Skateboarders show support for skate-park

By Tom Nash

For a day, skateboarders caught a glimpse of a skate-friendly Somerville.

One hundred skateboarders and dozens of spectators descended on Conway Park last Saturday for The Somer Session, a demonstration organizers hope will raise awareness of the need for a skate park in Somerville.

A diverse group of skateboarders took turns on several ramps set up on the park's erstwhile hockey rink. Organizer Michael Sampson, with two skateboarding brothers and two supportive parents on hand, said the event was a respite from the intolerance confronting his peers around Somerville. 

“It's hard to find a spot you don't get kicked out of” for skateboarding, Sampson said. “We wanted to raise awareness that there is a need for a skate park - and not dog parks.”

Save Our Somerville, a non-profit organization dedicated to “giving people who feel they have no power in the community a voice” helped put together the demonstration.

"We really want this event to highlight the plight of skateboarders in our city," SOS organizer Adam Rich said. "The youth in the city are losing opportunities left and right, and it's important we speak up for them."

Among concerns that a skate park could attract vandalism and crime, one potential issue could be a state law requiring skateboarders under 16 to wear a helmet.

Only a handful of people chose to do so at The Somer Session, although signs were put up encouraging it. Waivers were required to participate.

Steve Costello, co-owner of Boston skateboarding company Ready Amongst Willing, helped sponsor the event and said a helmet rule would be followed if the park were deemed worthwhile by skaters.

"If the place is built properly, I don't think a helmet rule is going to be a problem," Costello said.

Sampson said he envisions a skate park that resembles conditions found on the street. Somerville High School, where he is an honor student entering his junior year, was until recently his go-to spot.

As for helmet rules, Sampson was less diplomatic than Costello.

"A skate park is an individual risk thing," he said. "I'm telling you right now none of these kids would wear helmets."

As for the parent-alarming reputation that comes with skateboarding, Bobby Joe and Laura Sampson said they had qualms with their sons taking up the sport until they saw the dedication involved first-hand. They've since encouraged the pursuit - whether that has meant building ramps for the event or driving their children to far-flung destinations.

"It gives them something to do and keeps them off the street," Laura Sampson said. "We compare it to schoolwork," Bobby Joe added. "If you can master these tricks, you can do well in school."

While skateboarders are hoping an SOS-distributed petition with about 500 signatures will stir the Board of Aldermen to take action, Michael Sampson says The Somer Session may be more convincing.

"When you see people here, that's so much better than seeing names on a paper," he said.

As his brother Alex ollied off a ramp behind him, he added:
"If you don't give us a skate park, we'll probably end up [skating] on your front steps."

Photos by Scott Liberatore

Comments

[Y-Not!!?]

Two very young kids, no safety-helmet on either one...accidents waiting to happen. Parents allowing it, what are they thinking?
One severe head injury and these kids could be disabled for life.

Waivers [self-serving] exempting the Conway demo promoters from liability.

Who will be supplying the [day by day) necessary waiver forms, and signatures on same, for custodial parents/guardians, exempting the city from liability, if and when a skate-board facility is provided by the city?

Parents and other adults on hand at the subject Conway demo, maintaining control and decorum.

Who will be maintaining control and decorum when these same parents and adults will be absent, on a daily basis, from a city provided SB facility?

[someone who cares]

This is to Y-Not...sounds to me, sir or madam, after reading a few of these comments that you have a little too much time on your hands. You're thinking a about this a little too much. Of course they're not going to put a skatepark at Albion Park. But somewhere in the city, where the elderly, dogs or toddlers (even you) won't be or want to be for that matter, would be nice.

I've been to many skateparks and have never have seen a problem. I'm sure there some rif raff out there...it's everywhere. Give these kids a break and stop knocking it.

[Y-Not!!?]

To: Someone who cares:

If you have read one or two of my other posts you will see that I am 100% in favor of Somerville building a skate-board park facilty SEPARATE AND APART from children's playgrounds.

