Skaters want park to call their own - By Brad Dickerson, Glasgow Daily Times 8/18/07
John Victory is reaching out to fellow skaters and MySpace users for help.
The 16-year-old Barren County High School student and ollie devotee has posted a video on the social networking site calling for donations to build a skate park in Glasgow.
“We’re tired of going 30 miles to Bowling Green just to skate,” Victory says in the clip. “We’re getting tired of it and the gas prices are outrageous.”
It was April 14 when the Bowling Green Parks and Recreation held the grand opening for their new skate park, which first broke ground on Aug. 10, 2006, according to director Ernie Gouvas.
“We had just a lot of skaters and they were in parking lots downtown and there was nowhere for them to go,” Gouvas said on the reason for constructing the $850,000, 23,000 square foot facility.
Victory, his friends and fellow skaters face the same obstacles in Glasgow, with nowhere for them to skate except in the parking lots of area businesses, especially those along South Green Street.
Signs adorn several of these establishments, including the commonwealth attorney’s office and U.S. Bank, stating that skating is prohibited on the premises.
U.S. Bank president John Lawson said skaters have been a past concern because they often came on the lot after school hours when customers are conducting drive-thru business.
“What we’re fearful of is (them) potentially being struck or hit,” Lawson said. “A lot of times they do fall and have accidents and they have been known to fall into parked vehicles.”
Although Glasgow presently does not have a facility for skaters like Victory to frequent, the issue was discussed as recently as three years ago.
“We actually met several times with a group of parents and skateboarders as far as seeing what the possibility would be as far as getting a skate park here,” said Debbie Jones, director of Glasgow Parks and Recreation.
Part of those meetings included taking a group to Georgetown and looking at their then-new facility, according to Jones.
A local site considered for such a skate park, Jones said, was an area at Gorin Park, which used to house a baseball field.
“We have that spot down there in the front and we thought that would be an ideal spot because you certainly had plenty of room to put in the concrete structure and it already had the lights still there,” Jones said.
In the end, the idea did not go through. Jones said part of it had to do with drainage problems in the proposed location, which led to the field’s removal. It is an issue that, she added, would be remedied.
Money was also a concern.
“Skate parks are very expensive if you’re going to do one right,” Jones said. “At that point, it was going to be more money than what we felt like we could budget at the time. We put it on, basically, on a back burner. It’s not anything that we have forgotten about.
“Once we heard Bowling Green was putting one in also, we kind of wanted to wait and see how things went with them.”
So far, the park has been “heavily, heavily used,” according to Gouvas.
“Afternoons, they’ll be 300 to 400 people down there, mainly teens and young adults,” he said. “I had no idea that ours would receive as much use as it has.”
If a skate park in Glasgow does become a reality, Victory says he would like it to be a place that is free of drugs, racist comments and other unruly behavior.
“We’re trying to keep kids away from drugs, gangs and violence,” he said.
Jones feels anything that can be offered recreation wise is “an asset to the community.”
“In visiting several different skate parks when we were looking at this, you’re looking at athletes,” she said. “These kids are doing things that I wouldn’t have ever dreamed were possible. You’re looking at kids who really deserve a place to hone their skills.”
Victory is going to continue in his efforts, which he said will include video interviews with area skaters to be posted on his MySpace page, seeking out any potential sponsors and possibly addressing the local city council.
“Skating is mostly my life,” Victory said. “I love to skate.”
For now, Glasgow and Barren County residents will probably continue to spot these board enthusiasts rolling along local sidewalks and practicing their half-pipes in empty parking lots.
“The old adage is if your community does not have a skate park, your community is a skate park,” Gouvas said.
Anyone who is interested can e-mail Victory at john_vctry@ yahoo.com.
Skatepark fans work to fix problems By The Daily News Tuesday, May 15, 2007 11:54 AM CDT
While the new Bowling Green Skatepark has been a success thus far, it is a shame to hear that the park is already experiencing problems such as littering, inexperienced skaters using the park and foul language among those who use it.
When those behind this park planned and implemented it, surely they didn't expect all of these types of problems would arise.
But we have to give those officials the benefit of the doubt and hope that these problems are merely, as Parks and Recreations Director Ernie Gouvas said, “growing pains.”
One of the main problems we see thus far is the trash left on the ground, which litters parking lots nearby and even the bowls, creating unnecessary dangers for skaters.
You would think that those using the venue would have a little more respect for city property; hopefully, since the issue is being brought to the forefront, littering will be less of a problem.
We were glad to see that volunteers have come forward to help address the littering issue. They will be dedicating some of their time to helping clean up the park and asking people who break the rules to change what they're doing.
Another issue that we should all be concerned with is inexperienced skaters coming to the park.
This should not be a place for inexperienced skaters to try to learn how to skate.
While we understand that this rule would be very hard to implement, it is something parents should consider before taking their kids to the skatepark.
As far as the bad language goes, free speech issues aside, we don't think it speaks well of young kids and teenagers using profanity in an area that is supposed to be family-friendly.
We know this is a new park and a very big deal for many in our community, so these issues are unfortunate. Hopefully, through education, self-policing by users and more parental involvement, this park will see fewer of these problems in the future.
Reader Comments
Skate park opposer wrote on May 16, 2007 5:12 PM:
" Right you are. These idiots in City Hall, especially Slim Nash should have had the foresight to know this would be a problem before even building it. Not once did the taxpayers have any input other than kids who would use it that I recall. It is sad when this incompetent Mayor, City Mismanager & Commission allow such waste of tax money that could be put to better use. As far as I am concerned, maybe the Mayor & City Commission should buy skateboards and skate on over to McDonald's to apply for their next public service jobs because they will be kicked out of office come next year's elections. GOOD RIDDANCE!!!!! "
Brandy Stith wrote on May 16, 2007 1:13 PM:
" How can you say that you don't believe that these problems occur in all areas -- even those where "good kids" play (such as baseball parks, malls, etc.)? Eliminating a skate park and building a "skate rink" is not going to solve any of the issues that are listed above. If a reader believes that good kids are always good without parental involvement, they are doing nothing but kidding themselves. The skate park is a good place for children to be children and interact with one another, but parents need to step up and be parents and supervise. Any venue where children are not properly supervised stands to be a problem with drugs, profanity and litering. We need for parents take the blinders off and stop believing the "out of sight, out of mind" philosophy. Supervise your children and take an active interest in their hobbies. "
K wrote on May 16, 2007 12:04 PM:
" I would like to know why it seems to be that there is no type of adult supervision at this skatepark. I work in warren county and drive by there everyday and see kids on bikes that seem to be 10 or less getting across the intersections by any means possible. That will eventually cause some one to get seriously hurt. Why would the city build a skatepark and then tell the ones who are interested in going that they can't go because they are not experienced enough. My son is wanting to go but I refuse to let him because he is not experienced enough. But how are these kids going to get experience? It's not like baseball or basketball which can be played in your backyard. They were not stopped from going to Lampkin or other city parks to play because they did not know how to play basketball or baseball. Think about expanding to include a learning section of the skatepark. "
A wrote on May 16, 2007 9:42 AM:
" yes, you are going to have some issues. That is to be expected. However, if all the "good" kid's would go, it would maybe hinder some of the bad activities going on. Just the presence of a large number of kid's or people who don't do bad things, would eliminate some of that. And I say GOOD for you for building the skate park!!! I suppose people would rather see the skaters everywhere else skating than in a park designed for skate boarding. Cause then they could complain some more about them! Skaters get a bad rep and that is wrong. We live in Indiana, my son skates and we will be back soon so he can skate there! We were really bummed, we were there the week before it opened! He is really looking forward to coming there to skate. Again, GOOD JOB!!!!!! I have faith that the skaters of Bowling Green, will prove ALL the naysayers WRONG!! "
dont say you didn't know wrote on May 16, 2007 7:08 AM:
" How can you say you never expected any of these problems to occur? Did any of you planning this park check with different Cities where they have skate parks and find out what the problems were? We lived in a town where the good kids were afraid to go to the skate park because of all the bad influences drugs, profanity, littering and such. I knew this was going to be a big on going problem from the very beginning. Shame on you. Should have built a skate rink. "
Officials look for answers for Skatepark Park director Gouvas believes problems largely growing pains By RACHEL ADAMS, The Daily News, radams@bgdailynews.com/783-3256 Saturday, May 12, 2007 10:45 PM CDT
Litter, foul language, inconsideration of other skaters and the need for safety equipment were topics of conversation at a meeting Saturday at the Bowling Green Skatepark at Roland Bland Park.
