I have been following the Nov. 7th Skatepark article which, as of Dec.11,has had 79 comments. For everyone who may have overlooked the debate,please go to www.vimeo.com and type " piney BMX " in the search box. You will see for yourself some of the reasons why the Twp. decided to stop paying for all the vandalism and repairs.
After watching these videos, I am convinced that the Twp. made the correct decision and relieved the taxpayers of a large insurance liability and saved the taxpayers multiple thousands of dollars in replacement fees for equipment and amenities that were abused, disrespected or stolen. Keep in mind that bikes were not allowed on the skateboard surface.
Friday, December 11, 2009
SKATEBOARD PARK VIDEOS
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38 comments:
Thanks. I just watched the videos and could not believe what's been going on.
I saw the guy riding off the ROOF of the gazebo and land on our "$4,000" picnic table,the destruction of our trash bins,the use of the picnic tables as ramps and for vulgar graffiti.
Don't miss #2 "lil Meat". The guys were so proud of the obscene language that they wrote in the words so you wouldn't miss anything.
To engage in this activity,film it and put it on the internet with their names shows me they have no common sense.
Parents,do you really know what your kids are doing?
Ya gotta love that they provided the proof of everything. WOW
It is a shame that these individuals have been allowed to destroy this facility. Since their names and photos seem to be available on this website, I am wondering if any action has been taken by the police or the township to make them atone for their actions. It certainly seems to me that this would be an ideal use of "public service" as a penalty in the form of cleaning up and maintaining the township recreation area.
Kids caught vandalizing the park should not only be compelled to provide public service but they should also be banned from the park for a significant length of time.
I don't know how many times I jumped and chills went up my spine when I saw these kids crash on the cement with no protection.
They have absolutely no idea of the damage they are doing to their bodies now that might bother them the rest of their lives. I hope they all make it into adulthood in one piece.
Re 11:37pm
Do you want to know what sent chills up my spine?
It's when I read that "Shred" was setting up his own BMX park in his front yard and I don't know if he's one of my neighbors.
I watched these kids in the woods hopping over sand dunes like a bunch of kangaroos. Does anyone know if this area is private property?
If this land belongs to the town or state,I think they should be required to level it out and leave.
I think that the theory of "out-of-town" vandals went right out the window.
Not any comments from the "BMX boys"? I guess there's nothing left for them to say.
Hey parents,if your kid wants a BMX bike for Christmas,I suggest you watch #5 "A Summer/Winter full of pain"(2 mins 26 sec).
Watching this might save you a lot of money and pain in the future.
I couldn't understand how the surface was being wrecked by rubber bike tires and not skateboard wheels. Now I know.
The bikes with their metal petals,spokes,and handle bars kept crashing onto the surface with full body weight on top of them. I see how chunks of the surface was removed. This could be very dangerous for a skateboard wheel to get caught in.
It doesn't look like the ramps were made to withstand the pressure of a person and bike drop landing from a couple of feet in the air.
The gazebo roof has to at least 10' high and that boy that rode off the roof onto our picnic table is very lucky it didn't collapse and kill him.
Why would the township spend $4,000 on a picnic table?
The ramps are absolutely made for bmx bikes, Goshen has the exact same ramps in their skatepark yet they allow bmx bikes in.
The chunks taken out of the ramps in the park were taken out by skateboars, I was there when it happened.
Are trash bins really that big of an importance to any of you, or are you just looking for anything to whine about?
I know for a fact that the 'vulgar' graffiti was crossed out not even an hour after whoever would write it. Kids would come in with their sharpie markers and see something that was a little too much and color over it. Again, I've been there and seen it happen.
BMX and skateboarding are two of the largest growing sports in the world right now, check any mainstream bmx video, it will include people grinding down handrails and jumping down stairs, hardly any free outdoor skateparks are featured.
I personally am a skate boarder but a lot of my best friend ride bmx. The whole 'Piney BMX' crew has done nothing but good things at the park. They have held jams to collect money for ANYBODY that needed, including a kid that was hit by a car while riding his bike down the street. They teach a lot of the younger guys tricks and give them tips on how to do them without using fowl language.
Face it, teenagers are going to swear. In my experiance at the skatepark they try to be considerate whenever the very young kids are there.
lastly, "No Common Sense"!
