Industry Insider: Why Do So Many ‘Public’ Skateparks in San Diego Charge?
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- November 10 2008
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- 13 comments
Industry Insider is a new Transworld Business column featuring the views and opinions of, you guessed it - members of the action sports industry. If you’d like to share your thoughts, opinions, initiatives, or other industry related tidbits, drop us a line at business@transworld.net.
BY BILL BYRNE
I just skated a park in what could be considered a lower income neighborhood by San Diego standards, and it was filled with kids. FILLED. However, I bet there’d be even more if they weren’t charging to get in.
I come from the NY/NJ area, where a lot of the skateparks are free. Sometimes you have to sign a waiver, almost all the time you need to wear a helmet, but otherwise the park is there for you to use. Mini-ramps, street stuff, bowls. All there. All free. Just like a tennis court.
My big question is, “How many kids (or adults) would go use a ball field or basketball court if they had to pay $5 each time?” When you pay, you’re making a commitment that goes beyond the pocketbook and
onto your personal clock.
What if you only can skate for a half hour because you have something else to do later? Would it still be worth your $5? How many kids would bother shooting hoops at the park if they had to pay for $5 for ten baskets like it were a carnival game?
I’m sure constructing a concrete skatepark costs more than a basketball court, but isn’t the maintenance similar (sweeping, etc.)? And the maintenance is probably less compared to a grass ball field. If it’s because of insurance, I think that’s a misguided stance. Kids get hurt with traditional ball activities all the time and the average skateboarder is probably not as “EXTREME” as the public thinks they are. Besides, what’s more dangerous, a kid trying to drop in with pads for the first time or someone hurling a hard ball at an area two feet from their body?
Ok, that’s my rant and there are probably factors I’m missing, but I’ve never seen them addressed, so please feel free to educate me. I’m lucky enough that I can afford $5 to ride my skateboard in the fine parks of greater San Diego…. just bummed that there are a lot of kids that probably can’t.
Bill Byrne is a public relations consultant with clients both in and out of action sports.
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November 10th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
I’ve wondered the same thing. Live in Colorado where all our parks are free and unsupervised.
Interesting that skateboarding born out the CA lifestyle and yet its always a hassle to skate whenever I go. Pay, all pads required, and open for only a select number of hours.
How do make skateboarding an activity for uptight people? Simple make folks pay for what should be free…
November 10th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
I’m with you.
November 10th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
With recent budget cuts it “appears” that all SD city parks will be free soon. This could all change of course but lets hope its true!
November 11th, 2008 at 3:50 am
Can’t figure it out. It seems Cali is the only place that treats their skateparks like this. I am from the northwest and its way different up there.
It must be our fault as Californians.
November 11th, 2008 at 5:54 am
Can’t drink on the beaches anymore… Have to pay to skate… What’s going on with the old “Whale’s Vag”?
November 11th, 2008 at 7:37 am
skateboarding has no rules its free flow expression. To give tickets and charge fee’s is ONLY a money grab.
November 11th, 2008 at 8:08 am
“Besides, what?s more dangerous, a kid trying to drop in with pads for the first time or someone hurling a hard ball at an area two feet from their body?”
Unless the ball hits the kid in the face, probably dropping in.
November 11th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Seriously? Fully padded kid dropping in versus a fastball? Maybe I should have clarified “dropping in” as “dropping in on a mini-ramp” versus whatever it is you’re thinking about. I’m also hoping the kid who goes to a skatepark has stepped on a board before, maybe mastered rolling down the driveway and off the curb. I know this isn’t always the case and that’s an educational issue someone should address elsewhere (would you send a child who has never played basketball into a pick-up game with high schoolers?).
People get hurt playing traditional sports on public fields and parks all the time.
I’ve seen parents drop their kids off at the Coronado park in flip flops and ballet shoes, usually (no thanks to the parents) emerging at the end of the day unscathed. That’s another rant though.
November 11th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
As I truly have no idea,I think there are two types of Skate Parks. Public, which would be funded by Tax payers, and private. Right? I can understand Private parks charging. There are business interests involved.If a guy is pulling money out of his own pocket, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to charge. No doubt he’s got insurance to motivate him to do that. As far as public parks go, It would be cool to have more of a donation, than a mandatory fee. If my kid goes to a skate park, I swing by an drop a $20 bill once in a while. I think that would be money well spent and help the cause. Again, I Have no idea how it works but I think this would make sense.
November 12th, 2008 at 3:05 am
Excerpts from http://www.rospa.com/playsafety/skateboarding/operators.htm
“The main statistics for skateboarding are from the USA . They show that between January 1992 to June 1995 there were 25 deaths due to in line skating and 100 deaths involving BMX bikes etc. 90% of these involved collisions with motor vehicles. The numbers of fatalities on skateboards was too small to be recorded nationally and are almost exclusively due to collisions with motor vehicles.
To put things into perspective, there were 35,788 skateboard injuries in 1996 and 156,681 football (soccer) related injuries (again in the USA).
“Sprains, fractures, contusions and abrasions are the most common form of injury. 74% of injuries were to the extremities. Among these broken wrists (19%), ankles (11%), face (16%) and long bone fractures are the most common injuries. Head Injuries accounted for around 20% of all injuries. Serious injuries, concussion, blunt trauma, skull fracture or closed head injuries represented 3.1% of all injuries to skateboarders. Most serious injuries would have been prevented if correct protective gear had been worn.
About 1/3 of those injured have less than one weeks experience of the sport. ? so keep a close eye when you first open a new facility. The most commonly hurt participants are those with over one year?s experience. “
November 13th, 2008 at 11:53 am
SD is run by a bunch of idiots. one of the best cities in the US is broke. how do you manage that. great job retards!!!!!!!!!!
December 10th, 2008 at 3:58 am
Does it matter why, time to get rid of the trolls!!!!!!!!!
I’ve been in CO for months, skated 10+ parks, all FREE, many with lights. Imagine that shit, no trolls wanting money, no pad-nannies and no pigs giving tickets for non-compliance with BS pads laws.
DON’T FEED THE TROLLS AND THEY WILL GO AWAY.
If a cop tickets you (especially if you under 18), give him/her as much mouth as possible, accuse them of trying to turn the US/CA into a sissy nation, accuse him/her of being a fag/child molester/etc. Make it painful as possible for them and they will probably give up ticketing skaters.