AGAIN----a venue/entity location unto its own, where only skate-boarders dare to tread.

My concerns are two-fold: 1) The safety of NON-skate boarders... MEANING, children of all ages coming and going, precluding building a Skate-board facility where established playgrounds historically and continually have and will be attracting non-skater children, adults, and senior citizens.

@)--My other concern is the safety of the skaters themselves not wearing the mandated, by law, safety-helmets.

God forbid, a young skater, not wearing a helmet, takes a "header" that proves my point; resulting in a serious disabling head injury. An injury that could/would of been prevented if the child was wearing a helmet.

If you are really "someone who cares".....YOU WOULD ALSO CARE!!!

I have witnessed/observed some skate-boarders at the high school concourse and up and down my street and sidewalks "screaming" loud bad language, and exhibiting deplorable conduct. To say nothing of out of control skate-boards and skate-boarders hitting parked cars; no consideration at all for property, neighbors, and pedestrians. Not to mention moving traffic.

I have every right to "knock" that behaviour, as many of my neighbors have.

You're rebuttal might be..."give them a skate facility and they will not be on the streets doing their thing."
I would agree!!!!

I am fully aware there are some good kids out there skate-boarding....but the "downside"- they (also) are not wearing helmets.

Sure would hate to see one of them get hurt.

[dreed]

A fall from the top of a sliding board or from the monkey bars could also cause serious head injury so I expect that all toddlers should be fitted with helmets that must be worn at all times. What if they fall out of a stroller... or trip... or fall off of a tricycle. Perhaps we should propose a "body armor" law?

[Somervillen00b]

Everybody, call the police each time you see them not wearing the required helmets. Eventually, the little punks will go skate somewhere else!

[Rollinson]

One idea that I've seen floated was placing a skate park beneath a bridge - it's been done in various other communities and seems a very good way of leveraging land not being productively used for other things into a useful spot for young people to have fun. A lot of the ramps and other infrastructure could even be user-produced. And the area would not be in the way of little kids and wouldn't be one that would disrupt a neighborhood.

[Y-Not!!?]

dreed:

Hmmmmmm! However, tricycles, being a "manually propelled wheeled vehicle".... are allready covered under the currrent Massachusetts Safety Helmet law.

[losers]

You losers and your laws. How on earth did past generations survive without you padding the floors, removing corners that may cause ouchies and forcing people to wear helmets? You should all wear helmets when walking down the street because people are probably prone to smacking you.

And Somervillenoob, I finally get you. I thought you were a newbie, but you're definitely a Somerville resident mocking new residents. Nobody could be so stupid as to make the comments you make and be serious. Thanks for the support!

[getoffmylawn]

Somerville is long overdue for a skate park! Everyone complains that teenagers spend all their time on the internet or playing video games and don't go outside- well, skateboarding is one of the very few outdoor activities available in an urban area. We have parks for kids, dogs, and everyone else, but noone seems to care about teenagers. Let's support them and give them a space of their own!

[Y-Not!!?]

Losers:

Some people in past generations DID NOT survive, because they were not wearing helmets.

A cousin of mine for one,when his bicycle flipped going down School Street and his head struck a parked car.

And a friend living in Colonie New York, married and two kids at the time, confined to a wheel-chair for the rest of his life. Head injury,no helmet; his motorcycle hit by a passing truck.

Yeah...let's do away with those stupid helmet laws and other stupid safety laws.

And while we are at it do away with:

*Required use of batting helmets for little league kids.
*Helmets for combat military personnel.
*Required seat belts in vehicles.
*Required secured seats for babies and toddlers in cars.
*Helmets for construction workers
*Smoke detectors required in homes.
*Life preservers required for kids in open boats.
*Required hand-rails for stairs.

Do we really have to wait until a Somerville skate-boarder kid incurs a serious head injury before enforcing the wearing of a helmet?