Before you bash a bunch of teenagers on a subject you know nothing about try to learn the facts. BMX is a way to make a living in todays world, it's in the Olympics for Pete's sake. Top pro's check the internet everyday to see the new talent in the world. The kids there were just trying to get their names known by the big shots
Re: 12:54
Picnic tables are made for picnics. This park did not allow bikes. That was a rule. If Goshen allows bmx bikes than they can go to Goshen. Trash bins are important when we want our park to be clean. Did you guys actually empty the trash, if the bin was partially full, into another bin before you used it? I think not. And what if the one you had was needed? Hey, I want my park to be clean.
You crossed out vulgar graffiti-good, Still doesn't make the place look better.
I'm glad, after watching the videos, that the skatepark was removed. I know boys will be boys, but the antics,language and cost was too much to bear.
Sharpie markers are permanent, aren't they? Crossing out the stuff makes it better? You are still vandalizing something that doesn't belong to you. You don't get it and apparently, you never will.
we did dump the trash into other trashcans before jumping OVER them
About the 12:54 posting that stated the bmx crowd would hold "jams to collect money for anybody that needed."
How about a "jam" to pay back the township for the damage done by bikes?
That said, I do not believe these are bad kids. As someone said previously, boys will be boys and a lot goes with that statement. Kids try to get away with almost anything. Supervision doesn't have to be constant but it should be more readily availiable. And the parents of these kids should see these videos.
I am a skateboarder and i would like all of you older "more responsible poeple to shut your stupid pie holes. your guys think its cool to come on the internet and bash on us younger people. If it was up to me i'd kick you out of our town. You people are the reason that our town is going to shit. Have fun ruining the lives of a bunch of young children. Why dont you get off the computer, stop wasting your time, and start being more responsible and productiove. such as planning for that new baskettball court thats just going to bring in worse trash talking poeple. Now please shut the hell up and leave the internet to the teens.
11:21 Now you are talking like the little delinquent we all knew we were dealing with! Go back to your homemade track in Nesco , and let your parents worry about getting sued. I for one am very relieved that you and your immature reckless friends won't be the townships liability any longer. P.S. I am sure that if your attitude doesn't change soon, we will be reading about your future antics in the criminal section of the paper.
In reply to 12:54,
Do you want to drive your kid to Goshen every day to ride his bike when Mullica had perfectly good ramps 5 minutes away. I understand what you are saying about Picnic tables, but a lot of the time they were used for what their main purpose...sitting. I recall a kid riding at the skate park on his bike and he was doing a 180 over the trashcan while it was standing up on the middle ramp. He knocked it over while there was trash in it, but he did not just push all the trash to the side after it fell out, he collected the trash and put it back in the bin then dumped it all into the trashcan that was chained to the outside of the park.
In reply to 11:21,
a skateboarder wouldn't skate at a dirt jumping track. It sounds like you think Nesco is too low for YOUR kids to ride their bikes and hang out.
first bmx riders grow up. there is no need to curse and act like a touch guy on the internet.
well my parents know what im doing. there happy for me because im not out doing drugs and etc..
everysingle skater/bmx rider know what comes with these two sports but if we got hurt playing baseball, hockey, basketball its fine but if he get hurt on bikes or skateboards were the bad people.
sand dune? really come on now lets see you try and jump a sand dune lol. its called dirt.
i hope you are my neighbor i will make sure im out there everynight riding.
no us bmx boys are commenting now :)
im glad you like the winter and summer full of pain video mine was the last clip 25 foot of sliding across the road.
spokes really again? i can garante you that a spoke has never hurt a ramp.
i been going to the rec for about 3 years now and i seen maybe a picnic once or twice. but its understandble they should have been riding on.
sharpie isn't perminate for always it can easly be taken off with a power washer or a hole with some simple green.
i agree kids will be kids. your telling me you were a perfect child when you were a little kid and didnt do one thing wrong ever?
for the 11:21 post shut up your not making anything any better bro.
thankyou.
