|
Commissioner’s opinion flip
by EDWARD SZTUKOWSKI
News Reporter
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners met Monday to review and reassess recent changes made to the Appalachian Skate Park.
The skate park underwent changes in August to address concerns about helmet, pad use and vandalism.
A security guard was put on post during peak hours to make sure rules were being followed, and any skater found skating without pads or a helmet would not be allowed into the park.
Jim Deal, chairman of the Board of Commissioners said the money being spent on the park is not justified with its limited use.
 Buzz Berry, one of the founders of the Appalachian Skate Park, does a handplant at the skate park Monday. The validity of funding the skate park is under review as low attendance plagues the park. Photo by James Fay |
From Aug. 15 to
Sept. 29, there were a recorded 323 skaters, or an average of nine
skaters per day, according to a memo by Watauga County Parks and
Recreation.
This average does not consider rainy days.
Buzz
Berry, one of the founders of the park, notes this average is much
lower than the average number before the changes took place, although
there are no formal records of attendance before the changes.
“The
average number of skaters is low. I went on a Saturday afternoon and
saw no skaters out [at the skate park],” Berry said. “One-hundred
skaters used to come through on one Saturday before the changes.”
“I have
a problem with spending $45,000 a year on a security guard when the
park isn’t being used,” he said. “I’d rather put the money to use
somewhere else.”
Berry
said pad use should be optional while helmets should be enforced, and a
security guard is not the answer because it alienates the skaters.
“The
security guard isn’t familiar with the sport. He doesn’t know how the
ramps work or how pads work,” Berry said. “Instead of a security guard,
we should have an attendant, someone who knows the sport and could hand
out pads and helmets if kids need them.”
Local skater Mason C. Jones said he has experience to fill the role of skate park attendant.
“The
attendant would not only make sure rules were followed, but would also
rent out helmets and pads to kids that need them,” Jones said.
“They would also maintain the park and be more of a mentor to the skaters.”
The
Board of Commissioners agreed to a month-long period with an attendant
instead of a security guard on the condition the job is advertised.
“We need
people that know the sport and won’t scare off skaters. A security
guard is more intimidating than an attendant,” Berry said. “We’re the
only park in [North Carolina] I’ve seen with a security guard.”
Skaters will come back to the park without a security guard and an attendant will relate better with skaters, Berry said.
“We are
looking at child safety…we have people putting themselves in harms
way,” Deal said. “Someone needs to be out there making sure the rules
are being followed, whether they’re an attendant or a security guard.”
Trackback(0)
 |
TrackBack URI for this entry
Show/Hide comments