Richmond needs a public skatepark

I, for one, am very excited about this and hope we can come together and raise the money and the support to make this happen!

Makes me remember the doctor from Henrico County who brought his son down to skateboard on the rails and steps at the State LOibrary and City hall. Did not seem to notice (or care) the damage done to the railings and the stone.

Again you all think you own CH. You don’t.

Wouldn’t a skate park be better place in Fulton Bottom… or the area with the horseshoes and othe fields?

This would allow folks to enjoy later at night and not affect the neighbors with loud noise.

EDS #7 I think that’s a great idea! It’s far enough away from most residential that the noise wouldn’t be a bother, and as you said, it could run later. I don’t know if there’s lighting down there but perhaps that could be part of the fundraising. There’s a dirt bike track there too.

I think a skateboarding area would be a very positive addition to Chimborazo Playground Park. A few years ago, the park wasn’t used much and we’d find crack on the playground equipment,used condoms, broken beer bottles, trash and urine on the pavillion. We formed the Friends of Chimborazo Playground to address those problems and improve the park for *everyone.* A healthy park needs people from all walks of life, ages, races, and interests to make and keep it vibrant. Right now, we have community gardeners tending plots, adults playing basketball, petanque and tennis, and preschoolers and elementary age kids on the jungle gym. A skateboarding area would appeal to older kids (and adult skateboarders, too). All of these different people help keep an eye on the park and make it a safer place to visit and enjoy. Higher activity and number of visitors increase safety.

I think it would be a shame to segregate skateboarders off on their own. When my kids are teenagers, I want them to skate nearby, in a safe place, where there are lots of people around.

The skateboarders I’ve met are enthusiastic, polite and motivated. They seem very willing to work with the community and have moved their equipment off the basketball courts. Anything we’ve asked of them so far, they’ve accommodated.

What’s happening out there currently is really cool. Younger kids perch on top of ramps and avidly watch the skaters do their tricks and take spills. Older skaters (some in their 30s and 40s) are working together with younger skaters to build ramps, etc. After they’ve gone, the little kids climb on equipment and ride their trikes around the obstacles.

Parks & Rec’s master plan for Chimbo Playground Park has always included a skateboarding area – it’s on the south side of the park, next to the ravine, as far away from housing as possible. It’s a small area in relation to the rest of the park. See master plan:
http://www.imaginechimbo.org/master-plans-updated

Keep an open mind and give ’em a chance, folks. This could be a unique and positive addition to our community.