I'm not personally from Mullica, but, after spending time with some of these guys on Piney BMX over last winter and this summer, i can tell you that they are some of the most considerate people I have ever met in my life. How many teenagers have you met without foul mouths? Secondly, we know how to fall without injuring ourselves. Most of the opposition are adults, how did you feel when your parents completely shunned rock and roll (i know, terrible example) Well, that's how these kids feel about BMX. Of course, they don't ride out to the skatepark so they can intentionally destroy it. They go there to get the thrill that BMX provides, and here, they're being stereotyped as juvenile delinquents. Absolutely none of these kids smoke or do drugs. You're all just searching for an outlet to place the blame on, and even though these videos show some vandalism, wouldn't you rather see your children outside actually participating in something larger then themselves, or do you want them to be like you, fighting 15 year olds over the internet all day long?
Hey Bro, I didn't stereotype anybody! I watched a video where a kid destroyed a trashcan, used a picnic table as a BMX ramp and jumped off a gazebo. I also saw the grafetti that they are so proud of and the reckless behavior that is a knock off of an "olympic sport".(!)It's over. Be glad that the town isn't asking for restitution.
shred,stop trying to act like a responsible person because I know your not! Second,no ones getting the skatepark back so just chill and stop saying BMX riders are acting like tough guys or touch guys is what you said.
re 10:08am
Shred,I watched the videos and saw the over 550 pictures on the PineyBmx.com web site.I saw the bloodly mouths,the gashed leg,the black and blue shoulder,the arm in the cast, etc.
I watched as you skided the 25 ft and fell in a public road and read about the boy that was hit by the car while riding his bike.
You guys have developed very deep friendships and are obviously having a great time with your sport. Not everyone has learned to fall "correctly".
As one of your background songs says "If your gonna be dumb,you gotta be tough" and I agree that you're all dumb and tough to do what you do.
It's only right that you enjoy what you do on YOUR private property or places that allow your activity and stop endangering the public or destroying things that don't belong to you.
Is that too much to ask?
ok, yes, the sign said that the BMx bikes werent allowed. but did the cops stop us while Bordz came and held contests. so they didnt really care because we were doing something good with our lives. i know everyone on piney BMX and they are the nicest BMX riders i know. half of my tricks i learned from them. but back to the point, the cops didnt stop us, so why do all of you guys care?
The answer is that new assembly ordinance kids. What the heck is "bordz"? Well, if that group now wanted to hold whatever gathering they held, they would have to apply to the town and be insured. Geez, the town was really lucky not to have been sued by now
I don't know what the cops saw or not.
The skatepark is gone because we cannot afford to keep replacing damaged equipment which is required by the insurance company.
It might be many years before we can add improvements. The State is badly in debt and our town's state aid will probably be cut deeply.
The taxpayers will still have to pay for all the salaries,services,and educational debts of the community with less money coming in.
The closing of the skatepark could mark the beginning of many cuts from the Town, County, State and Fed. Gov.
You guys have other places to ride. The skatepark is gone and I don't think there is any chance for it to ever be put back.
I will start off by telling you who I am, my name is Matt Gettings. I am a twenty year old resident of Atlantic County. I have respectfully used the skate park for the past six years, almost the entire time it has been in existence. I have greatly enjoyed spending my time riding my bike there with the older skateboarders and bike riders, those my age, and the younger up and coming generation of bike riders and skateboarders (whether or not bikes were permitted in the park aside for now). Although I'm not a resident of Mullica township I visited the park as regularly as if I was one. It gave me a skate park to a local at, a place where I could go ride BMX among friends, without any worries about whether or not I was going to be harassed about where I was riding, or having to look over my shoulder in some unsafe part of a town somewhere else. So before anything else I would like to say thank you to everyone who has made the skate park a possibility, be it the original group of skateboarders who pushed for the skate park to get built, the officials who passed it, the township workers who have maintained it, and the residents who supported it either in the beginning or the end. I think I speak for everyone who has been a regular at the park when I say thank you. If you take a step back from the angry blog posts, and your interpretations of the kid's actions, then you will see the dedication they have shown to trying to save the park and the