The Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Department has added itself to the list of public institutions (such as the churches that lock doors to keep the very individuals with whom the edifice is built from communing privately with God; the schools that stand empty and expending prescious resources) that prohibit us from utilizing our dollars, enjoying our spaces to the fullest. It took five years to get the skateboard park erected at MacIntyre tennis courts. WHY is the gate constantly closed? Is this a park like every other one in town? Why has this one been singled out and barred from public use? We complain that our nation is full of overweight children yet keep them from the very things that give them exercise. Skateboarding, rollerblading and trick biking, the kind of activities that take place in the park, are misunderstood sports because they deviate from the traditional team/rule book to one where the individual is in control and makes the rules. Youths often spend hours and days perfecting one flip or move. These sports defy the usual competitive games as one competes with oneself to improve personal skills instead of against others.

When the park was first built, youths utilized the space day and night. After the initial building of the park, youths came with their shovels to remove snow, such was their enthusiasm. Is this public place, the kind of entertainment and exercise we would rather have our children participate in rather than sitting in front of the TV all day?

The park is used by college, high school, middle and elementary school youths with a few adults. The college students prefer utilizing the park during the day while younger students are in school. During the summer when students might come in the morning before sweltering heat, the park is closed. During the day when school is out for holiday or break, the park is closed. It seems a waste of taxpayer dollars to have such a wonderful facility under lock and key, underutilized and barred from those who would like to use it throughout the day. Can we give back the park to those who assisted in building it?