“We've had a lot of success with this,” said Parks and Recreation director Ernie Gouvas as he addressed a group of about two dozen skaters and parents. “That's kind of meant some growing problems for us. All this is kind of new to everybody.”
However, he said, time that should be spent inspecting and maintaining the park has turned into litter pick-up duty for employees, both at the park and in the parking lots of nearby businesses. Inside the park, litter that's thrown onto the ground instead of in a trash can eventually makes its way into the bowls, creating new danger.
“Stuff like this is really giving skaters a bad, bad reputation,” he said. “This is a good place. Where else are you going to find so many kids in one place doing something positive?”
The solution to that problem, Gouvas said, lies with people like Bowling Green skater Jim Madison, who carries around several brooms, a dustpan and a 5-gallon bucket plastered with “support the park” stickers. Madison said he's willing to come to the park around closing time and help clean up the litter, and signed a list to become a “friend of the skatepark” - someone who would give up a few hours of time to walk around the park and ask people who are breaking the rules to change what they're doing.
For Bowling Green parent Lori Elrod, who has two children who use the park and one child who'd like to learn to skate, the biggest issue at the park is foul language.
“It is a growing pain, and we'll get through it,” she said. “I just think (this park) is great for all the young kids and the older ones. It's something to do to keep them off the streets and off the sidewalks and out from in front of the television.”
The park is the best thing Bowling Green has ever done, she said, and she is more than willing to join a volunteer group to keep misbehavior at the park at bay.
If the problems - which Gouvas stressed are still minor - aren't resolved, ramifications will be serious. Gouvas said he doesn't want to do it, but “really the only consequence I have is with park hours - we can shorten them if anything happens. We can close the park for a few days just to get the point across.”
At that, many people protested.
“That's going to punish the people who come in from out of town,” Madison said.
Elrod agreed.
“Closing it is not an option,” she said. “Too much money was spent on this park. ... I think everybody just needs to work together to get all these problems that are trivial worked out.”
A band of volunteers to monitor goings-on at the park seemed to be the best solution offered to the problems discussed Saturday; another was implementing a two-hour period on Saturday mornings so younger skaters could have a safe time to learn how to use the park without more experienced users pushing them out of the way. Several people objected to that idea; however, Gouvas and City Commissioner Brian “Slim” Nash said perhaps a way to make it more fair would be to also implement a late-night period for advanced skaters only.
Young children shouldn't be coming to the park to learn how to skate, Nash added, but the park is open to the public. Both Gouvas and Nash acknowledged during the meeting they were likely preaching to the choir, but asked everyone present to be mindful of their actions.
“Every day that we give the opponents of this park a reason to complain about it is just adding fuel to the fire,” Nash said, reminding attendees of the negative stereotypes skaters face. “Everything you do over there, I ask you do it in a positive way. ... It's up to you and others who aren't here to influence those who are taking the park for granted.”
Gouvas also asked skaters to wear safety equipment and to encourage others to do the same. While skaters are strongly encouraged to wear helmets and pads, it's not feasible to make it a requirement, Gouvas said. Making something required would necessitate constant enforcement, something his department just can't handle.
“When you see somebody, say ‘Hey, you're just starting in this - when I was starting, I wore a helmet.' ” he said. “Set the good examples. People will learn from you.”
He also asked the parents in attendance to require their children to wear pads and helmets at the park rather than the bandannas and baseball caps many skaters favor.
“There's no reason for anybody not to have a helmet,” he said. “The headbands and hats don't do anything. We can use them for a tourniquet, maybe.”
The Medical Center has noticed “a palpable increase in particular of skatepark-type injuries,” said emergency room Dr. William Moss, including five fractures, two concussions, several sprains, a laceration and multiple contusions. He said the injuries were probably split half-and-half between those wearing safety equipment and those not.
“I would think that there's a strong need for all the safety gear you can wear,” Moss said, also reminding skaters “not to do anything past your limits.”
Representatives from Greenview Regional Hospital couldn't be reached for comment; however, Moss said a colleague at that hospital reported similar injuries among its patients.
A lengthy video of a skatepark injury last week was recently posted on YouTube. The male biker, who wasn't wearing a helmet, suffered a head injury trying to do a flip; however, it isn't clear who he is and how serious the injury is.
Several comments on the skatepark's MySpace page - www.myspace.com/bgskatepark - urge skaters to wear helmets and stay within their abilities at the park, and Randy Reece, owner of Blue Wallace Skate Shop, said he partnered with the Brain Injury Association of America to offer 20 “loaner” helmets at his nearby store.
“That way, anybody that needs a helmet can have one, even if they can't afford it,” he said.
Additionally, Crocker Law Firm continues to hand out free helmets, Gouvas said, and the Brain Injury Association - which passed out 300 free helmets on opening day - will return to the skate park June 29 to give away more.
As far as the Bowling Green Police Department is concerned, the park hasn't presented much of a problem, said media Officer Barry Pruitt, who looked up a list of calls to the skatepark since it opened April 14.
“The majority of things on here are extra patrol - we're going there several times a day,” he said. “Really, pretty much everything on the screen shows we're doing extra patrols.”
Not including extra patrols, there were nine calls to the skatepark as of Friday morning, Pruitt said, including a lost cell phone, a disturbance, a few suspicious person calls and a recent incident in which a motorist drove into the fence surrounding the park.
