From yesterday's Tennessean

The interesting part of this problem is that skateboarders constantly complain that they need a skatepark to make them stop street skating. They think that the government owes them “some place to practice their sport” and use their feeling of entitlement to justify their vandalism of public property (waxing steps, destroying rails, etc.).

When someone else claims their own entitlement (graffiti taggers need a place to practice their art form too, man) the skateboarders whine like Grandma’s at the Kroger’s.

I hope it is a long, cold winter.

Long Range: Skate park too valuable to be taken for granted

Sometime on the evening of Jan. 12, vandals broke into the Franklin Skate Plaza and spray-painted obscenities on its kidney-shaped bowl. The two-year-old facility has been "tagged" three times, including once with lipstick.

Seriously now, enough is enough.

The truth of the matter is that if the skate park ends up being taken away or remade into something else, the only people who can be blamed are the ones who continually feel the need to express their artistic side inside of the bowl.

I totally understand that there are tons of good kids who go to the park and use it as it was intended. It's unfortunate the acts of a few cause consequences that must be dealt with by the masses.

Fortunately for those who use the park there are people like Lisa Clayton, Franklin's parks director, who understand that despite the repeated attacks on the venue, it is still something that is very needed by the city.

Aside from that, at $400,000, this isn't something the city can just demolish and go in a different direction with.

But what does need to happen is for those who use the park to take pride in it. Too often people get too comfortable with things. They feel like they are owed, that things that are privileges are rights when in actuality they aren't.

Sometimes, once something loses its newness one forgets what life was like before that new object was there.

Amnesia by complacency, I like to call it.

For those who don't know, there are public ordinances that rule against skateboarding publicly in the city of Franklin. Yet, because there are people who actually care about what's going on with the youth of today, the facility was built.

I covered the skate park's grand opening. What stood out the most that day was the number of adults out enjoying the skate park, too. They spoke about how they longed for a place like this. Apparently they tried for ages to get a similar facility but came away defeated. But on that day, they felt victorious.

Maybe some of those skaters should go back there and retell their stories. Obviously some kids need to hear about what it's like not being fortunate enough to have a place to skate — because at this rate, the next generation may not have the luxury either.

Contact Jonathan Long at 771-5429 or jolong@tennessean.com.

An Open Letter to the Metro Nashville Parks/Trail Watch Organizers

Thank you for taking the time to discuss the Parks Watch/Trail Watch program with me this afternoon. I am very interested in doing what I can to support your program particularly in the development of a Parks Watch program for the Metro Two Rivers Skatepark.

I grew up in Nashville (Overton High School class of 1971). I ride a skateboard at the Metro skatepark four days per week (usually Tuesdays, Thursday evenings and Saturday and Sunday mornings). I established the Brentwood YMCA skatepark as a volunteer in 1998 and developed their program through three expansions.

I have some dealings with the Parks Department Directors and the Parks Board in attempt to establish and promote the skatepark. The outcome of my efforts have not always been amicable and I feel it is important that I inform you of the history of that involvement in order for you to decide how you may best apply my offer of assistance.

My involvement with the skatepark dates back to 2000 when I approached the then Director of the Parks Department, Jim Fyke, with the idea of a Metro skatepark. I worked with the Parks Department until the time when a Skatepark Advisory Committee was appointed to review the design of the skatepark. Despite my initial effort that began the process resulting in the skatepark, I was denied appointment to the committee. Obviously, I was disappointed that I was excluded from the committee but still attended every design session. I also secured volunteer services from a civil engineer that donated professional services during construction.

As construction neared completion I discussed the Parks Department’s Plans for programs (competitions, fundraising events, skating lessons, etc.) with the current Parks Director, Roy Wilson. Mr. Wilson informed me that no event programs were planned for the skatepark.

I resolved to help the skatepark by proposing a “Friends of the Skatepark” program modeled after and following the exact design of the Friends of Warner Parks. I put together the proposal and presented it to the Parks Board. The Board rejected the Friends program and issued a statement accusing me of intending to start a private Police Force. Nowhere in my proposal was there any mention of any program that could be interpreted as a Police Force.

Mr. Wilson also stated that a Friends organization was not “needed” and that the Parks Department was going to conduct programs. The skatepark has been open for three years and no (legal) event has been held, two skate lessons were scheduled in the first several months of the opening (no instructors attended the second lesson) and one competition that was advertised only through selected skate shops and not advertised at the skatepark.

The lawlessness of some of the park users is growing as they have learned over the years that the Parks Department has turned its back on the skatepark. Helmets are never worn a majority of the users, damage to the skating surfaces cause by bikes (protective pegs are required but nobody has ever been ticketed for not having them) continue to increase, illegal events are staged, drugs and alcohol are consumed in the parking lot and fights break out.

Last weekend two Parks Police came to the park and failed to issue any citations to skaters without helmets although they were skating in full view of the Officers.

I cannot say enough in support of the Parks Police despite a spotty record of citing skaters without helmets. I understand the difficulty of their work and don’t fault them as individuals for any lack of enforcement. It is just too much acreage within the system for them to handle and they continually have their budgets under funded as the Parks system grows.

The fighting is becoming worse as the skaters realize that the Parks Department has no control over the park. The fight that occurred last night (actually more of a beating) witnessed and encouraged by the skaters and recorded on video tape by the skaters caused me to finally become fed up and to seek your help.

My experience with the Parks Director, staff and Board leads me to believe that I can not depend on them to take any action. My other involvements with the Metro Government have soured me on all but the most minimal citizen volunteerism. It seems every time I attempt to help and be a responsible citizen I am accused of committing some offense that warrants comment or investigation.

From what I have read in he minutes of the Parks Board meetings the Parks/Trail Watch program is facing some opposition as well.

As I write this I am quickly talking myself out of offering assistance with the Parks Watch Program. I’m sure if you mentioned that I asked to be involved the Parks Director would quickly suggest you reject my offer.

Let’s save us both the trouble and forget about any formal help on my part. I’m sure Mr. Wilson wouldn’t allow it anyway.

I will continue to exercise my rights as a citizen to report violations of the helmet rule, illegal events, maintenance problems, bikes without protective peg covers, drugs and alcohol use and fights at the skatepark. I strongly support your efforts to organize a Skatepark Watch program. If there is anything I can do behind the scenes please feel free to call on me to help.

I would appreciate it if you would not mention my correspondence with you to anyone in the Metro Government. I really don’t feel like having my reputation slandered and my actions question again.

I wish you my best in your efforts to protect the citizens of Nashville.