Op-Ed Columns

When softball players played in the streets of Jacksonville, the city decided to erect parks for their use and safety. Other sports have been treated as well by the city.

Until 2007, the entire city of Jacksonville was a skateboard park, which meant the city streets, the library steps, the parking lots, the business properties and the concreted ditches were used. Many residents visualized skateboarders as problems instead of as young residents of the future Jacksonville who held skateboarding dreams.

Those skateboarders who wanted to practice their sport were being treated as criminals because they had no dedicated place. It was a problem the police wanted to control, but with no place to send them these young people were gaining a bad reputation. Like all sports, there are many fine young people involved, and a few not so.

Along came the Anniston Morning Rotary Club with a committee called Skate Calhoun County. Nearly 100 of the skateboard kids and their parents met with the City Council to find a solution. These kids and adults actually got busy, doing raffles, car washes and door-to-door requests. Their combined efforts resulted in raising more than $20,000, which was then matched by the city with $45,000 more.

I think the public should know that an informal meeting was set and the skateboard kids were asked to come and decide on what features would be included. The city set before these kids a budget and showed them the prices of the equipment.

Then these 20 kids divided themselves into four groups, with each group deciding on their own chairperson and on which equipment piece they wanted. Then the four groups combined their thoughts and came in with a plan and within the budget. They did all of that in one hour!

That is the resident involvement that we all want our kids to know and be involved in — these are the city’s future voting adults who may someday be on the City Council with good people like George Areno, who put his heart into the project.

This is the best skateboard park in a 50-mile radius, and kids and adults — yes, adults skate, too — love it.

Recently, Camp Robert Lewis sponsored a skateboard competition at the park. According to Jason Granhelm of Camp Lewis, the competition served two purposes: (1) To raise funds for Camp Lewis, and (2) to promote skateboarding as a healthy, fun way for kids to stay out of trouble.

The competition raised nearly $400, had 22 participants, and is helping others in the community. The future is a lot brighter as skateboarders now look to help others.

I heartily commend the City Council of Jacksonville for its decision to aid these youngsters.

Fred Couch Jr. lives in Anniston.