I know for a fact that the park would be put to use, mainly because I know 98% of the kids that ride around in town. If the town were to build a half decent park, kids definitely will stop riding on people's property, because they no longer will have to resort to that to have some fun. I'm more than willing to donate some of my time to make this happen, and see kids have more worry free fun. As far as the money side goes, it would be a good idea to either charge a one time fee to become a member, and be allowed to ride the park (that's what some other parks did), or charge $5.00 for each time they visit, etc. There are many ways to raise money, and pay off this park.

Brett, I applaude your idea of a skatepark. Maybe you should check in with nearby local towns that have skateboard parks, such as Taneytown Maryland. Ask the local officials there how they handle liability insurance and park usage. I would think that the Littlestown Borough has a blanket liability policy that covers the pool and other activities. When you get your background information together go to the Borough and get on the agenda. Take a group of people with you who are interested in developing a park in Littlestown. Be professional and offer solutions to the questions that they will ask. Make it hard for them to say no. I believe that there is grant money for parks. I have watched BMX and skateboarding on sports programs and there is definite skill involved. I would differ on the point made that helmets were not required in Westminster. I don't see much difference between taking a bike airborne or jumping a horse over fences---both should require helmets.

  Information about Taneytown Skate Park and email address of a contact person.

Parks & Recreation
Taneytown High School Park
   Taneytown High School Park, George Street, contains Taneytown’s newest member to its park family by adding a Skate Park, with quarter pipes, grind rails, jump boxes and spine, this skate park is bringing skaters/bikers in from all over Maryland. THS Park also contains three baseball/softball fields, soccer field, playground, restroom and pavilion.

Roberts Mill Park
Roberts Mill Road
Taneytown, MD 21787
(View Google Map)
 

 

Taneytown Skate Park
Address:
T.H.S. Park
Taneytown Maryland 21787

Do you have to wear pads? Helmets are required. Pads are optional.
Does it cost money to skate? No. Skating is free.

Description
4ft quarter and a 4ft bank with a flybox and 3ft spine in between them. The flybox has a ledge on it that is about 1½ft above the box. There's a round rail and a square rail-both are adjustable. There is also a small box (maybe 5in) and another box that is a foot off the ground for one part and maybe 2ft off the ground on the other side. More is expected soon, around springtime since the park was just completed this fall. We're expecting at least a 4ft mini and other features. The hours are 9-5 in winter and 8-9 in summer (I think) and sundays are 12-5. Just about anything is allowed in the park, from skateboards to bikes and someone even brought an electric scooter in once.

   

For more information, contact Kaylynn Hornerat ilusk8rz89@msn.com.

I really do appreciate all of your help and consideration on this idea. I personally ride bmx, and ride taneytown every once in awhile. Helmets are most definitely not a problem, and I agree that it should be necessary when riding a skatepark. About the liability issue...what you said made sense about the pool and whatnot. I would imagine those things are just about as dangerous as bmx and skating. The only thing that ruins that, is when you have kids that are very unexperienced, or just don't use their brain before doing something, and then get hurt. I think having someone watch over the park for a little while, when it first opens up, would be a great idea, to see who's using the park wisely, and who's being a clown, and ruining everyones fun. That's a whole other note though, lol. I definitely will assemble a few people, parents, and friends and riders from this town, as well as others. Riding bmx has introduced me to so many nice people, and some not so nice. This is a great way to get something good going, and I'm determined to make it work as long as I have support.

Brett...It's Kayla Monto's dad. I'd definitely like to see something like this for the kids in Littlestown. They need a place like this to go to so they can burn off some steam after a day in school, or simply just to ride on the weekends.

I've actually thought about this in the past as well Brett. I've thought about a number of ways it could be done and the types of things that could be included in the skate park...a place for boarders, scooters, bmx.

You definitely would need insurance, but that can be taken care of a number of ways. You'd have to have the kids sign a waiver form, in case of injury, etc. I know a few people I can talk to to get this thing going or maybe even get it fully funded to be built. Lot's of stuff to be done with the Littlestown borough, though. That will be the big challenge.

Brett...

Good info here...

http://www.tonyhawkfoundation.org/how_to_get_a_skatepark.asp

Phil

Hey Phil, thanks for the response. Yeah, kids definitely need a place to go after school, or on weekends like you said. I could understand that it would be kind of pointless if there were only a few kids riding in town, but there are tons of new riders. I know we can encourage people to see our side, and understand why it would be a great idea for a skatepark in town. I've heard of the tony hawk foundation, and I'll look into it as soon as I get off work. As far as insurance, signing a waiver is exactly what I have to do when I go to my races, so I can't understand why it wouldn't be able to be done in a skatepark. That is definitely an option. As long as we have support though, I believe this can be done, and I'm determined to make it happen. No ones really fully committed to making this happen yet, but I think it's time for it. I'll get back to you when I read into the tony hawk foundation. Thanks for that info.

Brett - I put a link to your topic on the Talk of L-town message board maybe more will see it.

Edited by author 04-05-2009 01:10 PM
Brett C.

This topic has come up many times in the past. I know that the Recreation Board has been approached a few times about it and have not endorsed a recommendation to the town council to date. I would have to believe that the presentations may have lacked substantial backing of all the major concerns that many who are not familiar with the skateboarding, BMX, and freestyle rollerblading.

I won't lie to you when I say that it will be a tough sell. There is not land in the Borough that the Recreation Board or Council is willing to cede at this time. I would look towards the Germany and Union Townships for the concerns regarding space needs. There are plans in the future to expand community activity spaces, but only in Designated Growth Areas (DGA's) outside the borough. There is in the future land mapping for Littlestown, Germany and Union areas designated as Public lands for expansion of the Community Park. That is one area I believe you could look at as a future solution to the skatepark question. There are grants as Kayak noted, but you better contact those offices holding the grants. Many of the grants being offered are not being backed in the current budget even though the offices are advertising. They are also competitive and cuts in funding make it really competitive now. I believe you will also need some backing of the Recreation Board for some of those as well.

