Here in Spokane, we've built two skateboard parks.  Some of those who
use the parks tear everything breakable apart, and paint graffiti
everywhere.  We've had fights, muggings and drugs.  I hate to say it,
while it does provide some legitimate means of advancing skateboarder
skills; it is an attractive nuisance to a bad slacker/criminal crowd as
well.  
Even with the two skateboard parks, we still have those that are
attracted to "outside" stairs and walls.  Ultimately, the skateboards
cause damage to private and public property and the skateboarder's
presence intimidates pedestrians.
As a kid, I had my skateboard.  But my riding was limited to streets and
sidewalks in my neighborhood.  And, my nephew is a devoted skateboarder
who currently deals with a lot of the frustrations and hassles that a
lot of the more "urban" skateboarders face--looking for a place to go
and for "challenges."
Like a lot of things, a certain element abuses and hurts it for those
that are responsible.  Some in our community and in our Parks Department
wish we had never built the skateboard parks.  
My humble rambling thoughts only,
Mike  

-----Original Message-----
From: SAFETY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Best Ninja Ever
Waaaaah
Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 6:55 AM
To: <a href="/cgi-bin/wa?LOGON=A3%3Dind0901B%26L%3DSAFETY%26E%3Dquoted-printable%26P%3D44842%26B%3D--%26T%3Dtext%252Fplain%3B%2520charset%3DUS-ASCII" target="_parent" >[log in to unmask]</a>
Subject: Re: Skate Boarders

I guess you are right about it turning into a skate park if people are
allowed to skate. I just wish skateboarding was allowed more. It seems
the
majority of people have a negative view of skating. People don't realize
that it builds friendships, gives an alternative to drugs, and teaches
goal
setting. It takes a whole lot to pull of a trick over a stair set or
ollie
up to a handrail. Its a real bummer when that kind of talent and guts
gets
filed under vandalism. But it is. Skateboarding to many people is more
than
what you see on TV. So much time, effort, and goal setting to get to the
point where someone tells you to get lost. I don't want to start a fight
over this, maybe someone will come up with the perfect compromise

On Tue, Jan 6, 2009 at 11:16 AM, John DeLaHunt
<<a href="/cgi-bin/wa?LOGON=A3%3Dind0901B%26L%3DSAFETY%26E%3Dquoted-printable%26P%3D44842%26B%3D--%26T%3Dtext%252Fplain%3B%2520charset%3DUS-ASCII" target="_parent" >[log in to unmask]</a>>wrote:

> Mr. Smith writes, in part:
>
> > I know you are probably deciding on a way to keep skateboarders
> > off your steps and handrails. You will probably find a very good
> > one. I just wanted to ask if you would, if only for a short while,
> > consider letting those kids skate.
> ...
> > If your property has an awesome set of stairs and a handrail
> > people will skateboard on it and over it with or without
> > permission. Why not use this as a way to attract publicity?
>
> If people skate on someone else's property with permission, they are
an
> invitee or licensee under tort law (one party suing another because of
harm
> done).  If they are using the property without permission, they are
> trespassers under tort law.  This is a material difference, because
the
> property owner has different duties to protect trespassers, licensees,
and
> invitees.
>
> Moreover, if the skaters are using the property with permission,
they've
> probably established some means to compensate the property owner for
damage.
>  If they are using the space without permission, and property damage
occurs,
> they're simply vandals.
>
> Lastly, if the skaters are using the property with permission, they've
> probably established a hold-harmless agreement with the property owner
in
> the event of injury or property damage to a third party.  If they're
using
> the space without permission, they're simply creating an opportunity
for the
> third-party to sue the property owner for negligence, also.
>
> None of this matters if the skaters don't hurt themselves, don't
damage the
> property, and don't hurt others.  But businesses are simply stupid to
ignore
> these outcomes or hope they don't occur.
>
> > I am in no way telling you to make your business a skate park.
>
> Actually, giving permission to use property for skating is just about
> equivalent to running a skate park.  The wise property owner will not
rely
> on hope as a management plan, and will require:
>
> - inspection of the property before and after skating,
> - repairs of any premises defects or property damage that could injure
> skaters but not other users,
> - bonds, damage deposits, or other financial means to address property
> damage caused by skaters,
> - hold-harmless agreements from the skaters
> - isolation of public access during skating
> - constant supervision
>
> > Maybe instead of NO SKATEBOARDING posted everywhere you can
> > have signs that say NO to bad behaviors
>
> Like trespassing and vandalism caused by skaters?  This doesn't
address the
> third-party risk, but "NO SKATING" does - the property owner is
clearly
> stating that they do not condone the activity, and if a passerby gets
> injured by a skater's negligence, there's another layer of protection
for
> the property owner.
>
> Seems to me.
>
> John
>
> John DeLaHunt, MBA
> Risk and Life Safety Manager
> Environmental Health, Safety, and Risk Management Department
> The University of Texas at San Antonio
> One UTSA Circle
> San Antonio, TX  78249
> (210)458-4420 office
> (210)458-7450 fax
> <a href="/cgi-bin/wa?LOGON=A3%3Dind0901B%26L%3DSAFETY%26E%3Dquoted-printable%26P%3D44842%26B%3D--%26T%3Dtext%252Fplain%3B%2520charset%3DUS-ASCII" target="_parent" >[log in to unmask]</a>
>
> http://www.utsa.edu/safety/
>
>