Skateboarders Get No Respect in Coral Springs

by Brian Cristobal

I am a 14 year old kid who tries like any other kid to do what is fun to them like playing sports or any other hobbies we might have. Being who I am, a skateboarder, I can't do this in Coral Springs.

If we (skateboarders) try to skate any where in this city we either get hassled by police, kicked out by security guards or business owners. Now You may be thinking that we should build ramps or skateboard at our own houses but we can't do that either. About two weeks ago a couple of friends and I built a beautiful ramp in front of my house. We were almost done when a police car pulls up to my house and tells us that we can't finish it and we can't skateboard in the road. It turns out that one of my neighbors complained about the noisemaking. But it was a Saturday afternoon at 3:00.

What it all comes down to is that if you want to play baseball in Coral Springs there is no problem. There is about 10 fields to play on. If you want to play soccer or basketball or any other sport it is the same deal. No Problem. But if your hobby is skateboarding you are screwed basically, because you'll get kicked off the streets and told "no skateboarding" in your own private community.

All I'm asking for is some sympathy and maybe even building a public, outdoor, FREE, cement skate park so we don't have to be labeled as loiterers or law breakers. We also wouldn't have to pay $5 an hour at a different skate park in Boca or West Palm Beach.

If our city could do this it would make a lot of skateboarders, bikers and rollerbladers happy, including me. Not to be rude or anything but why are we fighting for freedom if kids can't even do what makes them happy in our own country?

If there is anyone out there who agrees with me please help us fight for our skate park.

Comments? Email us at editor@coralsprings.com

Want to add your thoughts for other people to see? go to our forum Topic: Skateboarders Need Place Also

Replies:

Hi Brian!

You're right. During our budget hearings a couple of months ago, I asked city staff to look into the possibility of providing either one facility somewhere central in the city or a couple of smaller ones in convenient locations throughout the city. One idea I had was to readapt some of the underutilized tennis courts we have. I have seen two real nice places - one in Park City, Utah and another in Edmonds, Washington that the kids are really enjoying. Park City started out as a parking lot with several pieces of temporary equipment that has since been moved across the street and features concrete structures. Washington has all concrete with a variation of ramps, bowls, etc. I am very serious about offering this type of recreation within Coral Springs. I know the kids love it, and it's always time to look at what people are enjoying and do our best to provide the infrastructure. There is a real issue with liability though, and that is one concern that the city administration has - being sued for gazillions of dollars. And, it is a legitimate concern. We are looking at how we can minimize our exposure.

Staff and I had an initial meeting this week, and we are beginning to look at some potential locations. I'd love to have you work with us as we plan on where, what type of equipment, budget, etc. Interested?

Commissioner Rhonda Calhoun

I understand the message that Brian Cristobal was trying to get across:  

youths suffer many injustices merely because they are youths.  I agree that 

it is unfair for police officers to stop kids from building ramps or skating 

at their places of residence.  If we can't partake in legal, harmless 

activities- however trivial they may be- in our own homes, then the liberties 

that America is supposed to protect have been compromised. 

However, while Brian had the right idea in how to gain support for his cause, 

it might have been a good idea for him to use proper grammar and syntax in 

his address on a public forum.  Maybe these 14-year-old skaters should ask 

mommy and daddy for help the next time one of them wants a redress of 

grievances against slackers everywhere.



Rich Otero

17-year-old Coral Springs Non-Skater

I am not 14, I am 37 but I agree wholeheartedly with the kid who wrote to complain about skateboarding. Leave them alone. What harm can they possibly be doing? We complain about everything kids do nowadays. I grew up in an affluent community outside of Boston and I skate boarded all the time. Lets put some more time and energy into the adults who drive like maniacs around our communities. They are much more of a hazard than skateboarders. Is there something I am missing?

hello, my name is Billy Samaro, and I am a 15 year old bmx biker, a close friend of the author of that letter. Along with many of my biker, skateboarder, and roller-blading friends, I support everything which was written in that letter. We, kids who are seeking a way around the harassment we receive everyday, desperately need a facility in which we can use everyday, preferably for free or low priced. This sport of BMX bike riding, which I personally have been doing since I was 7 years old, is one I can't picture just handing over for staying at home and playing Nintendo games. Which, in fact, a police officer has told me to substitute for riding my bike riding in the past).

Over the summer my family and I went to the place of my birth, and the place where my parents grew up, Old bridge, New Jersey. As we entered a Veterans Park, a place which my father spent many of his childhood memories, we noticed something which made all of our hearts race. To the left of us was a completely free outdoor skate park, which was being watched over by a local policemen, and was being ridden and enjoyed by happy kids and adults. This was truly the greatest sight I have ever laid my eyes onto. I couldn't wait to get out of the car. After riding the park for basically the remainder of my vacation I realized how much Coral Springs is in need of a skate park similar to this, which anyone, weather they're a skateboarder, bike rider, roller blader, scooter, Vietnam veteran or a senior citizen can ride, as long as a simple waver is signed, and a helmet for safety, is worn.

Basically what I am trying to say is; I and many other people who do there best to take part in these kinds of extreme sport activities, support Brian's letter, and even better, thank ANYONE WHO ACTUALLY WANTS TO HELP

Skateboarders need a place to go.........

All four (4) my children both rollerblade and skateboard. I am tired of driving to Pompano (FLO/RAMP48) and paying. I pay $3,000 a year in taxes here in Coral Springs as well as hundreds, yes, hundreds, of other parents in Coral Springs who have skaters. This fact is based upon the 400 plus rollerbladers enrolled in Coral Springs Cobras and many other Roller Hockey leagues Coral Springs parents support. I am not even addressing the thousands of families who own skateboards.

The only way to make a change is CALL FOR PARENTS TO ATTEND THE COMMISSION MEETINGS and SPEAK OUT.

How can we take a poll to find out how many families would like to have a skatepark (free) in the city. Can we ask the schoolboard to cooperate? Have a questionaire distributed with our water bills? --- George Wood

$$$