgraded existing skate parks, added additional skate parks, an after-school program, a pro shop, and a BMX park. All are a positive investment in the community. Lest you think I work for the Naples Tourism Council or that I am wishing to make Statesville into Naples, I can assure you that I am not. I only wish for our wonderful community to draw upon some of the strengths and successes of another community that has had to face the “what do we do with the skaters?” and “how can we breathe new life into our downtown” issue. Because of the positive results that were achieved in Naples, I can honestly and enthusiastically say that I am FOR building an accessible, affordable skate park in Statesville. Posted by Cynthia Kelly on 01.18.2008 at 08:15 amMy mom is typing for me because I am 7 and it would take me all day to type this. You need to let us have a skatepark so that the big skaters stop getting arrested and kicked out of places. I want to be able to skate more. It’s not fair to build something for all the other sports but not skateboarding. I bike ride, play soccer, basketball and baseball and I’m in youth group at my church and cubscouts. Why do you people say we are bad for skateboarding? Posted by Sandor McSwain Jr. on 01.18.2008 at 08:26 amPlease listen, open your eyes,ears,hearts and minds, our youth is crying out to you to help fund a skatepark, a place to go where they’ll be safe and out of trouble.Let’s keep them off the streets and out of gangs and turning to other bad choices and descisions.Statesville is a joke,we can’t even get places to shop to keep our money in our own town.Statesville should not be called the crossroads of the future when you can’t listen to what our future needs which is our youth!Skateboarding takes a lot of practice and determination, try it out yourself, it’s great exercise.If we can’t give our youth something they have so much determination for then we are leading them on a path of destruction.Wake up before it’s too late.Money isn’t everything.Build it phases, we aren’t asking that a million dollar park be built tomorrow.As a parent it’s very rewarding when I see my son land a new trick by the look on his face as if he could do anything and nothing is impossible.This is a time of fun and fellowship for these kids.Please talk to them,get to know this sport before you say NO just because of a silly wordly thing such as money.Let’s help their dream turn into a reality. Posted by Brian Thomas on 01.18.2008 at 09:49 amMoney or tax dollars should never be an issue when it comes to a better quality of life for our children. I have a newphew that is 13 years old. Ever since he started skateboarding over a year ago he has gained a whole new outlook on life. This is the one thing that he wants to get better and better at. Skateboarding INSPIRES him so much. He used to sit in the house and play video games, and now he wants to be on his board outside everyday. He has lost so much weight since taking up this sport. It has helped him gain so much confidence in himself. This sport has helped him mentaly and physically. We really need to give these kids their skate park, so they can express themselves in a positve manner. The skate park could bring so much to OUR city. You know just about anyone can hit, kick, or throw a ball. But, have you ever been on a skate board? The talent and inspiration that our kids get from riding and doing tricks on their skateboards is just simply amazing! These kids DESERVE their skate park!!! Posted by Richard Ketchie on 01.18.2008 at 11:14 amIf this skatepark is not implemented, let’s make it happen ourselves!!! Let’s start fund raising, car washes, and post people on every street corner asking for donations!!! Let’s make this so public that the word of a new skatepark floods every inch of Statesville. Let’s make it known how the “Quality of Life” committee let us down!!! Find anyone that owns idle land and see if we can make an arrangement to utilize it. Let’s see if we can find a cheaper way to build the ramps without losing quality. There has got to be a way!!!! Spread the word and maybe we will achieve this goal!!! Let’s find some other resources...anyone agree???? Posted by Mark Niswonger on 01.18.2008 at 12:02 pmIf the Statesville city council can’t see the need for a skate park in this town then one must wonder how and why we call ourselves the “crossroads of the future”. The all or none approch that the quality of life commity has taken is concerning to say the least. We (the sos or skaters of statesville) provided the commity with bundles of information reguarding, how many skaters are inside the city limits, what a skate park is and how large a skate park statesville needs. The booklets that we put in the hands of each member would have taken at least a couple days to mull through.
This snap decision came ironiclly the same week that statesvilles first self supported skateboard shop opened.
