Eureka Skate Park fundraiser

[argumentum]

I hope the youth of our community set an example for us old folks by keeping the skateboard park clean of litter and of drugs.

[Just Me]

argumentum wrote:

I hope the youth of our community set an example for us old folks by keeping the skateboard park clean of litter and of drugs.

Me too. I am happy to see you write something that gives the kids the benefit of the doubt.

They need somewhere welcoming to skateboard and a place where it is ok to be a teenager. I have never seen a community where teenagers were so vilified.

What I hope is that the place doesn't draw a bunch of adult miscreants and become an unsafe place for kids to go.

[argumentum]

Just Me wrote:

<quoted text>
Me too. I am happy to see you write something that gives the kids the benefit of the doubt.
They need somewhere welcoming to skateboard and a place where it is ok to be a teenager. I have never seen a community where teenagers were so vilified.
What I hope is that the place doesn't draw a bunch of adult miscreants and become an unsafe place for kids to go.

Rather than merely hoping, we should be demanding that provisions be made for continuous adult supervision, so the kids using the skateboard park don't get into trouble by themselves OR because of the influence of trouble-making adults. Agreed?

[Just Me]

There won't be funds for "continuous adult supervision" of the skatepark, if that's what you mean.

Or if you mean a rule that kids can't go unless accompanied by adult, that's just not workable. What teens desire is to congregate sans parents. I did it, you probably did it. We gathered at the streetlight in my tiny hometown or at one neighbor's porch swing. If there had been adults, it wouldn't have been as much fun.

I hang out with my kids as much and often as possible, and I even go and watch them skate. They and their friends don't seem to mind and they even 'show off' a little. But making it a RULE that parents must accompany them will undermine the possibility that the park will give unsupervised kids something positive to do.

[another realist]

argumentum wrote:

<quoted text>
Rather than merely hoping, we should be demanding that provisions be made for continuous adult supervision, so the kids using the skateboard park don't get into trouble by themselves OR because of the influence of trouble-making adults. Agreed?

Well, we've already got a skate park in place in the neighboring city (Arcata)... how is theirs working? Is it filled with drugs and litter? Are the users respectful toward each other? Do they appear to need adult supervision or are they doing fine on their own?

(I don't know the answers to these questions, never having gone there myself, but it seems to me that the answers might indicate what kind of action if any is needed to make a Eureka park a safe place for kids.)

[Just Me]

I have spent some time there (supervising my kids!) and I did see a bit of misuse (stoned young adults, soda cans left behind, bikes when they aren't allowed) but I also saw plenty of cooperation among users of various skill levels. Example, little kids trying things, older kids hanging back while they did it. Eureka has a different dynamic, however, less tolerance for teens and more serious drugs.

[argumentum]

another realist wrote:

<quoted text>
Well, we've already got a skate park in place in the neighboring city (Arcata)... how is theirs working? Is it filled with drugs and litter? Are the users respectful toward each other? Do they appear to need adult supervision or are they doing fine on their own?
(I don't know the answers to these questions, never having gone there myself, but it seems to me that the answers might indicate what kind of action if any is needed to make a Eureka park a safe place for kids.)

Your point is a good one. I hope someone familiar with the Arcata skate park will answer your questions.

[JBone Walker]

Setupe the skatepark in eureka and we can sell smore meth and crack homeboy, fothro, CRIPS LIVE, BLOOD DIE.

[argumentum]

Well THAT isn't the answer we were hoping for!

[Mike Buettner]

Cooper Gulch has improved immensely since the Disc Gulf folks adopted it. More use means less problems. That place is cleaner than it has ever been. The skate park will only build on the improvements. This skate park will be a lot better than Arcata's ... no small thanks to all the local business's that have donated time and materials.

If you have a gripe about it (or hey - even a compliment) come to the Eureka Parks, Recreation, Opens Space and Trails Commision meetings and let us know:

http://www.ci.eureka.ca.gov/cals/city_council...

Mike Buettner
Commissioner

[Just Me]

Mike Buettner wrote:

Cooper Gulch has improved immensely since the Disc Gulf folks adopted it. More use means less problems. That place is cleaner than it has ever been. The skate park will only build on the improvements. This skate park will be a lot better than Arcata's ... no small thanks to all the local business's that have donated time and materials.
If you have a gripe about it (or hey - even a compliment) come to the Eureka Parks, Recreation, Opens Space and Trails Commision meetings and let us know:
http://www.ci.eureka.ca.gov/cals/city_council...
Mike Buettner
Commissioner

Amen!! It is great to see an investment in something for kids to do in Eureka.

[Juan Carmell]

how old are they kids? what time they get droppd off.