Letter of the Day: The case for a skate park

I want to share what is perhaps a unique perspective on the skating issue. Our family moved here from Naples, Fla., in the weeks following Hurricane Katrina. We had the unusual opportunity to choose anywhere to live. After months of research and looking, we felt as though we had arrived home the minute we drove into Statesville. We were drawn by many reasons, but mostly because of the combination of the ambiance of a smaller historic town and a family-friendly environment.

As a Florida native, I moved from West Palm Beach to Naples in 1996. At that time, Naples was experiencing a 23 percent gain in population and was rated in the "Top 10 Fastest-Growing Metropolitan Areas," according to the U.S. Department of Commerce 1997 Population Profile of the U.S. At the same time, it was losing its place in the commercial life of the county.

A shopping mall and a Wal-Mart had been built outside the downtown area. Consequently, most of the retail customers had left. Shortly after moving to Naples, I took a job with an interior designer who on Fifth Avenue, which is like Broad Street is to us. I immediately noticed the people who did shop and work on Fifth Avenue frequently had to share the sidewalks and roadways with skaters.

They were ramping down the steps, riding off the hand rails and jumping off the curbs. Naples police tried to keep it at bay, but with the ever-increasing population, it became taxing to their resources.

Naples took what I thought was a radical step: They planned to revitalize the downtown area by converting the empty second-floor spaces to upscale flats, addressing parking issues, adding a community theater and an inn and opening a skate park at a nearby recreation center. I was skeptical about the redevelopment plans for Fifth Avenue, but I was flat-out against the skate park. Honestly, I didn’t like the skaters and thought it was a waste of money and tax dollars to give them a place of their own.

The skate park was installed very early in the redevelopment plan. On March 3, 2007, Naples Daily News reported on the grand re-opening of Velocity Skate Park stating, "Created in 1997, the park was first known as Sanctuary and lived up to its name as it was a haven for skateboarders and BMX bikers to practice their sports of choice without bothering residents or business owners."

Sure enough, the skaters left the downtown streets and sidewalks and the construction began. We lived through the noisy, messy changes and began seeing great things happening. High-profile attorneys moved in, galleries opened, chic eateries set up cafe spots, and the downtown came to life again. Additionally, I drove by the skate park nearly every day and noticed the park was very busy having taken on a life of its own.

Eventually, I began to see the real benefits to Naples and to the community. Because of the foresight of the city planners, Naples is not only a top travel destination, but it is also a great community in which to live and raise children. Since 1997, Naples has upgraded existing skate parks, added additional skate parks, an after-school program, a pro shop, and a BMX park. All are a positive investment in the community.

I hope our wonderful community can draw upon some of the strengths and successes of another community that has had to face the "what do we do with the skaters?" and "how can we breathe new life into our downtown" issues. Because of the positive results that were achieved in Naples, I can honestly and enthusiastically say that I am for building an accessible, affordable skate park in Statesville. This is a wise investment in our community and our quality of life.

Cynthia Kelly
Statesville