The only real negitive I hear is the money.
will, why not? If the city of stateville is going to provide places of recreation for soccer, soft ball, tennis, swimming, running, walking, bike riding, ect. Why not skateboarding? Skaters pay taxes, skaters vote, skaters are no more important or less important than anyone else. There is even a frisbee golf course here. It’s time for all skateboarders in statsville to pull together and push forward. We simply will not take no for answer. The skaters of this town deserve a skate park. A good skate park, one that anyone can enjoy. Let’s move out of the 1950’s and into the 21st century. Posted by Shannon St. Clair on 01.18.2008 at 12:06 pmI think it is pretty sad that we complain about our kids not doing anything but sit at home and watch TV and play on the computer. Duhhh...when we don’t give them anything to do, what do you expect! Not all kids like the sports that are offered at school. All kids should have an opportunity to enjoy doing their kind of sport and not have to leave the city or county to do so. I hope you reconsider and give these kids this skate park...they deserve a nice place too. Posted by Kathy Stikeleather on 01.18.2008 at 12:10 pmwhat more can you do in statesville than go bowling or go skating in the roads around town. kids are already breaking in the park just to skate and then you arrest them just for trying to have fun. if you open the park then kids will get less into trouble, have more fun, and do something more than watch TV sitting on the couch. to me it would also be a better enviroment for skaters other than skating in a parking lot. Skate boarding is probabley the most active sport in statesville,if they provide everything else like soccer and baseball fields,why not a skate park. Posted by Meggan Campbell on 01.18.2008 at 02:06 pmwe dont have nothing to do in statesville and every time we skate someone tells us to get off the property or they arrest you for skating and you cant put a skatepark in. It wont be louder than anything else, it wont cost $100,000,000 dollars, almost every kid in statesville skates. I love skating and would like a safe place to skate where we won’t get arrested! Posted by Zach Thomas on 01.18.2008 at 08:30 pmI am 7 years old and I like to skate with my big brother Zach. I like learning new tricks from him.I want a skatepark where my brother can teach me more tricks on different things. I want to skate with my friends here and not out of town. Posted by Chandler Thomas on 01.18.2008 at 08:35 pmSKATES THIS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO,START AN PETITION,GET YOUR FRENID AT SCHOOL, OR ANYBOY THAT RIDE AN SKATEBOARD SIGN IT. THEN IF EVERYONE SIGN IF WOULD GET FIVE OR THREE DOLLARS FROM EACH PERSON THAT SIGN PETITION. REMIND IF EVERY STUDENTS THAT IN SCHOOL WOULD DONATE THREE FOR THE STAKEPARK. THE YOUTH COULD GET THERE OWN SKATEPARK ON THERE OWN WITHOUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE.IF SOMEONE CAN DONATE EVEN LAND TO PUT THE SKATEPARK ON WE CAN SHOW THE COMMITTE WHAT TODAY YOUTH CAN FOR THERE SELF, THEN WHAT THE FUTURE WILL BE LIKE WITH YOUTH OF TODAY, BUT ALL YOUTH NEED TO GET WITH ONE ANOTHER AN SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT,THEN GO TO MET ON FEB 4 2008. EVERY BODY WANT AN SKATEPARK NEED TO GET ON HERE AND JUST PUT NAME DOWN. THEN SHOW THEY WHAT THE TODAY YOUTH GOT. Posted by anononymous on 01.19.2008 at 08:39 pmPaintball is the #1 extreme sport in America and my son just loves to play it. I think the city of Statesville should build my son a paintball course. This would help him stay out of trouble and maybe he would stop damaging other people’s property. Posted by Kip Smith on 01.20.2008 at 07:22 amStop TALKING about this skate park and DO SOMETHING. Put your money where you mouth is… donate money FOR A SKATEPARK. Or better yet, simply build one. Does no one have land they can donate or rent to the S.O.S group? Stop all the talking and take action. Actions speak louder then words. SHOW the city what skaters can do and stop talking about it!
