11/16/1999 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 11/16/1999 park. He feels the Coca-Cola donation is a fantastic windfall for the skateboard park. He would like to see other business people in the community supporting the skateboard park. Daniel Bonev, 5617 Burns Road, said the basic foundation of sports and athletics has changed. Younger children are being influenced by athletes that skateboard, rollerblade and ride BMX bikes. There has been more media coverage on these sports indicating they are not just a fad. Other cities have skate parks-Mentor and Brook Park, for example-and he feels, if it is built, it will last. He feels that Coca-Cola's donation was their way of helping. An offer by a large and credible industry should be always be taken into consideration. Donna Carlton, 3845 Clague Road, has three teenage children who snowboard, skateboard and rollerblade. They are doing these sports in parking lots behind businesses because that is the only place they have to go. At times, she transports children to other locations outside the city where they can skate. After school, her children often go to other cities because they do not want to be harassed. The kids need a safe place to practice their sport. This is a sport that takes a lot of dedication and hard work-some kids practice for six to eight hours a day and it is amazing what they can do. We need to show these kids that we support them. Melissa Creadon, 6820 Chadbourne, said vote for this because the children deserve it just because they are doing what they like. worked very hard, and it's a great idea. if Council cared about children, they would The skaters do not want to end up in trouble The people working for the skate park have (At this point, Councilman O'Grady asked to be recognized to speak. President Saringer asked him to wait until audience participation was complete.) said she thought it would be a great idea to 1 be a huge boost, and construction will be we really need it and it would be a great xpansion and improvement to the Parks & Recreation Department and could also generate income to other areas of the Recreation Center. She has seen a lot of skaters and BMX riders behind the mall and in parking lots, and they really need somewhere safe to go where they are not being hassled. She feels the skateboard people have done a huge job and feels that allowing them to have the $25,000 is very important. Ellen Harrison, 26207 Kennedy Ridge Road, give the skateboard park the $25,000. It wil able to start sooner. As others have testified place for kids to go. It would be a good e Kenneth Tyson, 26180 Lorain Road, is the owner of Donato's Pizza and has supported Rae Anne in her endeavor. He has done so not because it will be helpful to his business, but because there are a lot of kids in the community that need a place to go to practice their sport. If there is any way that Council can give the skateboard children an incentive to get out of the streets, stop from skateboarding on private property and keep them out of harm's way, it should be done. He asked that they try to find a feasible way to make the $25,000 go towards the skate park. 10