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Wise decison on park
Published 10:26 a.m., July 8, 2009
The Fergus Falls City Council this week made a wise decision to delay the relocation of the city’s skateboarding park to Roosevelt Park.
While the park may ultimately be relocated to Roosevelt, it is important to get buy-in from Roosevelt Park neighbors. Based on recent comments from neighbors, some seemed surprised by the news of the park relocation. They should not have been.
Having a skateboarding park, currently located in the Middle School parking lot, is important. Skateboarding is a positive activity for youth, and it should be encouraged. Without a park, skateboarders’ only option is the city streets and sidewalks, which create unsafe conditions for skateboarders and pedestrians.
That said, it is also important that the park is a good neighbor. While park hours are already established, ensuring neighbors are aware of the park, and the city’s policies toward potential problems, is vital. And while all may not agree, there should be some consensus that the chosen park location is the best fit for the community.
Fergus Falls needs a new skateboard park location. Let’s just be sure we’re on the same page as to where it should be.
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The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post. To post a comment you will need to register. Or, if you're already registered but have not included your true, verifiable identity with your registration, you will need to update your account to include your identity. Effective Dec. 1, 2009, all posts appear with the commenter's true identity, which must be verified by site staff. Those who registered prior to Dec. 1, 2009, should be aware that once you update your information with your true identity, all prior posts under your user name will also indicate your true identity. If you do not wish to link yourself to prior comments, you should register again with a different user name.Posted by RightOn (anonymous) on July 9, 2009 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It should be in an area that already has ambient noises such as traffic, not that it should be in the I94 median, but somewhere like the Westridge Mall, Pamida/City parking lot, N.P. park, or the Armory parking lot. It should not be placed anywhere near or in peaceful city parks or quiet neighborhoods.
Posted by tink (anonymous) on July 9, 2009 at 9:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Roosevelt park is next to a high school and middle school. The park is peaceful because it is rarely used.
Posted by RightOn (anonymous) on July 13, 2009 at 9:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tink - aren’t you the one who said football games and track meets make more noise then the skateboard park? That I think most common sense people could disagree with. But we would also agree with your statement that the Roosevelt park is peaceful because it is rarely used, just as the track and football field are rarely used. Your statement may be true if the users of a skateboard park would only use it 4 or 5 times a year for a few hours during cold fall evenings or once or twice in the early spring (these are times when most residents are not outside or have windows shut). The kind of noises that come from track meets and football games, like a few cheers, some high school band music, and few event related announcement, is a lot different than the constant banging, clattering, and clanking from skateboards and the jumps and pipes, as well as the squealing car tires from the young drivers.
Posted by tink (anonymous) on July 13, 2009 at 5:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Right On...I live only a short distance away from the skate park, about the same distance as houses would be if the skate board park is located at Roosevelt. The skate park does not make that much noise. The skaters had to be out of there by 8pm. As for squealing tires? Boy this town sure gives those kids a bad rap!
Posted by metasonics (Jamie Cooper) on July 13, 2009 at 6:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
heres how Fergus Falls Native "pete" turned out and he never got to use a skatepark. instead he hangs out in bars pretending to be Micheal Jackson.
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/8...
Posted by farmersdaughter (anonymous) on July 14, 2009 at 11:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am all for doing anything that will give kids an opportunity to share their interst in this sport.
The Roosevelt location is good because it is an area where families can go together. Some kids are too young to go to a skateboard park alone.
I tend to agree with tink--it seems like kids are put on the back shelf when it comes to providing and supporting things for them to do in Fergus Falls.
Posted by RightOn (anonymous) on July 16, 2009 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As for this town giving kids a "bad rap". Its "those kids" giving them selves the bad rap with their own behavior. And I know not all the kids that would use the skate park are the misbehaving type, and I'm sure there are many more respectful youth in the community then those causing the bad rap... it only takes a couple exhibition drivers, or some doing far worse to ruin it for the rest. As a community we should support our youth whether it be for an area to participate, like a baseball field, a basketball or tennis court, an ice arena, or a skate board park. Or support their other activities like church, 4H, scouts, etc.
And those involved with the skate board park to find a location and a design may very well find that Roosevelt is the best location. At least by then the neighborhood will know about it and it won't be a surprise dropped on them.
I did drive by Roosevelt the other day and noticed the area right behind the high school on the west side of the park below the hill, there is plenty of parking and easy access from two directions, buffered by a big hill and trees on one side and the vocational wing of the high school on the other... just thought that looked like a good spot to consider.
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