Additional signs reminding skaters of the rules will be erected Monday, Gouvas said. As the summer approaches, a water fountain will be installed, while fundraising will soon begin for benches and a pavilion. He's also in talks with food and beverage vendors to provide refreshments, with a percentage of sales benefiting the park.
Local skater plans pipe in Nicaragua By RACHEL ADAMS, The Daily News, radams@bgdailynews.com Friday, May 11, 2007 9:58 PM CDT
A Bowling Green skateboarder who spent the past five months doing volunteer work in Nicaragua is planning a project of a different sort before he returns to America in July - building a concrete quarter-pipe with a little help from his stateside friends.
Nathan Curry, 33, traveled to Nicaragua with his fiancee in January and spends his time there working for a small solar panel installation company, he said in an e-mail to the Daily News. In his spare time, he found the one spot in Nicaragua that's “made for skaters” - an old basketball court at a school for international students.
“Any real skater will search out others no matter where he or she ends up,” he wrote. “I cannot exist without skateboarding and a place to do it, so I set out the very first week to find spots and other skaters. I found one spot and started going there, and just ended up talking to the guys who come there.”
The empty lot is nice, but it doesn't have any curved ramps, or “transition.” Since that's Curry's favorite terrain to skate, he decided to build a quarter-pipe, and is asking skate supporters in Bowling Green to donate the roughly $400 it would take to create. He also called upon Bloomington, Ind., resident Sol Briggs, whom Curry met when Briggs came to Bowling Green with California Skateparks to build the park here. Briggs' stepfather is from Nicaragua, and Briggs often visits Central America.
“I recently got into concrete skatepark construction and I've always wanted to help out and build my own thing down there,” Briggs said. “Nathan has basically started the process.”
Briggs plans to fly to Nicaragua on Wednesday and stay for three weeks, building the quarter-pipe “and hopefully more. I feel like we could possibly do a bit more, maybe two or three quarter pipes over the three weeks if (Curry) has time and it works out,” he said. “Nicaragua needs anything they can get, and I'm really excited.”
The Nicaraguan skaters are getting excited for the project, Curry said, and are trying to coordinate a one-day competition that would draw the best skaters from across Central America to show their stuff and call attention to the need for a proper skatepark.
“Maybe that will get the ball rolling on a large, permanent park in the near future,” Curry wrote. “See, the problem is that there is no infrastructure for skaters here. ... There is not a single skate shop or park in all of the country. If they had a park and a shop, it would be a center from which the scene could grow. There are some good skaters here that deserve a solid infrastructure.”
A lifelong skateboarder - he's been hooked since 1985 - Curry said he feels fortunate to live in America, “the birthplace and mecca of the skateboarding world,” and wants to share his interest with others. He and fellow Bowling Green skater Jim Madison are in the process of starting a nonprofit organization - SSML (Skating Saved My Life) Inc. - that would provide equipment and lessons to underprivileged youth.
“When a person has a passion, it's hard to explain that passion to others,” Curry wrote. “Anyone who has a passion understands. Skateboarding got into my soul and has done so much for me in my life that I cannot ever imagine quitting. As I get older, I just want to give back to that which has given me so much.”
Donations for the Nicaragua skate park may be sent to Curry's mother, Rebecca Saalwaechter, at 1819 Smallhouse Road, Bowling Green, KY, 42104. If more than $400 is raised, Curry said he would use the extra money for additional improvements to the project. While he can't offer tax exemption, he said he will keep detailed receipts so donors can see where their money is going.
“I believe in helping out skaters in general,” Curry wrote. “Skateboarding is a powerful passion and lifestyle and anything that provides a person with the kind of positive, creative and athletic outlet that skateboarding does deserves to be supported to the fullest. ... I came down here to do volunteer work for a developing country, no matter what form or forms that volunteerism takes.”
- For more infor, visit www.skatenica.com.
All skaters should be welcome at skatepark Thursday, May 3, 2007 11:02 AM CDT Letter to the editor The Daily News
I am responding to a April 24 letter by Joe Cooper, “Inexperienced skaters shouldn't be at skatepark,” as they are the ones who cause all the injuries by their presence.
The skate park is a community place to be shared by anyone who wants to be a part of the fun!
Instead of insisting that only extreme skaters be allowed, how about teaching your children to be tolerant and considerate of those who might not have the same skill level.
Additionally, the city might consider a specific area for younger or less experienced skaters.
This is a new endeavor and will require everyone to work together so that everyone can enjoy it.
Jennifer Irizarry
Bowling Green
I enjoyed volunteering at the new skatepark - letter to the editor The Daily News
Sunday, April 29, 2007 8:32 AM CDT
When I took my son to the Bowling Green Skatepark ribbon cutting, I thought I would just spend the morning watching him and his friends skate.
As it turned out, I found a chance to volunteer in a worthwhile project. I helped measure skaters for free helmets given away by Crocker Law Offices. We gave away hundreds of helmets to all kinds of skaters and bikers, from little children to senior citizens. People were lined up before the park opened and we had a steady stream of “customers” all morning.
In addition to giving the helmets away, we measured and checked the fit, adjusting the straps and padding when necessary. Parents were taught how the helmets should be worn and adjusted as children grow. By the end of the morning, half of the kids skating were wearing the free helmets. I see those helmets in use whenever I drive by the skatepark.
Think of the pain and sorrow that a family and friends will be spared if one child avoids a serious head injury because of this project. I was glad to help and want to thank Ben and Cyndi Crocker for their generosity.
Laura Cardwell
Bowling Green
Skater Appreciation Day set for Saturday at skatepark By RACHEL ADAMS, The Daily News, radams@bgdailynews.com Thursday, April 26, 2007 11:59 AM CDT
Skater Appreciation Day, featuring a skate clinic and free food, is scheduled for Saturday at the recently opened Bowling Green Skatepark at Roland Bland Park.
Events begin at 9 a.m. with a clinic designed to show new skaters how to use the park, said city Parks and Recreation director Ernie Gouvas. Taught by members of various local skate teams, the clinic is free and open to the first 50 people who register through forms available at Blue Wallace Skate Shop or the city parks and rec department. Skaters must wear helmets and the park will be closed to open skating during the clinic, Gouvas said, which will last for about an hour.
At 10 a.m., local teams and talent - bikers, skateboarders and inline skaters - will be highlighted, “not in contest, but just giving them a chance to perform out in the open,” Gouvas said, followed by free food and beverages beginning at 11 a.m.
The first 400 skaters to arrive at 10 a.m. will receive gift certificates from local businesses, according to a press release from skatepark supporter Kim Mason, while the first 1,000 will receive a gift certificate from Outer Loop. Raffles for prizes from places like Blue Wallace Skate Shop, Greenwood Skate Center and Great Escape will take place throughout the day, and Revolution 91.7 will provide music.
Gouvas also plans to address the skaters in reference to a few issues that have cropped up since its grand opening April 14.
“We'll go over some rules, things that skaters need to do to be a little friendlier to the park,” including language and litter, he said. “I think we've been blessed so far. Everybody's been pretty cooperative; there's just a few behavioral issues we need to address to make the park run even better.”
