I’ve talked about this before and from an outside perspective and from someone who skates there twice a week, here is my take.  The City is suing for rights to take over the park. An assumption is that it seems the city needs the Skate Park revenue to pay for their money pit projects…ahem the ice-park.  I bet the skate park is the only profitable park in the city and it’s not owned by the city, so of course they want to take it over. 

The list of “issues” in the article are skewed to make the “problems” seem bigger than they are. Anyone can present raw data in a way to send the message “they” want.  Sensationalizing ocassional issues, shows a lack of awareness and exposure to the Skate Park by the people at the city. Anytime you put a bunch of teenagers together your going to have an occasional issue. Spending quite of bit of time skating there, the “problems” are not the norm. I have a feeling there are more problems at the local mall, so maybe they should take that over as well. 

Other cities run stellar skate parks, but if ours can’t even keep the pools open in the summer, I”m concerned about how they will keep up the park. If they do end up taking it over, I really hope they treat the employees and regulars with the respect they have built and deserve.  And I hope they do not ruin the culture that makes the Skate Park a safe friendly community environment for kids, parents and old skaters like me. If not, they will run it to the ground, get a crappy corporate sponsor and no-one will go there, which would be sad thing.  Full story at The Springfield News Crapper.