12 - CAPE GAZETTE, Friday, May 2 - May 8, 2003
Skateboards
Continued from page 1
form stunts upon any public side-
walk, parking lot or in restricted
public parks." Individuals older
than twelve are required to skate-
board along the street and obey
the same rules established for
bicyclists.
"We get a lot of calls from resi-
dents this time of year," said
Lewes Police Chief Beau Gooch,
who sympathizes with the skaters
yet also understands the danger.
"They often soap down the curbs
which could pose a problem. I
know it's difficult for them to
have a good time."
Seasonal temperatures coupled
with the school districts recent
spring break saw an increase in
skateboarding. "We get kids in
Lewes from all over - Milford,
Milton and even Rehoboth," said
Gooch. "We really had to get on to
them for practicing behind the
schools."
Skateboarders are often attract-
ed to schools because they are vir-
tually empty after classes and pro-
vide vast open spaces in which to
skate. Steps, railings and other
features that offer skaters a physi-
cal object to roll along act like
magnets.
School Superintendent Andy
Brandenberger was not available
for comment but Lewes Middle
School Assistant Principal Mark
Sudimak said it is a district policy
that. mandates no skateboarding
on school grounds. Long-time
Lewes resident Virginia Bishop,
who died in an automobile acci-
dent April 22, had been a staunch
supporter of building a skate park
for children. "Our parks are empty
because kids today don't like the
same things we did as kids. The
city needs to give them something
they enjoy and they like skate-
boarding," Bishop said during an
April 7 interview.
Jon Milton, Ryan Minnick and
Billy Wright couldn't agree more.
The teenagers said they have been
run off just about every street in
Lewes. "I really dislike the fact
that people get upset with us,"
said Milton, who attends Lewes
Middle School. "It's our hobby.
Do they want us glued to the tele-
vision?" Skateboarding helps us
work out frustrations, overcome
fears and gain confidence."
A familiar complaint among
residents is that skateboarders are
rude but Milton said that's a two-
way street. "We have peopl e cuss
us out all the time," he said, "This
one guy screamed at us to get our
'God damned skateboards' off his
sidewalk. That's no way to talk to "
us and he doesn't even own the
sidewalk, the city does."
The teens estimate that more
than a quarter of their classmates
skateboard. Wright, who has only
been skateboarding for four
months, said a majority of skate-
boarders in town seek less trav-
eled streets so that they don't pose
a safety hazard.
"It's fun and we're not bother-
ing other people," said Minnick,
"but it doesn't matter because
most people in town hate skaters
in general."
The trio said they would adhere
to the rules of a skating facility.
Virtually all facilities require
skaters to wear helmets and pro-
tective pads and many also make
users sign waiver forms. The
American Academy of Pediatrics
reports fewer people are taken to
emergency rooms annually for
skateboarding injuries than for
activities such as bicycling or
football.
Deputy Mayor Jim Ford is all
too familiar with the city's skate-
boarding issues. Approximately
five years ago city council
explored building a park for skate-
boarders. "We ran into problems
of location, liability, funding, con-
struction and upkeep," said Ford,
whose son was an avid skate-
boarder at the time. The city aban-
doned the idea and currently, little
has changed. "I hate to say there's
nothing the city can do," said
Ford, "but we're faced with the
same issues. I certainly would
entertain input from anyone who
has any ideas. The city has so
much going on it would be nice to
have interested parties become
involved because they have a
vested interest."_
Ford said just three weeks ago
3304 Ftighway One, Rehoboth
302-226-14o0
Yemporar@ servicingdients at Izzy Plaza, Dewey Beach
i! i2 !:. ::
Look for
coming next door to our location.
n
Featuring .
Anne McDona/d
formerly of Bad Hair Vail £a[o 9
Bishop approached suggesting a
skateboard park near the Doxee
plant, which is the future site of
the state's boat ramp. "That's state
land, so for that idea to be enter-
tained you would need to contact
our representatives," said Ford.
-Councilman Jud Bennett con-
curs with Ford. "I understand the
enjoyment they get-out of it but
it's not safe in the city," said
Bennett. "I would very much be in
favor of finding a place for the
kids to use. Perhaps some private
individual has land to donate. We
should definitely explore the issue
with the community." Bennett
said if a location was established,
he would push for a prohibition of
skateboards on city streets.
While a skate park is unlikely to
remove skaters totally from city
streets, it can improve the rela-
Andrew Keegan photo
With the end of school fast approaching, skateboarders will
have even more time to practice flips, twists and jumps.
tionship between residents ,and
skaters, said Ford. "We have a
large ratio of grandparents to
grandchildren. Having a skaters
park would give the kids some-
thing to do when they come to
visit. They don't need to gather a
lot of friends together like a ball
game and at least then we could
tell them 'don't do that here, do it
over there,'" he said. '`The kids
are constituents of the city and we
need to listen to what they have to
say."
BYERS CHOICE OPEN HOUSE 2003
Fri. 5/2 • Sat. '13 • Sun. 5/4
Preview & Purchase Carolers from the Complete 2003 Collection
Special Limited Edition Open House Items
Learn how the Carolers are Handcrafted inthe USA by a team of 180 skilled artisans
Enjoy gourmet food from 1 to 3 each day. Compliments of GiUigans Waterfront Restaurant
25 Baltimore Avenue
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware 19971
302-227-8331 ° 800-225-8331
Shop 24 hours at
www.woodenindianltd.com
Monday-Saturday 10 to 5
Sunday 11 to 5
Mother's Day
May llth