Although the skatepark has trash cans and signs prohibiting litter, trash and cigarette butts have made their way from the ground into bowls at the park, clogging the drains at the bottom, Gouvas said. While there hasn't been any graffiti at the skatepark, parks and rec employees have removed stickers from the concrete features, he added. But overall, the skatepark has operated smoothly, considering the amount of people who've used it in the past two weeks.
“It's packed,” he said. “It's a good problem to have right now. It means they're off the streets and somewhere they can do what they enjoy under pretty good skating conditions.”
- For more information, contact city Parks and Recreation at 393-3249.
Bowling Green Skatepark open and rolling Hundreds turn out for site's unveiling By RACHEL ADAMS, The Daily News, radams@bgdailynews.com Saturday, April 14, 2007 10:43 PM CDT
Lara Cooper/Daily News
Seventeen-year-old Roger Langley grinds on the rim of a bowl Saturday during opening day at the Bowling Green Skatepark at Roland Bland Park. Despite the wet weather, hundreds of people attended the event.
Hundreds of skaters and spectators of all ages and abilities gathered Saturday to celebrate the grand opening of the Bowling Green Skatepark at Roland Bland Park.
Despite persistent rain, which forced the postponement of many of the day's planned activities, the crowd cheered and whistled as city officials, skaters and park designer Wally Hollyday made brief speeches commemorating the occasion.
“It's a tribute to the value of this park to see that, despite the weather, we have such a crowd of people here to celebrate this day,” said Mayor Elaine Walker, who recalled getting into trouble when, as a child, she put roller-skate wheels on a two-by-four and skateboarded down a hill near her house.
“We hope you enjoy this park,” she said. “All of those naysayers who said it's not going to a well-used park - we want you to prove them wrong.”
Mike Murphy, CEO of Scott & Murphy Inc., brought his 46-year-old skateboard to the ceremony, recalling his younger days.
“(This park) is one more great thing we have to show people when they come to our city. We're a first-class city,” he said. “I've been there and done that with you guys, and I wish we'd had something like that back in the day.”
The experience of designing and building the skatepark was “really great,” Hollyday said - he had good discussions with local residents that led to a well-balanced park.
“The park's not really about me, it's really about the local skaters,” he said. “It's really their park. ... If you grow up skating this park, you're going to be a really good skater. You can learn to skate anything on this park.”
Bowling Green skater Jim Madison, who's been an active participant in the design and construction of the park, called Hollyday a “superhero,” and said the park is “the best thing that's ever happened” in his 37 years of living here. He used to complain about how boring Bowling Green was, but now he can say he had a hand in creating something to do - and others should take action instead of complaining, he said.
“It's a world-class park,” he said. “It's the best skatepark that I've ever seen.”
The $850,000, 25,000-square-foot park was created using 47 loads of concrete, city Parks and Recreation Director Ernie Gouvas said, and represents roughly 2 million pounds of concrete and steel. He thanked the group of skaters that helped design and raise funds for the park, as well as sponsors that together contributed $14,000 so the park could have lights.
“We went in this looking for a world-class park with local flair, and that's what we got,” he said.
As soon as the green ribbon was cut, a horde of skateboarders, inline skaters and BMX bikers descended on their new concrete playground, showing each other their prowess. A crowd of parents, grandparents and residents simply curious about the park ringed the various features, watching the show.
“I think that flies in the face of the stereotype,” said City Commissioner Brian “Slim” Nash as he looked around at the diverse crowd. “I hope that in the long term this park will alter stereotypes that some people might have about certain activities like skateboarding, inline skating and BMX biking - to know that they're people just like anybody else and they enjoy engaging in their hobbies.”
At least one person at the park Saturday came from a neighboring state - Jason Richardson, 36, who drove in Saturday from Clarkesville, Tenn. Standing near the rain-slicked 11-foot bowl - which had to be pumped out after mud clogged the drains - he said he would probably book a hotel room overnight to skate on the park today. The longtime skater and former pro took a day off from work to attend the grand opening of a park he plans to use “as often as possible.”
“I'm real excited about this,” he said. “My weight-loss program is going to be to ride on this all summer.”
The hour-and-15-minute drive is worth it for Richardson, who skates with a team of older skaters known as Team Geritol - members of which wanted to attend Saturday's opening, but decided not to because of the rain. They'll be back, he said, probably on April 28, when the activities postponed from Saturday will begin at 10 a.m.
The “absolute best thing” about the new skatepark is its range, Richardson said - bowls run from 5 feet to 11 feet deep, with each section clearly marked with color-coded symbols that indicate whether the feature is for beginners, those with some experience or advanced skaters.
“It's multi-functional and very conducive to increasing your learning abilities,” he said.
Opening the park was a dream come true for many, including Nash, who began talking about a skatepark during the 2004 election.
“To me, it's overwhelming,” he said. “It is the realization of a plan. There's not always the opportunity in public service to be around to see something from its conception all the way through to the final product, but the number of people who showed up on a day when the weather kept most other people inside exceeds my wildest imagination.”
-Bowling Green Skatepark is now open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. For more information, visit www.bowlinggreenskatepark.com.
Skatepark's opening Saturday Park designer will be at ribbon-cutting ceremony By RACHEL ADAMS, The Daily News, radams@bgdailynews.com/783-3256 Wednesday, April 11, 2007 12:06 PM CDT
Joe Imel/Daily News
Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Department employee Terry Ashley of Mammoth Cave packs up his tools Tuesday after installing lights at the new skatepark, which opens at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Local skaters' months of waiting will end at 10 a.m. Saturday when a ribbon is cut at the Bowling Green Skatepark at Roland Bland Park and the venue is officially opened for public use.
“I am elated about the opening of the skatepark,” said City Commissioner Brian “Slim” Nash, who has championed the skatepark for years. “This project was funded in June of 2005 and here we are in April 2007, and we are prepared to open it. I think for myself and for the consumers who will use the park, this has been a long process but well worth the wait.”
The grand opening event includes an appearance by park designer Wally Hollyday, music by Revolution 91.7, free food from All Seasons and commentary by local skater Chad Anthony, according to a press release. Local skaters will be on hand to show new skaters how to safely skate, and several skateboard, inline and BMX biking teams from the region plan to attend and show their stuff.
Additionally, said city Parks and Recreation director Ernie Gouvas, attendees are eligible to win prizes donated by Blue Wallace skate shop, Print Mafia posters, Howard's Cycling and Fitness, Outer Loop, The Place, Greenwood Skate Center and other local businesses.
“We broke ground in August - I'm ready for this,” Gouvas said.
Work on the skatepark was completed last month; however, the concrete needed a four-week “curing” period to set completely. In that time, parks and rec employees installed lights - saving about $100,000 by doing the work in-house, Gouvas said - which will be ready for use by the time the park opens.
