I found this on azcentral.com today.
Skateboarders, bikers may share new park
Tony Lombardo
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 14, 2007 12:00 AM
"Valley cities have struggled to accommodate both stunt-bike riders and skateboarders in their parks in recent years, with Surprise offering the latest example of the collision between recreational interests."
"Park-maintenance costs, safety and rivalries between user groups have made the choice between bikes and skateboards an ongoing debate at most city recreation parks."
"Surprise recreation leaders, currently planning to open a park in 2008, believe they can curb the problem by alternating days when the facility is used as a bike park or skateboard park."
"Bike riders would be welcome on odd days of the month and skateboarders on even days, according to the city's preliminary rules for the park."
"The notion of keeping the two apart in Surprise is based on other cities' past experiences, Community & Recreation Services Director Mark Coronado said."
"We want to be very clear. We're not trying to single out BMX-ers versus skateboard- ers, but we found that bikes and skateboards sometimes don't mix," he said."
"Just last month, Paradise Valley Skate Park reopened with new rules, including a ban on bikes. Skateboarders found themselves too often competing for space with bike riders, officials said."
"In Goodyear, the City Council banned bike riders from the city skate park in March for a variety of reasons, including safety and upkeep."
"When it opened in January, the Goodyear park was seeing more than 500 users on weekend days, but the bikes were chewing up the concrete facility that was designed only for skateboards, and there was excessive crime, said Brian Barnes, Goodyear's deputy director of public works."
"There was a lot of drug activity, graffiti, litter and other inappropriate behavior," he said."
"The park has since quieted down, with about 50 skateboarders on a typical day, Barnes said. It wasn't just eliminating bikes that did the trick, however. Goodyear is now staffing the park to enforce its rules and requiring users to wear helmets."
"In Chandler, officials opened the Valley's first bike-only stunt park in May after seven years of discussion and work."
"In 2000, the city opened its skate park, and bike users instantly wanted to participate, said Craig Younger, spokesman for the community services department."
"The city formed an advisory group that eventually led to building a separate facility."
"Coronado said it was Surprise's recreation board that came up with the idea of splitting the new park's use. But some now fear enforcing park rules could become an issue."
"In Goodyear, for example, some park users adamantly insisted they could not be told when they could use the facility, leading officials to avoid the strategy being pursued by Surprise, Barnes said."
"The attitude from some, he said, was, "You built the park and now it's ours. Go away."
"Enforcement in Surprise might be tricky because the current draft of the rules says the park will be largely unsupervised. In Barnes' estimation, "Surprise is probably going to need some sort of supervision."
"Expected to open in summer 2008, it will have standard skate-park amenities, such as half pipes, rails and stairs on which to perform tricks. It will cost an estimated $905,000."
"Coronado stressed that the rules are a work in progress, and are subject to change."
I like how Brian Barnes thought kicking bikes out would solve the problems at Goodyear. But there was a lot crime there. They even had under cover cops posing a bike riders. What does the city expect when there are that many people in a small area?
