Skatepark

A "community build" for Danville's new skatepark is 9 a.m. Thursday at Millennium Park, and volunteers are needed. A concrete pad has been poured on the east end of the park. Danville has purchased the equipment from Skatewave, and the company will supervise the community build. Commissioner Jamey Gay said that any time that anyone can give will be appreciated. Tools will be provided, and the build is expected to last all day. Gay said that the skaters will be able to help put the finishing touches on after school.

Dear Editor: In regard to a recent letter stating that Jackson Park belongs to the community: Yes, I agree, but let me state a few facts. First of all, my husband and I have lived at 602 Parklawn Drive since March 1968, and the tennis court at Jackson Park is directly behind our house. While living on Parklawn, we have seen many disturbing and annoying happenings at the park. The previous basketball court had to be done away with due to excess noise, foul language, alcohol and a large amount of traffic.

Danville City Commissioners voted 4-1 Monday to buy $41,000 of equipment for a skatepark from Skatewave. The company had the most votes on an online poll and on comment cards passed out when three companies brought equipment to the old Save-A-Lot parking lot to be tested by skaters. Commissioner Ryan Owens voted against the purchase, saying that he didn't think it was a wise use of taxpayer money at this time. The park will be built on a concrete pad in Millennium Park and is expected to be finished by mid-August.

Dear Editor: After sitting in on the latest Danville City Commission meeting and watching Mayor Bowling "skate" around the Jackson Park improvement issues, I was sadly reminded of another individual who was afraid to stand up for what was right. When Pontius Pilate washed his hands of Jesus' blood before he gave the order to crucify him, it is seen today as a cowardly political move, and over 2,000 years later, we're still talking about it. Neither the park or any of us will be around a couple of millenniums from now, but that's the point.

Dear Editor: Last year, on the front page of the Oct. 30 edition of The Advocate-Messenger, you ran a story profiling some local youth and their quest to have a skateboard, rollerblading, and biking facility built here in Danville. In this article, you stated that the City Commision budgeted $50,000 for this purpose although "no plans for a location or equipment had been finalized. " Several months have passed, and I have yet to see any groundbreaking on this venture. Although I am past the skateboarding phase of my life, I do realize the importance of a facility such as this, which would benifit all ages of our community, by giving the local youth a safe, law-abiding place to skate.

Dear Editor: On behalf of the kids, we would like to thank everyone who has been supportive of our efforts in getting a skatepark, finally! For those of you who have not been out to Millennium Park to check it out, please do so. It will be worth your time to see the smiles on these kids' faces. You will see all ages and skill levels. It is an awesome park! Paul Sirimongkhon Danville

HARRODSBURG - A skatepark will not be built at Anderson-Dean Community Park for some time, but the interest has not waned. Two companies that produce the equipment, Skatewave and Premier, stopped by the park here Friday on their way to Danville to demonstrate their wares, said park Director Mark Bryant. Bryant said he was impressed with both companies' products and that representatives will return for a larger demonstration at Anderson-Dean. Park Board Chairman Bill Wickliffe said the skatepark is on the board's list of priorities, but that does not mean it will be built soon.

Dear Editor: I may not be a skateboarder but I understand what this park will mean to my friends and me. America is a growing nation and Danville is a growing town. We've made it a point to be leaders, and in sports and recreation we have failed. This skatepark would bring about many positive changes. Some people complain because we skate where we are not allowed, but this park would give us a home place to skate. The commission says that Jackson Park isn't right, well what place is right?

Dear Editor: Many strong arguments have been made for the need for our young people to have a skatepark. I do not think you will find many people who would object to the skatepark. I do think you will find a number of people that object to the proposed location of such a park. Residents in the area of Jackson Park object to the skatepark being located here for a number of reasons. The main objection is the traffic and the manner in which people drive on Crosshill Road. For most, there is no such thing as a speed limit.

Dear Editor: After reading all of the articles about the skatepark and living on the street leading to the park for 35 years, it seems to me that it is about economics and safety. I am in favor of our youth having a place to enjoy their sport. Build a safe, quality facility. The surface on the two tennis courts that are being considered for the skate park is in terrible condition. It does not seem to be cement, which is needed as a base for the equipment. The nets have not been maintained for several years so the courts could not be used to play tennis.