At times during its construction, the $850,000 skatepark faced a lack of funding for items like lighting and a third bowl, but community support made those additions possible, Gouvas said. For example, the cost of the bowl - $26,000 - was covered by a combination of donations and cost-cutting measures, and the $22,000 price tag on the lights was funded at least halfway by fundraising and donations.
“Local people really came through with some donations and a lot of support, so we're happy,” he said. “Come on down and enjoy yourself.”
As with all other city parks, the skatepark will be open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., unless the city commission approves an ordinance to keep it open around the clock. No such ordinance has been drafted; however, an online petition - at www.ipetitions.com/petition/bgskatepark - boasts more than 100 signatures in support of a 24-hour park.
“The research that I've personally done concerning skateparks is, if there are acts of vandalism that occur, these acts of vandalism occur when the park is closed and the lights are turned off,” Nash said. “I think those that are circulating a petition requesting that the park be open 24 hours may have a valid argument with respect to how vandalism has occurred at other parks historically.”
If safety concerns are the reason the park will be closed at night, Nash said, he thinks the lights should at least be left on, especially since the park is not in a residential area where lights would bother nearby residents.
“I would never want to see the city create a situation where somebody may be violating the rules and go into the park at night when it's closed and attempt to skate without lights,” he said. “I feel that the danger related to that is greater than the argument against turning off the lights.”
In that same line of thought, he continued, if the lights are going to be left on anyway, why not keep the park open?
“I believe that the skatepark is a different kind of park than we've had in the past in Bowling Green, and therefore it may require a different set of rules concerning its operation,” he said. “It was my hope from the outset that this would be a 24-hour park. ... Those that would be opposed to a 24-hour park may have some valid arguments, but the only argument that I have heard thus far is that nothing good happens after midnight. I don't know that that's a valid argument.”
- For more information, visit http://www.bowlinggreenskatepark.com or http://www.myspace.com/bgskatepark.
Scottsville plans criminalization of skateboarding By BURTON SPEAKMAN, The Daily News, bspeakman@bgdailynews.com Saturday, March 24, 2007 10:52 PM CDT
After receiving a number of complaints about skateboarding, the Scottsville Police Department will begin charging youths who skate on private property, although the city does not have a formal policy against the activity.
Police Chief Don Rutheford said the plan will make complaining residents happier and keep skateboarders safe. The city has no ordinances against skateboard riding and at this time the city council is not considering an ordinance.
“I talked to (District Judge Frank Wakefield) about what we should do and he said we should charge them with criminal trespassing if they won't leave a property after being asked,” Rutheford said.
They will also charge the youths with a crime similar to jaywalking if they ride skateboards in the street or cross the street where there isn't a crosswalk, he said.
“The judge told us the first time to warn them and document we warned them and then to charge them,” Rutheford said. “We'll be confiscating their skateboards as well.”
The number of complaints about skateboarders has increased within the last year, he said. Most of the skateboarders are between 12 and 16 years old.
Complaints include skateboarders cursing at residents who have asked them to leave their property or talked to them about being in the street, and riding in the road causing dangerous situations, Rutheford said.
There were probably some words exchanged both ways in those situations, he said.
Confiscating the skateboards sounds like a questionable action, said Beth Wilson, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky.
“There's a lot of questions that come to mind,” she said. “We certainly may take a look at the issue.”
Simply keeping the skateboards out of the street will make everyone safer, Rutheford said.
“There's a lot worse things kids can be doing than skateboarding,” Rutheford said. “I have no problem with them skateboarding as long as they do it in the right place at the right time.”
Teens can skate on private property where the owner allows it and in public places where it is not banned, he said.
Since the department has begun publicizing that juveniles would be charged, there have been fewer complaints, Rutheford said.
“But I worried about what will happen as the weather gets nicer and kids are out of school,” he said.
Rutheford is hoping Scottsville teens will take advantage of a new skate park scheduled to open April 14 in Bowling Green.
Skaters face ban from new park By RACHEL ADAMS, The Daily News, radams@bgdailynews.com Monday, March 19, 2007 11:47 AM CDT
Black and orange “KEEP OUT” signs posted around the fence at the Bowling Green skate park aren't deterring some people from skating at the unfinished park, but ignoring the signs now could lead to trespassers being banned outright from the facility.
“We ran people out of there Friday,” said Ernie Gouvas, director of the city's parks and recreation department. “These were from out of state ... which was good and bad.”
The good was that the Tennessee skaters and BMX bikers knew about the park and were excited to try it out. The bad is the fact that the park won't open officially until April 14, and any activity on it before then could damage the park or result in serious injury.
Finished March 7, the concrete needs a monthlong “curing” period in which it sets - and stress on the concrete while it's curing could result in cracks that would eventually need repair.
“I understand the enthusiasm and the impatience of those that want to use the park, but we need to ensure that the concrete has had the proper amount of time to set before we go out and use it,” said City Commissioner Brian “Slim” Nash, who championed for the skate park. “I encourage them when they're feeling impatient to remember that we don't want to delay the park opening any longer than it has been because it's being used too early.”
Besides, Gouvas said, the park is still a construction site. Safety hazards include construction materials still lying around, dirt that hasn't been graded and removed of rocks, and light pole bases with conduits sticking up out of them.
“They need to stay off,” he said. “There's still things to be done.”
If someone is caught using the park before it's open, they will be given a verbal warning and sent home. The second time they're caught on the park, a contact card will be made. If they continue to break the rules, they will be banned from the park. Warning signs have been posted around the park for at least 10 days, Gouvas said.
Gouvas and other city officials have repeatedly told local skaters to stay off the park, and it seems they're listening. In fact, it's the locals who often raise the alarm when they see someone using the park.
“I've seen them walking around on it, which is OK with us, but they don't have skateboards or skates,” Gouvas said.
Skate Park Grand Opening by Kim Mason March 2007 Amplifier
The Bowling Green Skate Park Grand Opening will take place April 14, 10 a.m. at Roland Bland Park. California Skateparks finished shotcrete work on the park designed by Wally Hollyday the first week in March. Local contractor Scott Murphy was then able to complete the bottom of the bowls and other concrete work on the street course portion of the park. The park will now undergo a curing period while sod, lights and fencing are put into place.
On April 14 a ribbon cutting will take place at 10 a.m. followed by opening skating for skateboarding, aggressive inline and bmx. Revolution 91.7 will provide music and announcer Chad Anthony will describe activities taking place in the park by area skaters and teams as well as announce giveaways by local businesses. Giveaways include an ipod shuffle, several complete decks, inline skates, shirts, gift certificates and other items by Blue Wallace, The Great Escape, Greenwood Skate Center, Howard's Cycling and Fitness, Outer Loop, The Place and Print Mafia.
For the latest skate park information visit www.bowlinggreenskatepark.com or www.myspace.com/bgskatepark
Skating danger part of sport Kentucky League of Cities official briefs city leaders on park liabilities By RACHEL ADAMS, The Daily News, radams@bgdailynews.com/783-3256 Friday, March 9, 2007 11:47 AM CST
As concrete on the Bowling Green skate park begins its one-month period of curing before skaters may use it, representatives from the Kentucky League of Cities met Thursday with some city officials to discuss legal issues the city could face when the park opens in April.