I am a member of SOS. I would like to clarify some things for those that have been hearing about SOS and the proposed skate park, but might not know the whole story. We are doing more than just talking about it. But talking is a very important part of it, and WHO we are talking to is a huge part. It takes several meetings with these people to get them to understand what we want, and that we are representing a lot of people, and we are serious about this issue and we will not go away. But this process takes time and must be done professionally. We as skateboarders must approach the city officials on their level to be taken seriously. This means playing by their rules, because nothing can be built (or done) in this city without their approval. A business can not open without applying the proper paperwork first. There was about 2 months of negotiations between the Downtown Development Committee and the Down hillbillies just for that event to happen. There is a lot of red tape and procedures to go through before the smallest thing can ever happen in any town, not just Statesville. So SOS just building a skate park is out of the question, because the city would have to approve it first. Even if we had land. Trust me, we have tried every way possible. Our proposed skate park will cost about $1.6 million. That’s a bit more than I have in my bank account, so the idea to “ just go build one” is out of the question. Now, why will a park cost that much ? The reason is this: we (SOS) want Statesville to have a good quality park that will last 15 to 20 years or more. Hickory’s outdoor park is all prefab, and it was cheap to build. BUT, it is ALWAYS BROKEN OR CLOSED because it IS a cheap prefab park. IF Statesville went that route, they would be setting us up to fail. The city would spend money on a prefab park, and within a year parts of it would be breaking. The skaters would be blamed for tearing it up, but really the park is decaying the way prefab parks always do. They do not last through the first year without problems. Then by the second year, the park is so bad that skaters don’t want to go there. I can’t blame them. Every ramp surface has something wrong with it, so tricks or even riding is difficult. I would not skate there either. So by the third year, no one goes to the skate park. The city comes to this conclusion: “We spent money on these ungrateful skaters and they trashed everything. And now no one skates here. Well, that proves that they are worthless and didn’t deserve anything.” But, if the city council members were educated about the sport of skateboarding, they would not have made the poor decision to build a cheap park in the first place. That is the disaster we at SOS are trying to prevent. So what is SOS trying to have built that is so great? Our proposed park is concrete. With multiple courses, so vert skaters have something and street skaters have good obstacles as well. This park is large enough to sustain Statesville’s population of skaters with enough room to be safe, and host regional events. So this park can actually produce a revenue for the city. If done right, this is a win/win situation for the city. But everybody wants to get out the cheapest way possible. It’s human nature. The money is there, Statesville has a $22 million surplus that is just sitting. That’s right, $22 MILLION that is left over. We as a community have to convince the city that it is a positive project. That is why SOS is trying so hard to get the public involved. We have about 300 signatures in petitions. But we always need more. And petitions are great, but having your involvement is much better. I invite everyone to our meeting and skate jams. Whether you are for us or against us, or just want more information, please come and see us. We meet at the Continuing Education Center (Mitchell College of Front Street) in the new building room 106. We are also doing a tour of churches to get ourselves more connected with the public and get more people on board. I encourage everyone to come to those. Listings of upcoming events are on our website: Sk8ersofstatesville.org. As for asking people for donations, we typically do not go out and ask. We are asking local businesses if they are willing to contribute something to help get the kids off the streets. We are trying to work for it by doing fundraisers and events and selling T-shirts. SOS is aiming to prove to city council and any other opposition that we are not asking for a handout. We are willing to work for a common goal. Granted, that is a large goal and we need a lot of help. Posted by wesley lundy on 01.23.2008 at 09:23 pmMy post was too long, so I had to break it apart to submit. Now personally, I have donated 10 square feet of park at $40/ foot. And bought 8 shirts. And I have about $1800 in building the ramps that we take to the churches and other events. When we do a public event, we actually bring in ramps for the kids to skate on. It is great, if you haven’t been to one, then you have to come to the next one we do. So I built the red and black ramps that you may have seen at an event. My time and money is into this cause. And quite a lot of both really. I say this not to brag, but I wanted to give some perspective on the whole “donate” issue. So I ask that until you do something positive, please don’t criticize those that are. We (SOS) are doing more than talking about it, it is just not always seen by the public. If you can’t see what we are doing, then maybe you should move a little closer to us and get involved. We have things happening everyday, but only we can see it because we are the ones there. We truly want everyones help, but no one but the SOS members show up to the meeting. All the skaters want a park, and will skate the park we build. But it none of them show up at the meetings. Posted by wesley lundy on 01.23.2008 at 09:27 pmI think it is a great idea for our kids to have a skate park. There are not a lot of things for people, let alone our kids, to do in this area. This is a very small town. Other cities/towns around us are growing by leaps and bounds yet Statesville continues to grow stagnant. Why? Because the same people that own the land also make the decisions here. We need more here; more shopping, more entertainment and how about not putting them all on top of Wal-Mart. I avoid that area completely! The traffic is ridiculous. Come on guys, it’s a skate park. Give something to the kids! Posted by Heather on 01.24.2008 at 05:35 pmhey its me chance im a good skater and downtown gets pretty old same stairs,gaps,sidewalks. what we need is something new like a skatepark.some where to skate and stay away from trouble!! Posted by CHANC3 on 02.16.2008 at 07:23 pmthe county buildes parks for every thing else
It is not the responsibility of the government to provide a recreation facility. The number of youths desiring this benefit is not large. If the youths and their supporters wish to have such a facility; then they need to raise the money themselves. There has to be a liability issue with an injury that might occur and what about whose fault might have caused the injury. We’re talking about kids falling and crashing on cement. Posted by anonymous on 04.23.2008 at 09:22 pmbring it on Posted by john on 08.01.2008 at 11:34 am
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