Thanks to Nicole Radzievich for her always balanced coverage of the Bethlehem Skateplaza.
The groundbreaking for Bethlehem’s $1 million skate plaza Wednesday drew more than just the usual crowd of politicians in suits and well-heeled community benefactors.
More than 100 teenagers and twentysomethings came with their skateboards and bikes to celebrate the chilly ceremonial start to what they hope will become a 40,000-square-foot East Coast destination by mid-summer.
Used to being hassled for riding and skating on street curbs and school walls, the extreme sports enthusiasts stood side-by-side with officials who helped them get a place of their own.
”There are places you can drive to, like FDR in Philly, that are good places to skate, but even those places come nowhere close to what’s being built in Bethlehem,” said Ryan Lozoskie, 22, of Alburtis.
Read the rest on the Morning Call website.
If you happen to wander into the comment section you’ll see there are people who like to complain about our project and talk about why it should not be built.
Understand that people not understanding our culture will always be a part of skateboarding- just like getting kicked out of spots will never end.
But here’s what I- respectfully- have to say to the naysayers:
Most naysayers of this project probably don’t understand how this project hopes to come to fruition.
As a skateboarder, local business owner and tax payer I would agree that depleting City dollars for a luxury addition to the City would be a bad use of money but that is not how the Bethlehem Skateplaza hopes to be completed or maintained. The vast majority of the dollars we have come from grants specified to City Parks & Rec projects and the rest will come from community fundraising and advertising sold to local and nationwide corporations.
We are not asking for a total handout.
I’m not here to dispute anyone’s studies about the cost effectiveness of this project but if the money being used to build this skateplaza is being raised by those use seek to use and support it- how does that negatively effect the rest of the community?
As far as liability, all the correct measures have been taken to protect the City of lawsuits- the same precautions used to protect the City from people using City pools, ice rinks and mainstream sports fields.
As far as vandalism and drug use- it’s a possibility but it will be a problem with or without the skateplaza. I’m for what will encourage the youth who patronize my business to stay away from those activities and focus on positive ones. I thank those who look at the youth with open eyes not narrow minds.