The skate park is covered by insurance from the Kentucky League of Cities, said Temple Juett, general counsel for KLC, as is every other recreational facility the city owns. The city doesn't need to treat the skate park any differently than any other park, he said; rather, just be aware of the potential “pitfalls of having a skate park.”
“The only difference there is - the only reason we're here - is the perception of danger,” he said. “If that perception wasn't there, it'd be no different than opening a tennis court.”
Juett - along with Ned Wertz, director of underwriting for KLC insurance - led the hourlong meeting, which included Mayor Elaine Walker, City Parks and Recreation Director Ernie Gouvas, City Manager Kevin DeFebbo and City Commissioners Brian “Slim” Nash and Bruce Wilkerson. Using a PowerPoint presentation, Juett reviewed the definition of “negligence” in a legal sense and set forth the Recreational Use Statute, which states, in effect, a landowner has no obligation to keep the premises safe. However, the Recreational Use Statute also states that “willful or malicious failure to guard or warn against a dangerous condition, use, structure or activity” negates that protection.
As an example, Juett cited Woods v. Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government, the court case that resulted from the injury of a 12-year-old at Louisville's Extreme Park. In that case, Juett said, the boy was a novice who accidentally rode into the “advanced” section of the park, something that had happened to other children. The problem was brought to city and county officials; a recommendation was made to set up a barrier between novice and advanced sections, but the city didn't act before the child was hurt.
“When it comes to figuring out how to manage this park, it's kind of difficult to draw down from all of this to say, ‘This is what you ought to do,' because there's a lot of gray area,” Juett said.
For example, mandating the use of helmets or safety pads through an ordinance may not be the best way to address safety issues at the park, he said, especially if no one will be on hand around the clock to enforce it.
“I think all you can do is point out that it could be a dangerous sport,” he said. “You can't post a mandatory rule and then walk away from it.”
The city has taken every prudent safety precaution in the design of the park, including recruiting master designer Wally Hollyday and using durable materials for its construction, Gouvas said. The parks and recreation staff will add the skate park to their daily roster of park checks, making sure there are no leaves in the bowls and doing a visual inspection of the facility.
Concrete hurts when you fall on it - that's something skaters know and something that should be accepted if one plans to use the skate park, Gouvas said.
“Inherently, it's got to be safer than what they're doing now,” he said - skating in parking lots, on the street and on sidewalks.
To be perfectly frank, DeFebbo said, “we know people are going to have broken limbs,” especially when the park first opens. “We're absent of design issues. If we hear about something, it'll be addressed immediately,” whether that means closing the park entirely or blocking off a feature until it can be repaired.
Despite some uncertainty about the issue earlier this year, Juett reassured attendees the park's grand opening, scheduled for 10 a.m. April 14, will be covered under the park's regular insurance.
“I don't think that changes anything,” he said. “That's like an ordinary day to me.”
However, Wertz cautioned that performers brought in for special events will require their own insurance, the limits of which must match the city's policy.
“They need to have and you want to see evidence of insurance coverage,” he said.
The dangers of keeping the park open 24 hours - rather than closing it at 11 p.m., which is when other city parks close - were discussed, with Wilkerson suggesting the skate park may need to be closed at night as well. Some of the bowls are deep, and someone skating alone at night may not be able to get out if they get hurt.
The park's hours will be set by the city commissioners if it's decided to make them any different than other city parks, Gouvas said after the meeting. Signage, which may be posted in several different languages or in a manner understandable to non-English speakers, will be placed by the Parks and Recreation Department.
Skatepark may be tourist draw Visitors bureau marketing facility on Web, in print; supporters hope for events By RACHEL ADAMS, The Daily News, radams@bgdailynews.com Saturday, February 17, 2007 11:57 PM CST
Hoping to attract visitors and sports events to the city, the Bowling Green Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is beginning to market its skatepark in publications and on the Web.
The park is featured in the city's “Sporting Event Planner,” which is “a tool that we use when we are trying to go after sporting events,” Executive Director Vicki Fitch said. “It includes all types of facilities - things at Western (Kentucky University), the Ballance motocross, all of our parks that have facilities that would lend themselves for sporting events.”
The park is also listed on www.visitbgky.com/sports, an extension of the visitors bureau Web site. Fitch said she's been working with Nathan Curry, a longtime skater who helped manage the old skatepark at Basil Griffin Park, to attract events to the area.
Albeit, she has no idea what to expect.
“Time will tell,” she said. “It's a new market for us because obviously we don't have a facility now, but we're trying to find (events) that are a good fit for the facility and for our size city.”
As someone who's worked for over a decade to build the skate scene in Bowling Green, Curry has big plans for the park.
“I aim to use my experience of putting on skateboard-related events and my contacts from running our old park to help promote events for this park,” he said via e-mail. “Ideas are still on the drawing board, so to speak, but I have contacted some (skateboard) companies about team schedules for the late summer, early fall.”
Curry, who's currently in Nicaragua, said he would love to see sponsored skaters from brands such Black Label, Anti-Hero or Quicksilver visit the park; specifically, Omar Hassan of Black Label and Quicksilver and Mike Vallely of Element Skateboards.
“These teams, to me, seem to have a solid lineup of very diverse skaters that are good with all types of terrain,” he wrote. “These are seasoned veterans that have stood the test of time and go about skating with a zest, passion and respect that all skaters could learn from.”
In a previous interview, skatepark supporter Kim Mason said there was concern that the city's insurance might not cover special events held at the park. Bill Hamilton, deputy director of the Kentucky League of Cities, said the premises is covered by liability insurance - for instance, if a spectator was injured - but performers brought in for events would need to have their own insurance.
“We're not going to cover the participants that are going to be using it as a special event, a tournament or a tour event, but the facility itself is insured, obviously, for general use by the public,” he said.
To better explain the situation, Hamilton used the example of a circus coming to visit a city park. The circus would be leasing the park from the city and would have to cover its own participants, but residents coming to visit the circus would be covered by the insurance the city has on the park.
“If the spectator's there at an event and he gets hurt, it's covered, but if you've got (pro skateboarder) Tony Hawk, a professional, he's got his own insurance,” he said. “It would be similar to every other event that occurred at a park that's different from its normal use.”
Whether those questions have affected plans for the skatepark's upcoming grand opening is unclear; neither Ernie Gouvas, director of city parks and recreation, nor Matt Zoellner, city project manager, could be reached for comment.
Mayor Elaine Walker is looking forward to the skatepark's completion, which has been delayed by wintry weather, and hopes it gets a lot of use.
“I would love to see a lot of activity out there,” she said. “I think that it's going to be a good, solid venue for us. I think it's going to be a good park for us - I think it's serving a segment of our population that has not been served.”
City Commissioner Brian “Slim” Nash, who worked to bring the park to Bowling Green, said last week he's more focused n the park's completion than on the events it may attract.
