Jamestown's Skate Park

[Ray]

For many years now the local kids have been pushing for a skate/scooter/bike park. I'm not involved in any way except for having bought several Raffle tickets etc, but it seems to me to be dragging on far to long. This was all bought to my attention again on Saturday morning while I was at the Foodland Supermarket.

Ever since the supermarket has had the parking space sealed, it has been the haunt of our local kids with their bikes and scooters and I must admit it worries the bejesus out of me as they zip about the place without much thought for the shoppers backing out into the roadway.

All of that aside, yesterday my attention was attracted to a small group on bikes using the rear steps of the Council building to practice their riding and balancing skills. The first thing that came to mind as they rode and jumped up the two or three steps was, "What happens when one of them falls and breaks the glass doors", perhaps sustaining serious injury, not to mention the cost....  The other thought was that these kids were behaving well, not bothering anyone directly and obviously putting a lot of thought and energy into their endeavours, and I must admit that they were quite skilful doing all manner of exercises and tricks, three that caught my eye were riding, sitting on their handlebars and riding around in reverse obviously in full control of their bikes. It was obvious that these kids are dedicated to developing their bike riding skills and are able to entertain themselves in an orderly manner.

But I do think that these kids are in the wrong spot, being both a danger to themselves and others, however,... where else can they do this? For over a year now the earthworks have been done for the skatepark but it has progressed no further.

I think I might have to make a few discrete enquiries as to what is going on.

[utegirl70]

"The Cups", come to mind as where a lot of kids(big and small...he,he,he) used to play.

Same could be said for where I used to live over in Laura as a kid.... the "Dip" going out of the town on West Tce, behind the hospital.

Kids usually find their own fun...well, I did. But I guess in this day and age, with all the new gizmo's etc, they are being encouraged to seek outside entertainment, and don't seem to know how to do it. 

Knowing the usual council's "waiting period"(i say this as NOT being specific to Jamestown Council, but to ALL councils), I would reckon on a lengthy period of "Uhmming and Ahhhing" before anything gets done. There is also the legalities involved of personal injury. Who is going to be responsible if some kid falls and breaks their bones?
I know that it is lengthy, because of when I was living at Happy Valley, and the skate park took for EVER to finally be developed.

[Susie]

I may be wrong, but I think you will find that the Council are not doing anything more to the skate area.  I believe the remainder was to be done voluntarily by the skating group themselves and the concrete layer when he wasn't busy.

Not really a very satisfactory arrangement by anybody's standards.  I would be interested to hear what anyone else thinks!  (or knows).

[mix]

I would not hold my breath waiting for anything to happen at the skate park.
My adult kids were involved with the initial fund raising for this project when they were still at school and it still has not progressed much further.

[stillhere]

I read the council minutes a few months back (now i can't find it for the life of me, they are available online)...that since the local concreter was initially going to 'donate' his services but has quite a bit of 'paid' work to do also, the council was going to actually pay him for his services so it could get done.   A little birdy told me that the concreter was at the skate park 2 days ago assessing......
I hope it happens soon, my child is one of the 'hoons' and i tell him to stop going to foodland until i'm blue in the face to no avail, nothing i can really do or say when there are 20 other kids down there everyday.
I'm hearing that there are issues developing with the manager and these kids, going as far as taking their bikes and scooters whilst they are in the shop purchasing lollies etc, has anyone else heard this? of course, my child wouldn't tell me this, this is just hear say.

[Susie]

Only thing I have heard is that some staff cars appear to have acquired a few scratches or dings!! Might pay to be careful where you park. 

It's not only "bikies" and "skaters" you need to look out for but "cars" travelling in any direction at the same time.  The car park should be made one-way traffic at all times.

[Ray]

A little birdy told me that the concreter was at the skate park 2 days ago assessing......
I hope it happens soon, my child is one of the 'hoons' and i tell him to stop going to foodland until i'm blue in the face to no avail, nothing i can really do or say when there are 20 other kids down there everyday.
I'm hearing that there are issues developing with the manager and these kids, going as far as taking their bikes and scooters whilst they are in the shop purchasing lollies etc, has anyone else heard this? of course, my child wouldn't tell me this, this is just hear say.

I haven't heard or seen anything, but I certainly hope that you are right about the assessment going on at the skate park site. I know that the gentleman who volunteered his services to do the concreting has now got more work than he can handle, but I would have hoped that our council would help wherever they can. Personally I feel that if done properly it would be a good investment in our kids. Even the best of kids can get up to mischief if they are bored. From what I see, this skating business is more than a passing fad and as i said in my previous post some of the kids show a good degree of skill, so obviously they do take it seriously and must practice somewhere. I would rather see them doing it in a place which is safer for them and hopefully a bit more challenging to keep them busy.

As for the kids bikes and gear going missing, I would have thought that there would always be one or two left watching it. It's not a good idea to leave these things unattended. Our lad had his bike stolen from the school yard many years ago and although we knew who took it, we never got any satisfaction or saw it again. 

I've been told that the car park is private property, and Foodland staff has got the legal right and in fact an obligation under the "duty of care", to stop anyone from using it for purposes other than parking to shop at Foodland. They can be sued if they allow it, also if someone has an accident or damages any other property as a result of improper use.  The road is public but covered under the road traffic act.

[hatchbackgirl75]

I had to brake quite hard the other night in the carpark to avoid hitting one of them. One day someone less observant (cars seem to just go everywhere without looking behind them first) will hit one of them.

[stillhere]

Well it seems official, just noticed in my lunch break that our local concreter is at work on the skatepark. 

Hey Ray, how about some happy snaps of the progress? 

Does anyone know if there will be lighting installed?  Im glad it is finally happening

[Susie]

Yes, I also saw some activity here on my way home at lunchtime.  The area is all roped off with some workmen there. 

I also saw that the council are cleaning up the old road safety centre area of dead bushes and rubbish.  Pity that's not still in use.  What a lot of wasted money and effort.  Any chance this could be resurrected?

[Ray]

I'll go and take a gander tomorrow morning. Sounds good.

[Ray]

I went and had a look at the site. There is a mile of orange bunting strung around the place and someone has placed a pipe frame which I presume is an edge strip around the edges of one of the hollows, and another frame is nearby awaiting placement.



Since that time almost nothing further has been done, probably because of the weather.

[utegirl70]

Can I ask a silly question.. where is this skate park actually situated in the town?

[Ray]

It's in the park lands, between the Catholic Church and Boston Ford, you can see Boston's in the background of the photo.

[utegirl70]

Oh! There! I didn't recognise it at all. Shows you how long it's been since we were there... there were horses in there then.