...When All is Said and Dunn

Last week, on the front page of this paper, there was a small article about the removal of trees in the “mall” area of Temple City that had gotten out of control. Apparently the roots were causing the sidewalks to buckle and had become a hazard. So the city council, in a moment of uncommon logic, decided to have the trees removed and replace the sidewalks. Good job.

The more I thought about the fresh new sidewalks the more I thought about the forgotten members of our valley that would be viewing any new sidewalks with mixed emotions. That would be the members that like to participate in a sport that has yet to be recognized in most of our communities, the skaters and skateboarders.

Now I’m sure there are a lot of you out there that choose not to recognize this as a sport, but it is, and it’s becoming a very popular one at that. Every day I see more and more of these young athletes attempting to practice their sport in any way and any place possible. Usually in some of the worst possible places imaginable, in the middle of the streets, on the sidewalks, in front of stores, and at schools after hours.

Why do they do it? It’s simple, we don’t give them any option. Everywhere they go they are chastised by business owners, motorists, park, and school personnel. But what choice does either party have? Where can they practice their sport without being viewed as persona non-grata? Where indeed.

Here in the West San Gabriel Valley there is nowhere for these young people to practice. The closest skate parks to us are in Glendora and Claremont which means, unless they find a willing adult, they can’t get there on a regular basis.

If these kids were playing baseball, football, or soccer you can bet there would be tons of parents and city council members rushing to find a place for them to practice. We need to see that all of the kids in our community can pursue whatever sporting activity they want and at least supply them with a safe venue in which to do it.

The various city councils and civic leaders are always claiming that they have the best interests of our children in mind, that they are there to support them. Is that only the kids in uniform or the ones that are participating in sports the council members can relate to? If they truly have the best interests of all of our children in mind, then this is a matter that needs to be addressed now, not later.

There are places that could serve this need in our community; we just need to look around. To set up and maintain a skate park would be no harder than setting up a tennis court, once it’s there, it’s there and it would give all these young skaters a place to go, and keep them off the streets.

There is not one city here in the West San Gabriel Valley that has not got the room to put in a skate park. According to my nephew, Marc, the size of the area is not what’s important--it’s all in how it’s laid out. Believe me when I say that anywhere would be better and safer than where they are currently practicing.

I have passed by many vacant lots that could be used for such sites. I don’t know if these lots are city owned or are privately owned. If they are privately owned then some savvy businessman should take advantage of this opportunity and build a park, put in a small concession stand and a small skate shop. You could make a killing on the concessions alone.

If these properties are city owned, then I say, get off the stick and help out our youth. It’s not like you’re going to be putting up a skyscraper. All you need is a concrete slab, some wooden ramps, and metal rails--how hard can that be? I bet you could even find interested teenagers willing to help build it. I’ve seen people spend more time working on the baseball field before the season starts than it would probably take to build a park.

Or how about converting some existing property that would see more use from “boarders” than another group. For example, in Temple City at Live Oak Park there are 7 tennis courts. The city could take just one of those courts add the ramps and viola, a skateboard park is born.

Additionally, there is an existing snack bar right there that is utilized by Temple City American Baseball League and AYSO soccer. That means both of those organizations would benefit from increased revenues due to the amount of kids that would be there. With the workout those skaters get you have to know they will get thirsty. That one little piece of real estate would see more traffic than the other six tennis courts combined.

So city councilpersons, I challenge you, let’s see you step up for all the kids not just the ones who wear the pretty uniforms. You say you care about all of our kids, if you’re going to talk the talk let’s see you skate the skate.