“I don't think any park is ever built with the intent of having events or hosting events,” he said. “I believe that the intent of any park - and I know that my intent when advocating for this park - was so that children and adults who engage in skateboarding, Rollerblading and BMX bicycling would have a safe place to recreate.
“I think having events out there would be great, I would love to see that as a possibility, but my first and foremost concerns are, one, getting the park completed, and two, getting the park open.”
Delays persist for opening of city skatepark Cold weather has held up final touches; April likely earliest $850K site will be ready By RACHEL ADAMS, The Daily News, radams@bgdailynews.com Friday, February 9, 2007 11:22 PM CST
The Bowling Green Skate Park's projected opening has been pushed back from the early March estimate set last month, as cold temperatures make it impossible to install “shotcrete” on the park's curved features.
At a Jan. 13 meeting, a progress report given by city Project Manager Matt Zoellner indicated California Skateparks, one of very few specialized companies that does shotcrete work, had five days' worth of work left to do on the skatepark. That number still stands, Zoellner said Friday.
Temperatures must be at least in the 40s for shotcrete work - blowing concrete onto curved bowls - to be done, Zoellner said. Since California Skateparks can only work in warm, dry conditions, the rainy and chilly weather in the weeks following that meeting have kept them away from Bowling Green.
“We hit 40 (degrees) maybe one day or two days during that time, but for California Skateparks to come out one day is not feasible,” he said. “We have to get them where we can get at least three straight days of work.”
Once the shotcrete work is done, local contractors Scott & Murphy can finish their flat concrete work; however, Scott & Murphy can't move forward until California Skateparks comes back, Zoellner said. After all the work is completed, the park needs to sit for 28 days so the concrete can “cure,” he said - using it sooner than that could result in fractures that would necessitate repairs.
Even if California Skateparks could come out next week - unlikely, considering temperatures aren't expected to warm up - the four-week curing period would push the park's opening to middle or late March.
“We can't push it,” Zoellner said. “We want it to be a nice facility, and we don't want to mess it up. ... On a project like this where it's specialty concrete, you definitely want to give it some time to cure.”
Although the skatepark's completion date has been repeatedly pushed back - mostly due to weather conditions - it's useless to point fingers or assign blame, said City Commissioner Brian “Slim” Nash, whose championing of the cause led the city commission to allocate $850,000 for the project.
“When the city made the projection of having it completed at the end of January, we were having some of the most unseasonably warm temperatures that we've had for that time of year,” he said. “That completion date was predicated on that weather continuing, and not only did that weather change, it drastically changed.”
Nash urged local skaters to be patient, as the final product will be well worth the wait.
“I can understand the frustration,” he said. “But I can only imagine the frustration that those that want to skate now will feel if we have to shut it down at some point in the future to perform unnecessary maintenance because we didn't build it correctly at the outset.”
The initial opening, whenever it may be, is to be a “soft” opening: a quiet ribbon-cutting done mostly for the benefit of the skaters who've watched the park's construction from the ground up. A larger “grand opening” is planned for when the weather gets nicer.
At the January meeting, city Parks and Recreation Director Ernie Gouvas asked several of those present to work with him on scheduling events for the grand opening. Kim Mason, publisher of The Amplifier and a longtime skatepark volunteer, was one of those people. The group would like to secure a well-known pro skater for the grand opening, she said, while using local skaters' talent for the soft opening.
“Several of us are totally geared up to start working on fundraisers and events for the skatepark,” she said.
In the months since construction began, Mason and other skatepark supporters have formed a few Web sites dedicated to it - www.bowlinggreenskatepark.com and www.myspace.com/bgskatepark among them. Mason films regular video updates of its progress for the MySpace site, which numbers nearly 280 friends, most of them local skaters who use the site to keep up with each other and the park's construction, she said.
Skate park progress meeting by Kim Mason January Amplifier
Ernie Gouvas, Director of Bowling Green Parks and Recreation held an open meeting January 13, 2007 to provide updates on the progress of the skate park and discuss plans for opening events.
Matt Zoellner, the Project Manager reported that California Skate Park's shotcrete work on the bowls was 5 working days from completion, however the firm had left town for a couple of weeks due to weather. 22 rain delays were cited as being responsible for the extended construction schedule, originally slated for completion in the early fall. Scott/Murphy has been completing the flat sections as the shotcrete sections are ready and cannot proceed much further until the shotcrete is finished. It was estimated that all concrete will be poured by the end of January and after 28 days of curing the park could open March 1, 2007.
All skaters are urged to refrain from attempting to skate the facility until the curing process is complete to prevent damage that may not show now but will compound over time. The BG Police have been asked to patrol the park and cite trespassers.
Ernie Gouvas reported that contrary to previous reports the park was expected to have lighting from the onset, allowing for operation 24/7. The new development is a result of successful fundraising efforts by local skaters and supporters as well as an alternative type of lighting being chosen. Gouvas explained the use of halide lamps will cut the cost of lighting 80%. Fundraising efforts to date have produced $11,500, all but $7,000 of the new goal. Previous estimates of the shortage had ranged from $80,000 to over $100,000.
BG Parks and Recreation is seeking help from local skaters in instituting skater development programs to provide instruction for inexperienced skaters. It was suggested that local shops catering to the park's users might assist with lessons and representatives of Blue Wallace and Howard's Bike Shop expressed interest.
Though financing for the vending section of the park is not in place it is anticipated that if the park proves to be the success anticipated funding will become available for a snack area, pavilion with a stage area and equipment rental facilities. Outside vendors would be used to run these facilities. An additional 300 parking spaces are being created across the street from the Parks & Rec building.
Park rules will be limited and rely on self policing and random inspection for enforcement as the park will be unsupervised due largely to liability issues. Helmets will be required and other protective gear will be recommended. No other rules were mentioned.
It is yet unclear whether the City of Bowling Green will actively promote skate park tourism by organizing events at the park or if it will be left to private interests to utilize the facility by sponsoring events, though Gouvas himself expressed interest in hosting competitions.
Two opening events are anticipated in any case. In early March what was described as a "soft opening" will be held for local skaters. The event will consist of a ribbon cutting and demonstrations by locals. It was also suggested that a private opening might be held the 29th day after the last concrete is poured for skaters involved in the planning of the park and fundraising efforts to have a chance to traverse the concrete landscape first.
In late spring or early summer a "grand opening" will be held. This regional event will showcase a known pro, possibly one from each of the three sports represented in the park - skateboarding, aggressive inline and bmx.
For the most recent updates on the skate park's progress and planned events visit http://www.myspace.com/bgskatepark or the skate park forum at http://amplifier.ky.net/forum/index.php?board=30.0
Skate Park Progress Report and Opening Events January Amplifier
Ernie Gouvas, Director of Bowling Green Parks and Recreation held an open meeting January 13, 2007 to provide updates on the progress of the skate park and discuss plans for opening events.