Ask yourself....and the adult SOS organizers/promoters of the Conway Park Skate-board "demo"...why they required the signing of waivers by parents as a requisite before their children could participate that day.
Could it have been the enhanced risk-factor connected with the activity?

All it takes is something like a wheel coming loose, or off, on a skateboard for an accident to happen.
Or a collision, a pepple, loss of balance, etc.
The high risk factor is what it is on a skateboard.

Safety laws were made/enacted to protect persons such you, and others, who would put themselves, and others, in harm's way.

[y? Because Stone Cold Said So!]

Man, you whiners couldn't stare at the Mona Lisa without being distracted by the cracks. Did you read the part about 100+ kids having a good time without any incidences? And Y-Not, the fact that parents signed off on it shows that they didn't have a problem with it. Why should you? If you think skaters should wear helmets, make sure your kids wear helmets and keep your laws off my body. But wait, you probably don't have kids and just want to bitch about something that doesn't even apply to you.

I was skating at the event (without a helmet) and had a great time. I saw one kid who was there all day and said "man, you've been skating for 6 hours." He said "yeah, I'm gonna have to go to bed early." Guess he won't have time to drink, do drugs and cause trouble.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

[Somerville n00b]

What pisses me off is that we end up paying for these idiots, in terms of health care premiums and whatnot. I would not care if it was just their stupid heads that get smashed.

[Somerville n00b]

Companies that insure these kids should be told about the fact they are at high risk. They have to pay more.

[Y-Not!!?]

y?

"NO INCIDENTS???

Where were you when Adam Rich lost his board on a down-ramp and ended up landing on his lower back-side, as pictured in the Somerville News, page 13.
The good news, he was wearing a helmet and other padding.

Of course the parents didn't have any problem signing off on the waivers. That in itself is a problem as to their being part of the problem.

Other good news. I would opine, better Adam than the young child, pictured on a ramp standing on a skateboard, page 12, sans a helmet. Or the older youngsters, no helmets, pictured on the same page.

Only a matter of time, my friend.
One child seriously injured will be one too many.

Good Luck, it will not be you. Possibly will be some sub-teen novice attempting more than he/she can handle, WITHOUT a helmet.

[Y-Not!!?]

By the way,y?

If lamenting the loss of a cousin that could of been prevented if he was wearing a helmet; and lamenting the permanent injury to a dear friend that could of been prevented if wearing a helmet is construed as "whining"....please pass the cheese and crackers.

[Y-Not!!?]

y?

Pray tell, where did the OTHER 99+ kids go?
--------------------------------------

Bitching?? [Really??]

If being a proponent of child safety, and laws designed and intended to provide A safer venue for children is to be labeled "bitching"...I gladly plead---"GUILTY AS CHARGED!"

[Happy to have your attention in that regard.]

Who knows, someday you may come to your senses and revise your thinking when it comes to child safety; before you, or a child related to you, or a child known to you, pays the "price" for the stupidity of an adult...meaning parents who allow their young children to skate-board sans a helmet.

Possibly the same parent who would NOT ALLOW their child to ride in a vehicle without fastening his/her seat-belt; or play Pop Warner football, Ice-hockey, bat in a Little League game without wearing a helmet on their head.

Maybe, as you stated..."it probably doesn't apply to me (personally)"---but, certainly DOES apply to YOU and OTHERS of your ilk. Persons physically involved as an organizer, or participant, or parent...or all three.

[Y ask why? try bud dry]

You, sir, have no balls. At least you won't ever need a cup for protection.

[Y-Not!!?]

Y ask why?

It appears that you have (allready) taken too many "hits" on your helmetless head with that "gutter" comment.

With that parting "gutter" comment you have vividly proven to me; to other readers here; to your fellow skateboarders; that your ability to rationally defend your position (and theirs) re not wearing helmets, has been exhausted.
You were much too easy to subdue!!
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!

