Fight the Power! Springfield Skatepark vs. The City
January 4th, 2008 | Published in Culture, Current Affairs, Random | 10 Comments
I’m an old skateboarder and go to the local Skatepark a couple times a week. In a nutshell, the City/Park Board wants to take over management of the local Skatepark. The skaters, parents and Springfield Skatepark Association aka SSA, think it should stay the way it is. More info can be found at this NewsLeader Story , at this KSPR Video and at the Springfield Skatepark. Here is what I think.
The Newsleader says, “The city, meanwhile, has said it became concerned with police calls to the popular teen hangout and wants to have more oversight.”. I have never seen any issues at the Skatepark that needed “Police” attention”. If an issue happens it’s very very rare. The paper reported 2 or 3 calls in the past 6 months, that were only “near the Skatepark” and not directly related. Concerned over Police calls, that is just shameless propaganda to instill a “reason of fear” to take over the park.
Seriously is it 1987 again? Is skateboarding a crime? Do I have dejavu of headlines reading “hooligan non football loving skateboarders vandalizing the local drainage ditch”?
The City owns the land and they feel they “could” be liable. That makes perfect sense of course I agree with that. But lawyers can easily draft an agreement so they will “not” be liable, it’s not that difficult. Word on the street is the City can’t “oversee” themselves out of a paper bag called the Ice-Park aka money pit. If they can’t keep that up, maybe they should not run a pristine Skatepark envied by many across the country.
In case our local media failed to mention, 200+ parents and skaters showed up at the last City meeting in support of the existing Skatepark staff and SSA. I bet that show of support has something to do with the City rethinking it’s stance. I hope it’s 400 at the next meeting on January 8th. Maybe the city should take over the Food Court at the Mall. I hear it’s a popular teen hangout with police calls. Nothings really broken to be fixed at the Skatepark, other than the fact that it’s one of the most popular parks in the city that is not generating income…for the city.
December 28th, 2007at 8:08 pm(#)
This is typical Springfield, Missouri BS. This city continuously funds park projects that end up in flames. The Ice-Park here in Springfield has a construction and operations debt that cost the city more than $6 million.
Click here to read the story
December 31st, 2007at 11:04 pm(#)
You’re not exactly correct. The proposed lease from the Park Board just says that the management has to go to the city before hanging advertising signs in the complex, that a park board employee would be on staff but under the Skatepark Founder (so they would still run the show) and the agreement even gives the SSA the right to sell billboard advertising on the fences at the park.
The insurance requirements have gone up a little bit but what hasn’t gone up in the last seven years?
Bottom line is that the people running the park could still be running the park for the future if they’d sign the agreement but they apparently want to tell the Park Board what to do their the Park Board’s property. If you look at the agreement proposed from the park board, the changes are very reasonable.
Let’s be real here for a minute. Look at this quote from the newspaper:
“”I would like to restore the good balance that we had with the park board,” Weatherman said. “There needs to be movement on their side, as well as possible movement on ours.”"
Possible movement on their part? They’re just tenants and nothing more. You can’t tell your landlord that you’re not going to make changes they say you need for your lease and expect to stay in that apartment. This is the same situation here. Why does a tenant think they have the right to demand the landowner make the lease on their terms? That’s arrogance of the highest level. If they want to run the show, then get money and buy the land outright. Until then, the city is the one who can demand whatever they want in regards to their property.
January 9th, 2008at 11:59 pm(#)
Thanks for the thought out response. I appreciate your opinion, diversity makes the world go around of course. FYI-I’m usually never right much less “exactly correct” but I”m always a smart ass and this is just my opinion.
In your words, “Lets be real here for a minute”. After reading your profile on your blog, it seems you have no background, knowledge or experience in skating or it’s culture. Maybe you should come to the park and skate the kidney bowl and half-pipe with us. Until then, I suggest sticking to commenting on the uber-exciting left turns of Nascar and Fantasy Baseball (the magic is real).
January 17th, 2008at 4:05 am(#)
http://ozarksoffbeat.blogspot.com/2007/12/nascar-crew-chief-reveals-winning.html
January 17th, 2008at 1:05 pm(#)
I did come to the park and the treatment was less than friendly.
Skating culture has nothing to do with the fact this is a lease and a situation between a tenant and a landlord.
January 17th, 2008at 3:16 pm(#)
http://lifeofjason.com/2008/01/08/can-you-take-my-order-please/
http://lifeofjason.com/2007/12/29/pythian-castle-skatepark-update/
Jason appears to get treated less than friendly a lot here in Springfield.
:>
January 18th, 2008at 3:55 pm(#)
Busplunge - Perfect video!
Jason - Touché
Busplunge - Seems so
Both - Cheers!
February 12th, 2008at 9:04 pm(#)
Well, if you read the entirety of the blog you see there are more good things said than bad.
I just comment on whatever happens good or bad.
February 12th, 2008at 10:25 pm(#)
I agree. Cheers.
August 19th, 2008at 3:43 am(#)
[...] talked about this before and from an outside perspective and from someone who skates there twice a week, here is my take. [...]