[Newsletter] skatepark news

Fri Aug 1 16:38:16 MST 2008

Hi everyone

As you can see lots going on in the skatepark world this week. I was doing  
some research on another project... helmet laws and here are some  thoughts:
IASC pushed through helmet and pad laws in the state of CA. Not only does  it 
increase liability for cities it guarantees that a city is liable most of the 
 time. They are now working on expanding the helmet laws to other states. My  
thoughts are:

Skateboarding is no different than any other sport / activity. 
Police should not be involved in the governance of  skateboarding. 
You would never see kids getting ticketed while playing a  pickup game of 
football for not wearing helmets and pads.
 You do not see police attending soccer games to cite  kids for not wearing 
cleats and so on. 
Even though there are 6 drowning deaths a day in the USA you  would never 
imagine laws requiring water wings to be  worn by anyone under 18 years of age or 
anyone who did not pass a certified  swimming course. 
There were 4,881 pedestrian deaths in 2005 - yet no helmet  laws for 
pedestrians. 

Studies have proven that soccer has a very high rate of head injuries and a  
significant number of those injuries cause brain damage yet there are no 
helmets  required and no helmet laws. The governing body is moving very slowly 
towards  some sort of head gear protection but not police enforcement.
_http://www.safety-council.org/info/sport/soccer.html_ 
(http://www.safety-council.org/info/sport/soccer.html) 
_http://www.impacttest.com/News_images/News_Docs/USSoccer3-2005.pdf_ 
(http://www.impacttest.com/News_images/News_Docs/USSoccer3-2005.pdf) 
_http://www.neurosurgerytoday.org/what/patient_e/sports.asp_ 
(http://www.neurosurgerytoday.org/what/patient_e/sports.asp) 

So why the mad rush to bring police into skateboarding? Helmet laws  increase 
a city's liability - they create a loophole as we have seen in CA. The  laws 
are supported by the trial attorneys who love deep pockets.
Skateboarding does not have the injuries to warrant a law much less police  
enforcement.
There are approximately 50 deaths a year in skateboarding - some are  wearing 
helmets and most involve cars or hill bombing. In comparison there  are 
approx 70 deaths by lightning in a year - a small enough number that there  is even 
a saying "you are more likely to get struck by lightning than ... " 
50 deaths a year might seem like a lot at first glance but I study  
statistics because we include insurance for our members. Here are some  facts:

According to the World Health Organization, there are over 400,000 deaths  
per year and millions more injured and disabled by automobile  accidents.They 
are the leading cause of death among ages 10-24 years.
_http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2007/pr17/en/index.html_ 
(http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2007/pr17/en/index.html) 

FIVE LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH, USA, AGES 15-24, 1998
CAUSE
PERCENT OF TOP 5
NUMBERS
(1) Accidents  51.8% 12,752   (2) Homicide  21.3% 5,233   (3) Suicide  16.3% 
4,003   (4) Cancer  6.8% 1,670   (5) Heart Disease  3.9% 961 

    *   Six people drown in U.S. pools  every day. Many of these pools are 
public facilities staffed with  certified professional lifeguards. 
_http://www.poolalarms.com/pool_drowning_statistics.htm_ 
(http://www.poolalarms.com/pool_drowning_statistics.htm) 
    *   4881 pedestrian deaths in 2005 
_http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/08/motorcycle_deaths.html_ 
(http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/08/motorcycle_deaths.html) 

Don't be fooled by helmet laws - we do  not need the police involved in 
skateboarding. We do not need  loopholes under Assumption of Risk or Hazardous 
Recreational  Activity (HRA) laws.

Want to save lives and reduce brain  injuries?
require helmets on anyone riding in an automobile
require water wings at all public swimming pools and  beaches
require all pedestrians to wear helmets
require helmets on all soccer players
stop eating fast food - I'm not kidding. This is the first  generation not 
expected to outlive their parents because of obesity  related diseases.

Skatepark and event insurance:
contact
_sk8pks at aol.com_ (mailto:sk8pks at aol.com) 

Also check out our new program
_www.NorthAmericanSurfandSkateboardAssociation.org_ 
(http://www.NorthAmericanSurfandSkateboardAssociation.org) 

Skatepark  News

_http://www.grindstonepark.org/_ (http://www.grindstonepark.org/)  New  Park 
in the Fundraising stages

Torrance CA Skatepark - Fundraising stage and design selection next meeting  
Aug. 20th 

_Parker  breaks ground on skate park, tennis complex_ 
(http://denver.yourhub.com/Parker/Stories/News/About-Town/Story~499663.aspx) 
YourHub.com - Denver,CO,USA
The two major designers of  Rail Bender are Site Design Group and California 
Skateparks, two  companies that specialize in skate park design. ...

_Work starts on  city's skate plaza_ 
(http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/city/article/365984) 
Telegraph-Journal -  Saint John,New Brunswick,Canada
The 15000-square-foot park, which is  being constructed by New Line 
Skateparks of Langley, BC, is scheduled to  be complete by late September or early 
October ... 
_Kickin' it in N.  Smithfield_ 
(http://www.woonsocketcall.com/content/view/44140/112/) 
Woonsocket Call -  Providence,RI,USA
Today, there are skateparks in towns  throughout Rhode Island, including 
Burrillville, Glocester, Cumberland and North  Smithfield. ...