Definitely not a worthy adversary in this debate. I should of allowed you a handicap-[at LEAST 10 points on the scorecard]- before this debate with you began. BUT WAIT, you DO have a handicap, albeit, not recorded on the scorecard.

[Y-Not is a jerk]

Hey Y-Not, when you throw a really positive event for young people, you can make all the rules you want. But wait, that won't happen. You're one of those people who want to limit things for youth to do and not give any alternative. Thanks for "protecting" our kids buddy.

[Y-Not!!?]

Y ask why?

I'm disappointed in you!
Geez...is that the best (rebuttal) you can come back with?

[William Hurst]

Please people keep it civil. I know how about a combination skateboard and dog park located on the commuter rail. They can duck an dodge and fetch trains.

[Y-Not!!?]

yniaj: "Thanks for protecting our kids buddy."

Yup,.... YOU'RE WELCOME!! Always glad to help!!

[To y not]

SERIOUSLY BUUDY...WHO ARE YOU AND WHY DO YOU CARE SO MUCH!!! OBVIOUSLY, YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY KIDS. DO YOU LEAVE YOU'RE HOUSE AND LOOK FOR TEENAGERS ACTING UP?

WOULD YOU PREFER THEY BECOME PART OF A GANG...SELL DRUGS...DO DRUGS...DRINK!! I KNOW ALOT OF KIDS IN THIS CITY AND THEY'RE GOOD KIDS. SO WHAT IF THEY SWEAR...YOU DON'T? HMMMMM....PROBABLE NOT!!!

I'VE READ THE OTHER COMMENTS YOU HAVE MADE ON THIS SITE. NOT JUST THIS ARTICLE. SOUNDS TO ME YOU REALLY HAVE JUST TOO MUCH TIME ON YOUR HANDS. I'M GUESSING YOU WERE BULLIED AS A CHILD? (SORRY COULDN'T RESIST)

REALLY....GIVE IT A REST!!!! YOU'VE MADE YOUR POINT!!

P.S. I HEAR CAMBRIDGE IS NICE PLACE TO LIVE.

[y ask why? try bud dry]

Aye, Y-Not, you have vanquished me! Your biting words were too much for me and now I must crawl away in shame knowing that you have out blogged me. I should have worn a helmet when blogging against you, you clever little scamp! You obviously have much more time and are willing to put much more effort into blasting unknown people on a smalltown newspaper comment page.
But like a Phoenix, I shall rise from the ashes stronger than ever. Oh wait, maybe I'll just have a life and go live my life rather than bother with you.

Happy blogging, loser

[Y-Not!!?]

Okay guys, on a serious note.

Just received a phone call from a nurse relative who works at a Boston hospital.
My close relative is well aware of my position in regard to skateboarders wearing helmets.

Respecting patient privacy rights, she could only tell me a young 10-year old male skateboader, not from Somerville, was admitted last evening with a SERIOUS head injury suffered while doing his thing without a helmet.

BTW--not the first to be treated at that venue.

[somerville old time]

Back in my day, we used to play full contact football without pads on rocky dirt. Kids these days are too soft. And I don't just mean emotionally. I mean they are physically soft. It's not their fault, the entire country is soft. I would blame the hippies, but it is really the children of these hippies that have made this country weak. God forbid another world war happens. This country would be in a lot of trouble.

[Skate or die]

11 Yes 11 out of 25 comments made by the ever so lonely Y-Not, and that’s’ just on this subject. I didn’t even bother to read his comments knowing they are meaningless and just for his personal fun. Y-not is like the nothing more then the little girl in 3rd grade with a crush, if you don’t pay attention to her she will find somebody else to attach to and annoy. It doesn’t matter if it’s Monday or Saturday this want to be convenience store owner has nothing better to do than blog. Except for the Thursday night trips to the Fens (yes we all know about your trips to the fens). Please to even reply to his comments they are meant to stir trouble.

