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Permalink Reply by Diann Neil Engblade on July 11, 2008 at 10:10am

I'm really pleased about this skate park. Our youth need even more places like this to hang out and have fun. The use of Stearns Park for the skate park was an very good decision. When my children were growing up, the skate park was in the 4th ward...which was just a little too out of the way for me to feel comfortable about letting them go there.

A next good step would be developing more city park areas specifically for young people to use and enjoy,

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Permalink Reply by karen on July 14, 2008 at 9:50am

Wanted to let you know as a wife of one the planners and doers that the praise is appreciated.
The group has been working for many endless hours after work , on weekends or whenever needed to get this skate park finished for the kids- alot of volunteered time.
I'm proud of the design and know of the obstacles that they had to overcome. This will be an excellent additon to our great community.

Skate safe & smart and parents- encourage it. : )

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Permalink Reply by andy on August 5, 2008 at 4:34pm

i would like to be able to say that this new park is a good thing but being a dedicated BMX rider and having snuck a ride in there i would have to say i'm more then a little disappointed. and after hearing how much money was wasted on it i have to say i'm shocked. i have been to count less ramp parks throughout the country and i have to say that this is easily one of the poorest planed ones i have been too and somehow one of the most expensive. i know some will say that i can't complain because i didn't help build it (i did donate money to help build the first one and was still denied access) but i have been living out of state to the last 4 years and just recently moved back for the summer.

i will say that this park is poorly layed out with most of it being almost unridable/unskateable. all the sand that is going to end up in there from it's location is going to cause someone to get hurt and will wreck expensive equipment. and last and most importantly BMX IS NOT A CRIME! thanks for the blatant discrimination and wasting the tax dollars but what can you expect in ludington.

bmxriders.org
http://www.bikesbelong.org/node/60

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Permalink Reply by karen on August 6, 2008 at 1:55pm

This is the first one. And a fine one indeed. I didn't realize that we have an expert on skate park design right here in Ludington. Where were you when this was being planned? Oh right-out of state. What is the going rate for skate parks? I'm curious on your knowledge and occupation. Are you a professional BMXer?
The skatepark committee and skateboarders raised the money from all sources available not at knife point either. No BMXers came to the city with the idea for the park or played part in the whole process. The committee would build a BMX bike park if they wanted to work hard too. The skate park foundation is built with different reinforcements for the bases and grinds specifically for skateboards not bikes but you being the expert already know that.
Obviously you were asked to leave the park with your bike for they are not allowed. Quit whining and do some brainstorming and raise some money for your BMX park.

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Permalink Reply by jenny kay on August 6, 2008 at 2:04pm

kudos karen!

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Permalink Reply by andy on August 12, 2008 at 8:45pm

i have lived out of state for the last 5 years. most recently in austin texas but in wichita kansas(where i helped earn bikes the right to use the 3 local parks recently built in the area). and i can tell you that out of those 3 none of them cost over 200k and are all bigger and better designed then the ludington, hell the downtown park is over 12k square feet and cost a mere 120k(in public money). and i have helped many ramps, backyard setups, and contests courses.

i will admit i'm not "pro", i still have to work for a living as a bike mechanic, i have had a few major sponsors and have ties and friends who work for major bike companies(hoffman bikes ring a bell).

you do realize that mason county only has maybe a dozen residents that seriously ride bmx. and they would have helped if they would have been involved in the process instead of being excluded years ago. and like i said i did donate money to the first park that i was eventually baned from.

the "different reinforcements" excuse is plain bullshit. i have rubber tires, plastic pegs, plastic pedals, and plastic barends. i'm capable of less damage then any skate board. that is any excuse made up by park builders, who are usually skate boarders, to keep us out. ask anybody that runs a private park and they will tell you skaters cause more damage then bikes.

i actually was never asked to leave. i'm smart enough to work around the rules. i left on my own accord and won't be going back. you can have your park, but you should wise up and realize you guys got ripped off.

do your research: http://www.spausa.org/bikes-parks.html

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Enos on August 6, 2008 at 6:44pm

I like the skate park, but I find it awkward taking my young son there who is trying to learn to ride his new skate board. It's really the safest environment for him to do so because the cement is so smooth, but I feel bad when he gets in the way of the skaters who are really good, and frankly, he's just a hazzard to them. Maybe there should be different hours for youngsters, like early in the morning on Saturdays when teenagers are sleeping in...just a suggestion. Anyone with me on this?

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Permalink Reply by John Hilborn on August 6, 2008 at 9:06pm

I think that is a great idea. That particular time on the weekend would be good since most teens aren't up and around at that time on a Saturday morning.

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Permalink Reply by ED on August 7, 2008 at 12:30pm

I like this idea too. My daughter JUST turned 8 and wants to get out there and ride...but she def doesn't have the skills to keep up with the big kids out there. and i'm no help to her really since i don't know how to ride myself.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Larson on August 7, 2008 at 12:21pm

Ok first off...Nice job doing something for our kids in the area...They need this and so much more.I also really like the idea about different times for different ages and or levels...I would love to take my kids there to check things out but not only would they get in the way of more experienced skaters,they would get run over...I also think helmets should be mandatory,period! We have to keep them safe...There are other things we need to work on for our kids and one of them would be MUSIC..
Hey why don't I start another discussion on music??? Please join me there...
Paul

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Permalink Reply by Woody on August 7, 2008 at 9:12pm

Too bad there are NO LIGHTS at the park. ive been to some fantastic skate parks all over the usa..and THEY ALL HAVE LIGHTS for night skating. Im sure its just a finacial issue..BUT HELLO!
Im sure that it could be paid for by donations or fundraisers..of course, we can wait a year for the dust to settle after paying 300,000 for this park.

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Permalink Reply by Shoreline Media, Inc. on August 8, 2008 at 7:29am

Were lights intentionally left off the list so that the park would close at some point, giving the people that live nearby at least a little peace when the sun goes down? Probably. I agree that the BMXers should go to the same committee that did the skate park and get something going at Cartier Park. There's a parking lot already at the corner of Rath and Bryant, how hard could a BMX track be to build in that same area?

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