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Editorial: The Cow Creek Tribe of Umpqua Indians helps fund a new Roseburg skateboard park to provide fun for local area youth.
The vandalism of Roseburg’s nearly complete skate park is unfortunate and maddening, but it shouldn’t be allowed to override the positive aspects of this project.
The long-awaited and anticipated park for skate-boarders and skaters is scheduled to open mid-month.
It will be a testament to the determination and hard work by a number of adults and teens who struggled to find a suitable location and raise money. The result will be a swooping, curving, cement playground for those who enjoy the challenge of surfing on wheels.
Those who pressed for a skate park had many obstacles to overcome. They certainly can get by this latest bump, apparently caused by skateboarders who didn't like the design.
Someone wrote in wet cement, making, deep grooves, and sawed off a railing.
The vandalism drew an angry reaction from other skateboarders who are eager to test the new park.
Vandals are often caught through cooperation with community members. Many miscreants can't resist telling about their exploits. Others are caught in the act: by people who are determined to watch out for public and private property. The skateboard vandals may also be tracked down and prosecuted.
The vandalism certainly shouldn't be an indictment against the majority of skaters who spent countless, hours bringing this from an idea to a reality.
The park could not have happened without their determination to find a fun place to skate and in turn ease the pressure and conflict on the city’ s sidewalks and parking lots.
The project was funded primarily by grants from the Ford Family Foundation, the Cow Creek Tribe of the Umpqua Band of Indians, Douglas County, the Oregon Communities Foundation and the Ben B. Cheney Foundation.
Ignore the detractors. We agree with the sentiment of one skateboarder who got a look at the park recently: "Awesome.”
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