smiles on their faces when they were riding it, and that they appreciated having a skate park to ride, whether or not you think they show it. With that being said, I would like to clarify some things. I will start off stating the obvious fact that the skate park is gone. The people have spoken, and the politicians have pounded their gavels. I'm well aware of the workings of our democratic system. The people whose tax dollars pay for the facility approve of it being shutdown. Although I may not like the results or the other sides view on it, I understand it, and that its democracy and God willing our country will continue to work that way. However what I would like to ask now is, what are you (the opponents and nay sayers of the park) going to do for this younger generation of kids. Of course the people solely responsible for them are their parents, and to some degree their teachers. However a lot of the people posting on here seem to have an awful lot of opinions on what the kids should and shouldn't be doing, and how they are a bunch of hooligans. So to you have so graciously offered your 'high and mighty adulthood wisdom,' what are you going to do to help them? To be even visiting this blog you must care what goes on in your town to some degree. Likewise, the people who live in your town makes up the community that you are a part of. Obviously this isn't a complete abstract, otherwise your taxes would not go towards education. So don't you think theres more you could do then belittling them anonymously over the internet? Do you think that is going to help them grow into mature adults who will continue on to make Mullica a nice place for you to live? You seem to forget that these kids will be the ones paying towards your Medicare benefits, Social Security, your grandchildren's schooling, when your of elder age if you aren't already, in which case their parents are paying for it now. Lets also not forget the trillions of dollars YOUR generation is spending that OUR generation is going to be paying for. I hope that puts kids jumping over trash cans into a little bit better perspective. There also seems to be a lot of exaggeration about the damages done to the park and the costs of repair. First was the fence. It is very unfortunate that somebody felt the need to steal a gate or cut the fence, for whatever reason they did. Lets take a good look at the alleged costs of repair.
Lets take a good look at the alleged costs of repair. The township website claimed that a replacement gate would cost $1,000 and that the cost of the replaced fencing was $1,250. If I was a tax paying resident of your township, I would be asking why it cost that much when you can find a gate and fencing, roughly about those same dimensions for about $114, and $330 respectively http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/1HUZ9?cm_mmc=Google%20Base-_-Outdoor%20Equipment-_-Lawn%20and%20Garden-_-1HUZ9 http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/1HUY2?Pid=search Next was the picnic table. If you visit almost any other park anywhere else the picnic tables have writing on them. The table was not broken or missing pieces, or in any condition that would warrant replacing it, and if they did $4,000? I've seen tables of the same size for sale for $50. Next was the re-decking of the ramps which would have been unnecessary, besides for insurance purposes which we can't do much about since insurance companies run about every aspect of our lives like communist dictators. The price of the resurfacing would have been $3,600 and is a result of wear and tear, (as it has been mentioned there is no documented proof that bikes do any more harm then skateboards). So the total cost as figured by the township would have been $9,850, the cost if researched a little bit better or more practically would have been $4,094. According to the U.S census of 2000, there are 4,318 residents of Mullica over the age of 18. So with the townships amount that is $2.28 a person, or with the alternate repair costs it would have been .94 a person. So all of this fuss is over .94 cents. Your bound to lose more then that in change between the seats of your car, thats cheaper then one cup of coffee at Wawa. What else is funny, is that at the township meetings our group was told that it was only rumors that basketball courts would be replacing the skate park yet the townships website says "Future plans include a basketball court, field house and storage facilities and restroom facilities." If these 'rumored' basketball courts get built, how much is that going to cost? To get it built that would be at least $10,000 but probably closer to $20,000 or $30,000. What happened to not having enough money? Your township committee doesn't seem to mind keeping it's plans from the people, being that nobody knew the park was going to be torn down, not the officer who responded when we called about the park being half torn down, or the people at the clerks office who my friends and I spoke to that day. The committee doesn't seem to have a problem taking people for a ride, no pun intended, but a word to the wise would be to keep a good look out for such behavior on future issues.