Anyway I actually have a something to contribute to the message board. The surrounding neighborhoods have skate parks right? What is the safety policy with the use of the other skate parks, and why if Somerville dose get a skate park (witch the Mayor Supports) can’t Somerville just adopt the same policy? The surrounding cities don’t seem to have a problem skate parks, but in anti youth Somerville the Critters seem to find any reason to wine.

[somebody]

"somerville old time": times have changed, and much of the change is because we are well informed. There was a time when seat belts were not mandatory features of a car and smoking in planes was allowed. Are we softer now?? I think we are just more informed about what is safe and makes sense.

[help before you hurt]

I am a parent of one of the children who skated and all the people criticizing the event were most definitely not there. If you were there you would see that the SOS people did a great job to ensure the kid's security. They had a police detail and a trained paramedic on site. Every child needed approval from their parents to participate, with no exceptions. The event was held in a secure area to prevent car incidents or having non-skaters run over by skaters. There were signs up encouraging people to wear safety gear.
If they required everyone to wear safety gear, however, they would have lost a lot of skaters who did not bring or do not have equipment. Should they have barred them from skating completely just to make some people who were not even there happy? The kids who would have been denied would have just skated somewhere more dangerous without any equipment.

Before people criticize they should come up with ideas to help instead of just ruining an event. If you all really care about the kids, you should talk to the SOS people and ask them if they need help.

[Some Ole Villen]

The helmet and safety issues are just clouding the main point of whether a skate park should be built for the kids. The answer is of course a skate park should be built. These are energetic athletic kids who use skating as means of recreation. There are many other things these kids could be doing that would cause more problems in the city or they could be nothing at all but staying inside with their televisions and computers. The safety and helmet issue will take care of itself. I'd rather have my kid skate without a helmet than become a couch potato or get into other mischievous activities.

[give it up already]

help before hurt - you're typical current day parenting - you're the buddy, not the parent. encourage them to wear a helmet, but don't force them - they might go somewhere else, they might not have self-esteem, they might get MAD at us.
and to the next guy - couch potato situation can be made permanent after one of these head injuries. i'd rather enforce a policy and protect their young brains than visit them in the nursing home with a big bowl of jello.

the main problem, though is grownups defending kids who refuse to comply with a reasonable policy. this is why they never learn to compromise or bend, and end up swallowing pills to get through life.

[Y-Not!!?]

Addressing some posters who resort to insults and mud-slinging, [when all else fails] and have a problem reading and understanding the written word.

To those who "charge" me with having too much time on my hands and excessive posting on the subject.
Last I heard, we all still live in a Democracy, and we all still have choices as to how we spend out time.
If being an advocate for child safety is a "waste of time".....judge me guilty!!

I will always find time to be an advocate for child safety.
And none of you know my personal

When "Somerville News" puts, or mandates. a maximum/fixed limit to posting on a any given subject, I will abide by their wishes.

"Skate or die"....stated my eleven(11) posts were a bit too many. Most all were generated in response to several others.
It was me, alone, responding to many critical of my views. Some, as stated above, failing to intelligently engage in civil discourse, resorting to insults and mud-slinging when having nothing better to add to the debate/discussion.
I chalk those responses up to their having a mental-age years removed from their chronological age....tempering justice with mercy, considering the source.

When "skate or die" stated my posts were/are "meaningless" and he/she does not even read them...Yeah Right! And pigs do fly!!

How could any intelligent person come up with an assertion that the content of any post is "meaningless" without having read same.
If my posts were a waste of time, what does it say for the posters here who "wasted their time" reading them; and for him/her counting them; and reading them, altho he/she states otherwise...Yeah Right!

"Skate or die" also stated the Mayor of Somerville is in favor of a skateboard park...he/she is correct. But, FAILS to mention that the Mayor is ALSO in favor of the participants wearing safety helmets.
FULL STORY PLEASE!..."skate or die"
Don't be so selective when trying to leverage your position with the Mayor's thoughts on the subject.