Matt Zoellner, the Project Manager reported that California Skate Park's shotcrete work on the bowls was 5 working days from completion, however the firm had left town for a couple of weeks due to weather. 22 rain delays were cited as being responsible for the extended construction schedule, originally slated for completion in the early fall. Scott/Murphy has been completing the flat sections as the shotcrete sections are ready and cannot proceed much further until the shotcrete is finished. It was estimated that all concrete will be poured by the end of January and after 28 days of curing the park could open March 1, 2007.
All skaters are urged to refrain from attempting to skate the facility until the curing process is complete to prevent damage that may not show now but will compound over time. The BG Police have been asked to patrol the park and cite trespassers.
Ernie Gouvas reported that contrary to previous reports the park was expected to have lighting from the onset, allowing for operation 24/7. The new development is a result of successful fundraising efforts by local skaters and supporters as well as an alternative type of lighting being chosen. Gouvas explained the use of halide lamps will cut the cost of lighting 80%. Fundraising efforts to date have produced $11,500, all but $7,000 of the new goal. Previous estimates of the shortage had ranged from $80,000 to over $100,000.
BG Parks and Recreation is seeking help from local skaters in instituting skater development programs to provide instruction for inexperienced skaters. It was suggested that local shops catering to the park's users might assist with lessons and representatives of Blue Wallace and Howard's Bike Shop expressed interest.
Though financing for the vending section of the park is not in place it is anticipated that if the park proves to be the success anticipated funding will become available for a snack area, pavilion with a stage area and equipment rental facilities. Outside vendors would be used to run these facilities. An additional 300 parking spaces are being created across the street from the Parks & Rec building.
Park rules will be limited and rely on self policing and random inspection for enforcement as the park will be unsupervised due largely to liability issues. Helmets will be required and other protective gear will be recommended. No other rules were mentioned.
It is yet unclear whether the City of Bowling Green will actively promote skate park tourism by organizing events at the park or if it will be left to private interests to utilize the facility by sponsoring events, though Gouvas himself expressed interest in hosting competitions.
Two opening events are anticipated in any case. In early March what was described as a "soft opening" will be held for local skaters. The event will consist of a ribbon cutting and demonstrations by locals. It was also suggested that a private opening might be held the 29th day after the last concrete is poured for skaters involved in the planning of the park and fundraising efforts to have a chance to traverse the concrete landscape first.
In late spring or early summer a "grand opening" will be held. This regional event will showcase a known pro, possibly one from each of the three sports represented in the park - skateboarding, aggressive inline and bmx.
For the most recent updates on the skate park's progress and planned events visit http://www.myspace.com/bgskatepark or the skate park forum at http://amplifier.ky.net/forum/index.php?board=30.0
City: Skatepark will be ready by March By RACHEL ADAMS, The Daily News, radams@bgdailynews.com Saturday, January 13, 2007 11:43 PM CST
Rainy weather, chilly temperatures and a funding shortfall have caused multiple delays to the opening of Bowling Green's skatepark, but city officials assured more than two dozen skaters at a meeting Saturday that the park would be open by March.
“We're not running behind, but we're not running ahead,” said Matt Zoellner, a project manager in the Public Works Department's planning and design division.
Since construction began in August, contractors have faced 22 rain delays, he said. Outside conditions must be dry and at least 45 degrees for California Skateparks to continue their “shotcrete” work, in which concrete is sprayed onto rounded features like bowls.
Local skater Jim Madison, who's closely followed the evolution of the 25,000-square-foot park, spoke up about what he considered a lag in the park's construction. Local contractors Scott & Murphy have done their part; it's California Skateparks that hasn't capitalized on the nice weather Bowling Green has been seeing lately, he said.
“I'm just a little frustrated,” he said. “I don't mean to be so frustrated the way I am, but it's an incredible park.”
“I am too, and I don't skate,” Zoellner replied.
After California Skateparks finishes their work - Zoellner said they have about five days of work left - it will take Scott & Murphy about a week to put the final touches on it, which should be before the end of this month. After that, the cement has to sit for about 28 days to make sure it's properly set - a recommendation from skatepark designer Wally Hollyday - meaning the park should have a soft opening in March, followed by a grand opening when the weather gets nicer.
“I don't see (construction) going to February,” Zoellner said. “It better not.”
Fencing for the park is a priority - not to keep skaters out, but to keep others from wandering through it and falling over a feature or into a deep bowl, said City Parks and Recreation Director Ernie Gouvas. “Extras” like fencing, lights and pavilions weren't included in the park's $850,000 price tag.
Originally, lights for the park were anticipated to cost anywhere from $108,000 to $120,000, but Gouvas found a less-expensive option that should only run about $22,000. Fundraising has netted $11,500 so far, and Gouvas is hoping for sponsorships or additional donations to close the gap.
If the original lights were the Cadillacs of lights, Gouvas said, “we're looking at something like an Impala - a Chevy Impala. It's good, but you don't have all the bells and whistles.”
Some of the lights will be set on a timer and stay illuminated all night; however, others will be able to be activated with a button. They'll stay on for an hour before turning off automatically to save energy.
In answer to some safety concerns, Gouvas said helmets will be required and safety pads strongly encouraged for those using the park, although he said there was no way to catch every single person who breaks the rules.
“It's kind of like speeding,” he said. “It's enforced when the enforcer's there. We can't have someone there 24-7 - it's going to be unannounced.”
If someone is caught skating without a helmet, Gouvas said parks employees will handle it like they handle transgressions in any city park - the violator is sent home, and his or her name is entered into a database. If they continue to break the rules, they will be banned from the park.
He asked the skaters to self-police the park and to set a good example by wearing their equipment.
“You all are going to be the key to it,” he said. “The last thing we want is somebody to be carried off with a catastrophic injury that could have been prevented. If you want this park to close, that's the way to do it.”
The main entrance for the park will be through Roland Bland Park, with parking in nearby Parks and Rec lots. The park's master plan calls for restrooms, a soft drink vending area and a shelter, but for now all those items can be accessed in the F.O. Moxley Community Center.
Bowling Green is going to be in for a surprise when the skate park opens, said Owensboro resident Mike Kenney, who's designed and assisted in building skateparks in various states. Kenney designed Bowling Green's first skate park at Basil Griffin Park, is currently campaigning to have the Owensboro skate park rebuilt and says the skateboard/BMX bike/inline skating demographic is much larger and more transient than anyone realizes.
“They've got to understand - we move, we spend money,” he said.
In fact, Kenney was on his way to a Nashville skatepark with three other skaters from Owensboro when he stopped in at Saturday's meeting, he said. Bowling Green's skatepark is perfectly located on a line with Nashville, Louisville, Florence and Dayton, Ohio, skate parks - perfect for those who like to take “skate tours” around the area.
As a former resident, Kenney said he appreciates the efforts of government leaders who recognize that, if there is no skate park, the entire city becomes one.
“This has been the ideal situation, particularly from the monetary standpoint,” he said. “(City leaders) are being very wise and they're meeting the need. I can tell you right now - barring weather, this park will be used almost every day of the year, en masse. ... From an outside perspective, I'm really proud of what you all have done.”
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