I would like to reiterate the ideal that completely removing something isn't a very wise solution to a vandalism problem, if somebody spray painted the walls at the school, would you bulldoze it down, because the students must have been 'bad kids?" No you wouldn't have. Now let's look at the severity of the vandalism, the gate and fence problem was an act committed by one, or two irresponsible people that deserve to be punished. The trash cans getting jumped over were not destroyed, the picnic tables got written on and nothing more, so how seriously do you want to take the "damage to them?" If you think that those actions demand police action, then I think you need to take a better look at yourself now, and when you were their age. "Let him who is without sin, cast the first stone." Whatever walk of life you take, Christian or not I think you should think about the advice very thoroughly before pointing your fingers. I'm willing to bet everyone on here has done something that was less socially acceptable then jumping over a trash can. If there was police action for every thing wrong you have done we would all be in jail. Giving them the message that they're no good delinquents is not going to help their self esteem or help them get on a 'better path'. BMX riding has taken me as far North as Boston, Massachusetts and as far west as Louisville Kentucky. I've met hundreds of riders, and hundreds of other people during that time. I've ridden everything from back streets of Philadelphia, to million dollar indoor, skate/bike park facilities. Out of all of this I have enjoyed Mullica and it's people best. I have always sensed a certain laid back, and kind atmosphere to your community. Everyone was accepting, there wasn't fights or arguing at the skate park, the older guys were always kind to the youth, and the younger generation was always respectful to each other, the older kids, and to the adults. I hold a very high esteem of your town mainly based on the encounters with it's youth. So if anything you should be proud of the people that they are, and you should applaud the passion they show for the park, and trying to get across they're points to save the thing that they love. I see how much it means to them and I'm sure you can, and that is why I'm writing this. If I want to I can go drive to some other skate park, they can't, this is all they have. Something else I saw written in this blog is this talk of "their parents aren't paying close enough attention to them". I have met many of the parents of the younger riders, and they all seem to love their children very much, and care enough to come and support them in their fight. Maybe they recognize that when all weighed out, skateboarding and bmx riding are positive activities, that theres much worse things they could be doing then jumping over trashcans and writing on a picnic table. They have these sports to keep them active, and entertained. They aren't breaking your windows, doing drugs, or beating up other kids for fun. They're doing their respective sports for fun, and not hurting anybody else. You still may feel that the right thing has been done, and your entitled to that opinion, but I strongly feel that you should give the kids more credit then you have. They're a good group of kids and I wish them all the best, you should too. Happy Holidays.
There was nothing wrong with the ramps in the skatepark.
Bordz is a skateshop in Somers Point that HAD a permit to hold the event at the skatepark.
The cop riding a bike was right next to me, challenging me to a balance contest which I thought was hilarious.
I understand about the whole economic deal but the ramps hadn't been replaced in many years. I've been going to that park most of my life and I know that nothing's been fixed there in over 3 years
Do you people relize how much money they just put in the tear down the skatepark? And now they are going to spend tons more to make basketball courts. So by "cutting back on money", all they did was spend way more.
re 4:47 pm
I doubt very highly that there will be a basketball court.
As Mr.Gettings stated "the committee doesn't seem to have a problem taking people for a ride".
Here's a young guy from out of town and he can clearly see what a ride this town has been on with Chasey and Forman driving the bus.
I have no idea why a picnic table would cost $4,000 or a gate $1,000. Maybe Chasey and Forman authorized the sale from a "friend" in the business. That would be interesting to look into.
HEY MATT GETTINGS SINCE THEY TORN DOWN YOUR SKATEBOARD PARK YOU'VE BECOME A PRETTY GOOD WRITER. I KNEW YOU HAD IT IN YOU MAYBE SOME OF YOUR OTHER FRIENDS CAN WRITE TOO. (JUST REMEMBER IT'S SO EASY EVEN A CAVEMAN CAN DO IT)
8:59 The removal of the skate board park was a joint decision. How petty and political of you for your comments. AND, to answer Mr. Gettings, I believe you(grown ups too) all look to government much to much to solve your problems. Time to take care of your own parents.
RE 8:59am
Petty & Political????
Yes, the skateboard park was a joint decision but only because Chasey and Forman had made up their minds that's what THEY wanted.
If the other guys proposed it against THEIR wishes it would have been thrown out.
And YES! This town has been on a ride with Chasey and Forman with TOO many issues.
IT'S OVER!
Now the citizens of this town don't have to worry about being sold out for Waszen or any other influential "friends".
Actually, Chasey and Grabener seemed to be on the "fence", but after the videos came out, I think its over. Good try though.
RE 8:35 am
Chasey has put on so many acts of fake concern over the years that is would be impossible at this point to believe any of her actions or words.
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