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June 27, 2009

Local business thinks Joplin could become skateboarding hub

By Greg Grisolano

news@joplinglobe.com

Zac Davis thinks a free skate park in Joplin is a great idea.

Davis, 17, from Carl Junction, said he and his friends don’t have many nearby options when it comes to taking their skateboards out. So he and another friend braved broiling heat on Saturday to check out a demonstration ramp set up by a local company hoping to get City Council approval to build a free park for skateboard enthusiasts at Schifferdecker Park.

“There’s nothing to do, man,” Davis said after taking a crack at the demo ramp at Memorial Hall in Joplin on Saturday. “I think a free skate park at Schifferdecker would be awesome. And it would probably put more people into the pool, too, because once they start skating, it’s going to get hot.”

“You can tell obviously the skaters enjoy it and the community enjoys it,” said John Hunter, sales manager for American Ramp Co. “The whole plan is to get the kids off the streets and give them a safe place to be.”

Executives of American Ramp Co., a Joplin-based business that builds and designs skate parks across the nation and around the world, made a pitch to the Joplin City Council earlier this month to develop a skateboard area at Schifferdecker Park. The company offered to do so for $29,400, less than half the normal cost, in order to help local skaters and to provide a showcase for their products in their hometown.

“We’re not looking to make any money off it at all,” Hunter said. “We just want to have our parks represented in our hometown.”

Several local communities, including Neosho, Nevada, and Pittsburg (Kan.), already have free skate parks for their youths. The city of Carthage is in the process of installing one. Joplin does have an indoor skate park under the operation of The Bridge, a local ministry, but that site charges a fee.

Hunter said his company would eventually like to partner with the city to develop several different styles of parks that also could be used as showpieces as well as entice skateboard events to promote economic development.

“There’s no reason with us here, and with how skateboarding is growing and is continuing to grow, there’s no reason that Joplin couldn’t be the skateboard Mecca of the Midwest,” he said.

Dozens of skateboard and BMX bike enthusiasts were still going strong on the ramp Saturday afternoon, despite a triple-digit heat index.

The show of support from local youths made an impression on Joplin Mayor Gary Shaw, who said the city would likely look into the company’s request at a future council meeting.

“It was obvious that there was a lot of enthusiasm from the young people,” the mayor said. “It’s something we definitely need to take a look at. We need to decide if we have the funds to do that.”



Heating up

A local church provided food and entertainment for families who attended Saturday’s event.

“It’s 95, 98 degrees out here and look at these kids,” said Pastor Michael O’Donnell, of Freedom Worship Center, 1002 E. Fourth St. in Joplin. “Some of them have been out here since 7 a.m. and haven’t stopped.

“Joplin needs to do something for its youth,” he said. “In my opinion, this is absolutely needed out here.”

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