All skateboarders who would like to see an indoor skatepark built in Clark County have an opportunity to help make it happen. The Win City Inc. Rampage, the first of six monthly skateboard competitions, will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday in Church Alley behind Bailey's Cafe to help raise money for the skatepark. Win City Inc., a non-profit organization established to raise money for the park, is sponsoring the event, and the $5 entry fee for competitors will go toward the skatepark.

Graffiti is often called a form of expression. But in Danville and neighboring Harrodsburg, increasing trends of graffiti and property damage at two skateparks are getting the attention of area park managers and even some law enforcement officials. A rainbow of colored spray paint expressed curse words and slang at Millennium Park's skatepark in Danville over the weekend. Some quickly-scrawled messages read, "Skate or Die!!!!" and "I'm Not real!!!!" Another message referred to an often-quoted Dave Chappelle sketch about destroying Eddie Murphy's couch.

For Brad Hardin, skateboarding comes as naturally as walking. He's been doing it since he was 4 years old. So when the annual skateboarding competition in Lexington's Woodland Park rolled around, Brad rolled up with his board and won first place in the advanced level competition. Brad beat more than 85 other skateboarders in the Cosmic Invasion skateboard competition, held on June 21 to celebrate National Go Skateboarding Day. Skateboarders get two 60-second runs through the course, a concrete park with ramps, pipes and rails.

STANFORD - A sign hangs in Wayne Hinds' shop that reads, "Skateboarding is not a crime. " Hinds, owner of Box Office Entertainment in Stanford, said, "In Stanford, it is. " But skaters in the area may get to bust their boards back out within the city limits. Mary Middleton, Stanford Main Street Program director, held a meeting Monday night to see how many people were interested in seeing a skateboard park built in Stanford. It was the second time she asked those interested to meet.

CRAB ORCHARD - Crab Orchard is a small town with few activities for youth to get involved in outside of school. But when a group of youths got together with their parents to petition the city for a skateboard park, the subject became one of controversy and debate similar to what many other towns have gone through. All the kids want to do is skateboard in their own hometown, but so far they have been banned from area business that display "NO SKATEBOARDING" signs. "We skate on sidewalks, wherever we can without getting kicked out of the area.

Dillon Sirimongkhon won't have to look for a job this summer. With the help of his parents, Paul and Barbie, and his younger brother, Luke, Dillon has opened Sirimongkhon Skate Shop on North Second Street in Danville. Opening the shop, which sells skateboards, t-shirts, shoes and other items, was a natural progression for a family that was in the forefront of the effort that led to the construction of a skatepark last summer in Millennium Park. "We got the skatepark going, and people still have to go all the way to Lexington to get supplies, and it just got me thinking maybe I should open a shop," Dillon said.

HARRODSBURG - Mercer County officials are seeking an $83,000 grant to help pay for a skatepark at Anderson-Dean Community Park. A public hearing was conducted Tuesday morning by Lora Littleton of Bluegrass Area Development District. Only county and park officials attended the hearing held to gain input and answer questions from the public. The grant, which will come from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a division of the National Park Service, will be $41,500, or 50 percent of the total project.

Dear Editor: As election day draws near, I can't help noticing all of the "re-elect" signs of our city commissioners. Now would be a good time to pause and reflect on how the issues, hot or not so hot, were resolved and expedited by our current elected officials. Do we want the same mindset that dragged its feet for almost two years just to build a basic skate and rollerblading area for the youth in our community? Do we have to picket city hall and assemble in the streets to get our point across?

Dear Editor: On behalf of the kids, we would like to thank everyone who has been supportive of our efforts in getting a skatepark, finally! For those of you who have not been out to Millennium Park to check it out, please do so. It will be worth your time to see the smiles on these kids' faces. You will see all ages and skill levels. It is an awesome park! Paul Sirimongkhon Danville

A "community build" for Danville's new skatepark is 9 a.m. Thursday at Millennium Park, and volunteers are needed. A concrete pad has been poured on the east end of the park. Danville has purchased the equipment from Skatewave, and the company will supervise the community build. Commissioner Jamey Gay said that any time that anyone can give will be appreciated. Tools will be provided, and the build is expected to last all day. Gay said that the skaters will be able to help put the finishing touches on after school.