I know the Mayor fairly well!!

As to the post by "Help before you hurt."

Where did I ever say I was against the event at Conway? Stop looking, I never did!
Read again my posts.

What I did say was helmets, by law, safety, and common sense, should be worn by skateboarders no matter the venue.

If you read my past posts, you will also see where I AM AN ADVOCATE AND IN FAVOR OF A SKATEBOARD FACILITY FOR SOMERVILLE KIDS.
With two conditions:
1) It be separate and apart from any current or future childrens playground. I don't believe skateboarders and little kids play areas are a safe mix for baby carriages, little kids, their parents, or grandparents....all parties coming and going using common space on streets and sidewalks, and possibly common space coming and going within the park itself.

2) Helmets must be used.
[see my post above regard a 10-year old child having suffered a serious head injury skateboarding without a helmet]

All well and good, as you stated, there were/was a paramedic, police officers, and adult supervision at the Conway event.

But begs the question, will these persons also be present, everyday, if at all, when and if a skateboard facility is made available in Somerville? I don't think so!!

As for good kids, bad behaved kids.
Of course there are many, many good kids in Somerville.
I'm sure they outnumber the problem kids.

My comments regarding kids bad behaviour, verbal and physical, come from personal observation of skateboarders on the streets and sidewalks of Somerville...particularly in our neighborhood.

I don't want to see THEM injured either; or cause injury to another person or property.

A safety-helmet only costs about $40.00.
A small price to pay for a parent to prevent the serious head injury incurred by the 10-year old; the subject of my previous post.
[A "MEANINGLESS" post regarding the unfortunate head injury to the 10-year old child, according to "skate or die"]

BTW--the last post by "Somebody" and "give it up already" has it right!

I'm through trying to reason with people (here) who refuse to deal with common sense, kid's safety, and reality.
I just hope the next skateboarder, sans a helmet, who suffers a head injury is not a Somerville child.
To say nothing about elbow and knee injuries.

I give Adam Rich credit. He had all points covered with protection before hitting the deck of his skateboard on that down ramp and taking a fall doing so.

He should be the Somerville poster-boy (or man) for all kids (and parents) to look up to for doing it right.

[I challenge Y-not]

That’s right I Comic Book guy challenge you Y-not to a battle of Dungeons and Dragons. That is if you’re up to the challenge. In the case that you are not up to this challenge I would also propose we meet in cyber space for a match of World of War Craft. The battle can be held in my grandmother’s parlor, or your parent’s basement. That my nemesis is up to you.

[Adam Rich]

I would just like to set the record straight on the painful looking photo of me on my back on the down-ramp (not pictured online). I was challenged to get up the up-ramp and down the down-ramp. Not being an actual skateboarder, I don't have the skill to do that on the board. I solved this challenge by skating up the up-ramp and intentionally ROLLING down the down-ramp.

As far as I am aware, we had no significant injuries during the demo.

Check out this great video of the event that Michele Biscoe posted on the SomDog website: http://www.somervilledog.com/weblog/2008/09/if_you_build_it_they_will_come.php

[Y-Not!!?]

I accept your explanation Adam; but also a question.

Would you have attempted going up the ramp, and rolling down the ramp, if you were NOT wearing a helmet, elbow pads, and knees pads?

[As previously noted, I am 100% in favor of a skate-board park for the kids in Somerville.

With conditions;
1)--Participants, in accordance with the law, and for THEIR SAFETY, must wear helmets.

2)--The facility not be located in a venue, or future venue, where a childrens' playground is located. Particularly where coming and going via public common areas (streets & sidewalks) and park common areas (paths, walkways) will be used by skate-boarders AND small children, parents with baby carriages, grandparents, senior citizens; indeed, the physically handicapped.

3)--MEANING----100% for a skate-board park unto its own; designed for use by, and for, skate-borders only.

[Y-Not!!?]

Okay, checked out your suggested viewing som.dog web.