_VISTA:  Skatepark grinding to a halt_ 
(http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/07/28/news/coastal/vista/z2492c88a8dd73ad28825748d005d3e93.txt) 
North County Times - Escondido,CA,USA
(Photo by Nick  Morris - For the North County Times) VISTA ---- The city's 
only  skatepark, a secluded concrete bowl in the shadow of City Hall,  ...  
_SBJ  In-Depth_ (http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/59639) 
Sports Business Journal  (subscription) - Charlotte,NC,USA
Today, municipalities build  skateparks, snowboarding has become a marquee 
Olympic sport and high  school campuses are filled with kids outfitted in brands 
... 
_So, when will that  be done?_ 
(http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/story/383907.html) 
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer -  Columbus,GA,USA
The contractor, California Skateparks Inc.,  still has some site work and 
other improvements on the $700000 project. The  project should be completed this 
...

_Skateboarders  launch nonprofit to build a park_ 
(http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080730/NEWS05/807300303/1006/NEWS01) 
Pensacola News Journal - Pensacol,FL,USA
Nearby towns  Milton and Gulf Breeze both have skateparks. However, 
Funderburk said  Navarre skaters, typically teenagers and pre-teens with limited access 
to  ... 
_New  events, old area faces mean change for X Games_ 
(http://www.pe.com/sports/breakout/stories/PE_Sports_Local_S_x_games_30.483892e.html) 
Press-Enterprise - Riverside,CA,USA
In the BMX SuperPark  and Skateboard SuperPark contests, riders will compete 
on a fast-flowing course  modeled after some of the best concrete skateparks. 
... 
_Dad's  on track to alleviate kids' boredom_ 
(http://www.blacktownadvocate.com.au/article/2008/07/30/2403_news.html) 
Blacktown Advocate - Blacktown,NSW,Australia
She said  community consultation would uncover any problems, including 
proximity, because  skateparks were usually built at least 50m from houses,  ...
_Bride  stole the show_ 
(http://goondiwindi.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/entertainment/bride-stole-the-show/1230452.aspx) 
Goondiwindi Argus -  Goondiwindi,QLD,Australia
It seems that the new Goondiwindi Regional  Council is more interested in 
building skateparks for a handful of kids  who can’t be bothered using the 
plethora ...

_DECISION  TO SAFEGUARD £300k_ 
(http://icseftonandwestlancs.icnetwork.co.uk/formbytimes/news/tm_headline=decision-to-safeguard-pound-300k&method=full&object
id=21437069&siteid=60252-name_page.html) 
icSeftonandWestLancs  - Southport,England,UK
At the meeting on Thursday he decided to  safeguard the £300000 previously 
earmarked for skateparks rather than use  it to offset the deficit. ...  
_Delridge  skatepark meeting #1: Collaboration, not controversy_ 
(http://westseattleblog.com/blog/?p=9428) 
West Seattle Blog - Seattle,WA,USA
If the  opinions voiced tonight at the first community meeting about the 
Delridge  skatepark-to-be hold sway, that’s the spot where you’ll see 
skateboarders  ... 
_Support  skatepark »»_ (http://www.indynews.ca/article.php?id=2259) 
Brighton  Independent - Brighton,ON,Canada
This is where the group organizing  the new Campbellford skatepark comes in. 
The organizers behind this  project are driven by the goal of creating a venue 
... 
_Action Sports  Roundtable Part III_ 
(http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/article/122733) 
SportsBusiness  Daily (subscription) - Charlotte,NC,USA
... in that Olympic  range, the amount of money going to skateparks and BMX 
freestyle will  pick up around the world and be a huge windfall around 

_Gabriel  Skate Park celebrates grand opening_ 
(http://www.swcommconnection.com/news/story.php?story_id=121735418923387100) 
Southwest Community Connection - Portland,OR,USA
The  campers were there to cut the ribbon for the grand opening of Airspeed  
Skateparks' newest skate park. The young skaters gathered around the  ribbon, 
...  
_Skate  creative_ (http://www.newsobserver.com/105/story/1161365.html) 
News & Observer -  Raleigh,NC,USA
As a result, boarders have been banned from sidewalks,  parks and other 
public spots and relegated to detainment centers called  skateparks. ...
_New  skateboard park to be built in West Duluth_ 
(http://www.duluthbudgeteer.com/articles/index.cfm?id=22670&section=sports) 
Budgeteer - Duluth,MN,USA
Last Monday councilors  authorized city officials to enter into a contract 
with California  Skateparks for the construction of a outdoor skateboard park at 
 ...  
 _New  skatepark for Syston_ 
(http://www.meltontimes.co.uk/news/New-skatepark-for-Syston.4308837.jp) 
Melton  Today - Melton Mowbray,Leicestershire,UK
Exciting times are ahead for  the youth of Syston with the development of a 
new skatepark and multi-use  games area in Central Park, planned new leisure 
and ...

_Wheels in  motion_ 
(http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/city/article/360153) 
Telegraph-Journal - Saint  John,New Brunswick,Canada
New Line Skateparks, whose claim to  fame is the $2.4-million Forks skate 
park in downtown Winnipeg, won the city's  call for park designs last year. ...

Thank you for  contacting 
Heidi Lemmon
executive director
SKATEPARK ASSOCIATION est.  1996

_www.spausa.org_ (http://www.spausa.org/)   _www.myspace.com/spausa_ 
(http://www.myspace.com/spausa) 
310 495  7112 cell 310 261 2816
Risk Management . Construction Guidelines . Events .  Certification
It is a great day to build a  skatepark!

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