News from February 22, 2007 issue

Local News
The Crittenden Press (3 pages) PDF
(Selected pages 1A, 8A, 3B)
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Parents, officials clash
over kids in streets,
on private property
Kids who ride skateboards and their parents say they want to know their rights and they want the city to help provide a safe place for them to enjoy their hobby.
Mayor Mickey Alexander says the skateboarders need to be more respectful to private property owners and need to stay out of the street.
The two sides clashed at times during Monday night’s Marion City County meeting, but in the end both showed empathy for the other’s plight.
Mayor Alexander said he receives countless complaints about skateboarders causing problems in the city. Those complaints have included damaging public and private property, failure to get out of the street or parking lots when cars approach and general disrespect to citizens.
Parents say police have been disrespectful to their children, sometimes yelling at them.
The mayor said that police have little option when they have to tell kids multiple times to get out of the street with their skateboards or off of private property.
“I get complaints all of the time,” the mayor said. “They have torn up the ramp at Fohs Hall, damaged private property including at my house and at my neighbor’s house.”
City Councilman Dwight Sherer said he witnessed several skateboarders in dangerous situations on a public parking lot recently.
“They wouldn’t get out of the way,” Sherer said. “And one guy had to slam on his brakes to keep from hitting a boy on a skateboard.”
Maetta Witherspoon, one of about five parents who attended Monday’s council meeting with their skateboarding children, said she almost always knows where her son is playing and she cautions him to be respectful. She wants to know why the city and park board have not completed the skatepark promised a couple of years ago.
“We helped raise money for it and all they have is a concrete pad,” Witherspoon said. “We are willing to pick up trash to raise money, have fund raisers or whatever it takes to get these kids a safe place to ride.”
One mother said her 18-year-old son has chosen not get a driver’s license. Instead, he uses his skateboard for transportation and she thinks he should have the right to ride it through town.
The mayor said city laws prohibit skateboards on streets because it isn’t safe.
Police Chief Kenneth Winn asked the council to consider changing the wording in the Marion Code of Ordinances 73.01 and others. He wants the local ordinance to specifically state that skateboards are prohibited on public sidewalks. The ordinance currently prohibits skates or other types of roller boards, but does not include the exact language that the police chief thinks should be in the ordinance.
While the city council appeared adamant about prohibiting skateboarders from unauthorized areas, it also showed great concern for finding a legitimate place for the kids to play.
“I think we need to get this ball rolling,” said Councilman Jason Hatfield. “The skatepark idea seems to be stalled and I would like to see us look for a way to move this along faster.”
Mayor Alexander said he, too, thought the city could help financially. He suggested that the council and park board should discuss options.
“I think we need to form a committee with some of these skateboard parents or kids and city and park board officials,” Hatfield said after the meeting.
The park board has spent all of its money earmarked for the skatepark. It built a concrete pad where the tennis courts used to be, but doesn’t have the funds to put any type of skateboarding equipment there. The park board hosted an event last summer where a vendor brought some speciality equipment for a tryout. The skateboarders say they don’t need fancy amenities, just a few things to make their sport more enjoyable.