Storm lake iowa skatepark petition

We the undersigned people of Storm Lake, Iowa have singed this petition for a skate park that would allow skateboarders, bike riders and roller bladers a safe and legal area to enjoy. The reason for this petition is so that the youth of the area could have a SAFE place to their activities, such as skateboarding, bicycle riding, rollerblading, and riding scooters.  This would also bring new people to the area and bring more business into the waterpark, because come on, think about it, if the kids are getting hot, they can go to the waterpark to cool off, thus bringing more money into the community.  So really, it's a win, win situation.  If you can build soccer fields, and football fields, why not build a skate park for the other kids that might not be into those kind of sports?  People would travel to go to a skatepark.   A lot of people go miles just to get to a skatepark.  Put one a little closer to home!!!  Wouldn't you rather see the kids in an AUTHORIZED place to skate and ride bikes instead of places where the can ruin things and they are not allowed?  Such as parking lots, and Buena Vista University.   So while you're taking the time to read this letter, please also take the time to read the comments the petitioners have left as well.  Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to read this, and PLEASE put some serious thought into this...before one of our kids gets seriously injured!! 


We have included some facts about skatebaording and bmx and how this skatepark could benefit our beautiful city.

The Facts

 Is skateboarding really that popular?

1. Skateboarding is currently the 6 th largest sport in the United States

2. There are currently over 10 million skateboarders in the United States (9.3 million skateboarders are under the age of 18).

3. One in ten United States teenagers own a skateboard.

4. Skateboarding is ranked 3 rd among those ages 6-18 which makes it more popular that baseball.

5. Skateparks are the #1 choice of teenagers when polled by the Parks & Recreation Departments.

6. Participation in skateboarding increased by 48.7% between 1999 and 2000.

7. The Skateboarding industry reported sales of $720 million in 2000.

8. Over 100,000 skateboard decks and 500,000 wheels are manufactured every month.

9. There are over 1000 Skateparks in the USA today with an average of 300 new public Skateparks being built throughout the United States annually.

Sources: BMX Online, Action Sports Foundation, The SkatePark Association of the United States (SPAUSA), International Association of Skateboard Companies (IASC) , Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association, Superstudy of Sports Participation, Sports Participation in America , 2001 Report

       What is an average skateboarder like?

• The average skateboarder is between 7-16 years olds.
• The average age of a skateboarder is 14.
• Art & Music are the favorite subjects in school for the average skateboarder.

Sources: The SkatePark Association of the United States (SPAUSA), KaBoom ESKAL 8: Your Movement for Community Built Skateparks

%u2022  What about BMX Riders and In-Line Skaters?

• There are over 4 million In-Line Skaters in the United States today.
• 80% of In-Line Skaters are under the age of 18.
• Since 1987, the number of youth participating in In-Line Skating has increased by 517%
• There are over 1 million BMX Riders in the United States today.
• BMX bikes accounted for 30% of all bike sales in 1998.

Sources: BMX Riders Organization, Bicycle Retailer and Industry News, The SkatePark Association of the United States (SPAUSA), Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association, Superstudy of Sports Participation, Sports Participation in America , 2001 Report

Injury & Safety

%u2022  Isn't skateboarding dangerous? Aren't the kids going to get hurt at a Skateboard Park ?

• Almost all skateboarding accidents happen on the streets, not in parks, with a high percentage involving motor vehicles.
• In 1968, the United States Consumer Safety Commission ranked sports & recreation equipment on a mean severity index which ranged from 10 to 2516 (10 being the least severe). Swimming pools were given 335, bicycles 70, and skateboarding 34.
• Irregular riding surfaces account for over 50% of all injuries to skateboarders.
• Skateparks with smooth surfaces and protective gear requirements have a very low injury rate.
• The most common skateboarding injury is from a flying board.
• One third of all injured skateboarders have been skating less than one week.
• Two out of every five injuries were to a person using a borrowed skateboard.
• The largest Skatepark in the world in Calgary (91,500 square feet) reports an injury rate of .03%
• The United States Consumer Safety Commission reports the following injury rate

Sport

% of Injury

Ice Hockey

3.60%

Football

2.78%

Basketball

2.57%

Soccer

1.42%

Baseball

1.26%

Volleyball

.54%

Skateboarding

.49%

Source: The SkatePark Association of the United States (SPAUSA), Unites States Consumer Safety Commission

  What about drugs? Isn't a Skatepark going to be a magnet for drug dealers?

  The drug trade is the 2 nd largest industry in the United States .

 Drug dealers will target and market to youth with more money and less to do.

  In general, according to the Rand Youth Poll, kids 5-14 spent $24.4 billion on 1996 and directly influenced another $117 billion spent on their behalf.

  Kids with $25 or more a week in spending money are nearly twice as likely as those with less money to smoke, drink, and use illegal drugs, and more than twice as likely to get drunk.

  Youth ages 12-17 who are frequently bored are 50% more likely than those not often bored to smoke, drink, get drunk, and use illegal drugs.

  Fourteen and under, less than 1% would use drugs while skateboarding, in-line skating or freestyle biking and all prefer their sport to drugs.

Source: American Sports Data, RAND Youth Poll, The SkatePark Association of the United States (SPAUSA), Columbia University National Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse

Location and Logistics

1. Why a concrete Skatepark? Why not a park using steel or wood construction?

  While expensive, a concrete park provides a permanent, quiet, and virtually maintenance free Skatepark. However, the concrete must be above grade (4000 lbs per square inch) to ensure high quality.

Why does the skatepark need to be so big? Can't we build a smaller park?

Many Skatepark manufacturing companies refuse to build a park less than 7,000 square feet because of the safety hazards a small park poses to a user.

Most Skateparks are between 12,000 and 15,000 square feet.

 The Pepperell Park & Skate Committee proposes the size of 80 x 100 square feet to ensure optimal space for smooth transitions for skaters and reduce potential for injuries.

Source: The SkatePark Association of the United States (SPAUSA)

What about the liability to the town?

 The Pepperell Park & Skate Committee is working in collaboration with the Pepperell Recreation Commission and the town insurance carrier to ensure optimal coverage at the least expense.

Why does the Skatepark need to be on the Town Field? Why not where the old Tennis Courts are behind the school?

The Skatepark needs to be highly visible to ensure the highest level of safety for users and to reduce the chances of vandalism, after hours use, and the use and distribution of illegal drugs.

Source: The SkatePark Association of the United States (SPAUSA), KaBoom ESKAL 8: Your Movement for Community Built Skateparks

When will kids be able to use the Skatepark and at what cost?

The Pepperell Park and Skate Committee is in the process of developing the rules and regulations associated with the operation of the Park in collaboration with the youth who sit in the Committee.

At this time, it is anticipated that the Skatepark would be open for use to those wearing protective gear during after school and weekend day hours. It is anticipated that the Park would be closed to use during school hours and during the evenings.

The issues of fencing, a monitor, and usage fees are still being considered.

Aren't Skateparks noisy?

Studies show that a Skatepark has no more noise than the ambient surrounding noises that exist in other parks and is not nearly as noisy as a baseball park.

Sound barriers like shrubs will limit the noise level.

Source: The SkatePark Association of the United States (SPAUSA), KaBoom ESKAL 8: Your Movement for Community Built Skateparks

Won't the BMX Bikers pegs cause damage to the Skatepark facility if they are allowed on it?

Studies have shown that BMX Bikers using the same park as Skateboarders and In-Line Skaters may cause anywhere from 0-8% increase in wear and tear on a facility. This percentage is greatly reduced if the facility is concrete.

Source: The SkatePark Association of the United States (SPAUSA)