Tuesday, July 21, 2009

News: Council divided over skateboard park

MARSHVILLE -- At the Marshville Town Council meeting last week, the topic of reopening the town’s skateboard park emerged from the agenda’s liability insurance update issue.

The question was supposed to ask whether or not the council wanted to implement insurance for the unsupervised area for $377 per year. However, it turned into a question of reopening the park or keeping it closed. When put to a vote, the decision to keep the park closed remained with a 3-2 vote.

The park only opened last year, under the condition that skater patrons follow the rules and regulations set by the Town Council. One reason it was opened was to get the skaters out of the streets. Skateboarders and their parents petitioned to construct a park especially for them. Mayor Franklin Deese said, "We’ll do this for you but you must follow the rules because you’re really putting us at risk."

A sign with these rules is posted at the park. Deese said, "We leave it to whomever who goes over there to follow those rules and regulations." According to some council members, the skaters had not been following the rules—namely the one requiring skaters to wear a helmet and protective gear. It is an unsupervised park, however, there are still liability issues. Though no one has been injured in the park, there is still a danger factor that is put into account.

"My concern more than anything is just the liability. I love for the children to have somewhere to go, but we have to be frugal," explained Deese.

Now that the park is closed, skaters have returned to the streets. Deese said, "It is a misdemeanor to skate downtown at all. So, in that instance, they’re breaking the law. We’re not liable if the person is breaking the law." This is because the council passed a special ordinance prohibiting skating in downtown Marshville.

Alan Thifault, parks and recreation director, was concerned about the limits put on these skaters. He said, "Stop putting the magnifying glass on these kids."

-- Kelsey Trabue

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