There is also a group that approached council about Bike Trails last year, but decided to have the trail go north of Littlestown and we could not get that. That was a popular idea and I felt many were really supportive of that type of recreational activity option because it was geared for all ages and not just specific age group.

While I agree there does need to be more of a solution for those youth who are not interested in the sports avenues of football, baseball, basketball, etc., I don't know if the short term options are available for a governmental solution at this time. With little land, little funding available and bigger issues needing resolution, it will be a hard sell but not completely impossible. The future has a brighter chance of success and utiliting a foot in the door on future expansion of the Community Park areas in Germany and Union Townships might give you exactly what you are looking for.

How long it will take to get there is probably the greater question in my mind. It took 6 years just to get the governments to pass a comprehensive planning document for the region. It may take another 6 years just to get through the next steps phase after Germany, Union and Littlestown adopted it.

I wish you luck. I broke my skateboard many years ago after putting years of milage on it going to classes or trying to do tricks on homemade plywood half pipes in someones driveway. My form of transportation from 10 to 24 was an "old school" G & S board with "Kryptonic" blue wheels. Still have some of the old parts, but now I just snowboard or rollerblade when my legs are up to it. Age has caught up with me in that respect.

lekolight...11

Sounds like a "The glass is half full politician" to me!

ravensfan

Just the reality. My view of having a skate park is pretty wide open and I could embrace the idea if it has a viable long term benefit that the entire community is standing behind like the Douthwaite issue. I think Brett C. has something that can work and there is a plan in place where his idea can certainly fit in if enough eyes would open up to the possibilities. The energy he puts towards it will likely be more than the energy of elected officials to get really involved beyond the paperwork put in their books to making his idea become reality. There really is no real future vision of the Community Park and most of the planning for the future is for enhancing/fixing existing structures that need help. Sad, but realistic.

My view from being on the inside for now. :)

The main problem I have with locating a skateboard park in Union or Germany townships is one that would involve traveling to said park by vehicle. A parking lot would also have to be included in the plans making an added expense. I feel youth would be better served in an area that they could get to by walking or biking. Right now Littlestown is not at all friendly to young people with "excess" energy. Signs around town say NO biking--skateboarding etc.( Heck--they are not very "bike friendly" to adults either. The other day there were bikers having breakfast in Fire House Grill and they had secured their bikes to parking meters. No bike stands. Lots of bikers(pedal kind lol) pass through town and when they stop they bring money to the town.)Lack of a "vision" seems to be a local problem---back to skateboard park---
 The skateboard park in Taneytown is enclosed by a chain link fence and is not that big. I would think a spot in the community park could be found for a skateboard park but the interested parties will have to do a lot of the planning and promotion beforehand. The authorities in Ltown have always relied on the school system to provide recreation that include football and now soccer. Individual sports do not seem to be emphasized in this area. Just an observation about the area that might help you (Brett) see where they are coming from.

Good luck with the skate and bike park idea. It would be good for the kids. But getting it through parks and rec and then the borough will be a very tough sell. A lot of the time they say if it ain't broke then don't fix it. Also new "ideas" are not what they want. There is a general idea that skaters and bikers are "bad" kids. If you can change that perception, you would go further with you idea. Also try to get the kids on the skateboards and bikes and also their parents involved. If they help and get involved with you then the rec board and borough will be more inclined to listen. The more people involved the better it will be. But most of all it is about insurance, insurance, insurance.
You might talk to Linda Hess, the borough manager, she came from Taneytown where there is a skate park. She may have ideas for you.
There should be room down at the borough park for this. Contact people on the rec board and talk to them before you officially submit anything to sound them out. Address their concerns. You may have to make changes or not in your presentation after an informal discussion. Go the the borough website and it will tell you who is on the rec board so that you can contact them.

Hey guys, sorry I haven't been on for a couple of days. I've been pretty busy, but I have been reading your ideas and responses. Getting to what Kayak said. I definitely have noticed personally that Littlestown isn't very bike friendly. I almost got my bike taken away the other day because I was riding down the sidewalk close to the square. I can honestly say I wasn't performing any "tricks", but just cruising down the sidewalk. I've also been threatened with citations for riding on the road, so I'm not 100% certain on what they expect from us. Anyways, that's another subject, lol. As far as a parking lot for the park. I don't think that would be a problem, if they put the park down by the Littlestown YMCA or the pool. There's plenty of parking down there that is hardly ever used. Plus there's tons of room for a park to be put in down there. Heck, they could even use one of the tennis courts that's rarely used. Although that's probably ridiculous in their point of view. I've been talking to a lot of my friends that I ride with, and they all are more than willing to support us in this. By the looks of it, I have your guys' support as well, which is absolutely awesome. Would it be a good idea to attend a borough meeting or something before we go in and actually speak with the borough council? Getting support and people to go will not be a problem. The bmx/skateboard community is a lot larger than people know/see. Although, I will make sure to bring smart people with me, and no loud mouth kids that are going to blurt out things that may be held against us. Getting parents to come won't be a problem either. Those two things I can most definitely do.
All I need is to talk it over with everyone, and start to assemble some people and form a good plan to do this. You guys are such a help, and I believe it's all going to pay off if we stick to it.

Depending on your age, I am pretty sure you are REQUIRED to ride on the road, so I don;t see how they can cite you.

As for local parks, Gettysburg has one at the REC park. Perhaps get in touch with someone there to ask about the insurance stuff.

I pray that they do not build a skate park in Germany Township!