Saw one kid take a complete tumbling fall off of his skate-board as he came off his ramp. Lucky HE was not injured.

Saw many multiple NEAR-falls.

Saw kids who stayed up but lost their boards; some boards being jettisoned, unattended and out of control, for distance.

A young skate-boarder on his board in a common area, outside the rink, where a very young child, and I assume his father, was taking up space; plus other non-skater adults in view in the direction the skate-boarder was heading in that public walkway area.

And lastly, your subject Mom who verbalized and expressed her concern about the skate-boarders NOT wearing helmets. Smart Mom!

[Y-Not!!?]

One more thought.

Being a smart adult and using good judgment, you came to the demo with a helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads, obviously with the intent to participate.

But (you) knowing you lacked the skill level necessary and to minimize the chance of injury, came prepared knowing the inherent dangers.

Shouldn't the same apply to young children LACKING the required skill level to master a skateboard for the simplest "tricks" [and there were many of them at the demo] young novice kids, and parents, who do not possess your adult smarts? With MORE young beginners to come once a park is built.

The Conway demo was a supervised event for obvious reasons.

Once a skate park is finally provided, will there be supervising adults, police details, and medics present everyday at the provided facility, as they were at the demo event?
I don't think so!

Many "unskilled" young children will be in harms way there too.
God forbid..it will take one serious head injury to a Somerville child to drive home the helmet safety message.

[Somerville Teen 123456789]

Oh my god! Most of the other comments are from adults adults, right? Well see a kids point of view! I'm a Somerville teen and I really want a skate park! In Somerville there is barely any things to do! In certain seasons theres sometimes things to do! In the winter sure we have the rink where me and my friends hang out in! But, I'll tell you the truth. THAT RINK IS CRAP!!! The skate guards? They are usually really mean! They didn't let me and a couple of my friends teach one of my friends to skate! They allow other teenagers to screw up the rink! And other thing the guards only believe the people who are on the hockey team or people who know people on the hockey team! Most of the sports that the city provides only some people actually like! My friends and I would like to learn to skate! But, there is nowhere to skate!

Editor's Note (JN): The (new) Somerville News website is up - you can comment on stories over there. http://www.thesomervillenews.com

[DONT LISTEN TO Y-NOT]

yo y not. I was just reading this book. There are about 5x more children in the emergency room from basketball than skateboarding. why dont you find a basketball community to enforce your laws on. Skateboarding is not something that can or will ever be regulated. In fact when i skate, if i choose to wear a helmet (i dont do that very often) it distracts me. Lets get an analogy: if your driving a car without a seatbelt but are perfectly focused will it be more or less likely to cause you harm than if you are wearing a seatbelt while making a frustrating call or reading? You know the answer. I fall more when i wear a helmet. in your many stories about kids becoming disabled because of skateboarding, take all the injuries of football players, you dont see every pop warner kid quitting. Stop regulating other people, we don't want your rules. Also, why dont we just say, i dont know, put a seperate gate door to the skatepark from the playground at albion. Maybe a high enough lock so small children can't get in. Are you scared of simple solutions that don't work in your favor? Why don't you just say no more bike riders on the road. Get out of the house....

[hey look at my comment!]

hey people listen to this! no kid is gonna wear helmets elbow and knee pads! got that? it takes the fun out of ANYTHING! just let people skate how they want to. any sport has risks to it. why hate on skateboarding? by the way some of us dont care if random strangers want us to wear helmets.

[sarah zappa]

i am fully in support of a skate park - for myself, my kids, and my neighbors. i am a parent who skates and have been in favor of a skate park for 15 years in sville...since the kemps factory first got torn down. back then it was the artists in the lofts that were worried about gangs and punks in their park - like the grass there now keeps them out! the charles river park thing will never get done...we are getting old here people. skateboarding is not a crime! and helmets - great idea - but mellow out people. why the hysteria? are you an athlete or couch potato with too much time on your hands?