Save Indianapolis Major Taylor Skatepark
Indianapolis Indiana’s (population of approx.810,000/the 11th largest city in the nation) one and only public skatepark is in the process of being turned over to Marion College(a private catholic school) for “management” due to the fact that the Indianapolis Parks Dept. is in a financial crisis. The college is apparently taking over a whole sports complex, in which the skatepark resides, consisting of a Velodrome, a BMX dirt track, and our lovable 15,300 square foot underdog of a skatepark. The college is focusing on the Velodrome because it has it’s own fixed gear bicycle racing team that it races on. Initially, the college wanted the skatepark bulldozed, but the city would not relinquish that privilege. The next request was to charge admission to a formerly PUBLIC skatepark with no intent to set those funds aside for the skatepark itself. After finding that they would have to get an insurance policy if the park was staffed, they decided they would want to have set hours for the skatepark, which had previously been open 24 hours a day. During those hours of operation it currently serves thousands upon thousands of users per year. The skater population in Indianapolis is estimated to be somewhere over 40,000 and growing, as of a 2006 cencus. The park has been open since 1999/2000, and is the kingpin of the skater/biker/blader community in Indy. There have been many contests, D.I.Y. events such as the Gnar-B-Q, and many skate clinics held there. The skatepark keeps a lot of people happy,sane, and content, despite being too small, outdated, and insufficient for the growing population. A lot of skaters state that they tolerate the conditions merely because they have nothing else. The argument is…”why can’t the college do what it will with the property, and simply leave the skatepark alone and open 24hrs. a day like it’s always been?”. If the park is closed at night it is likely many people will be arrested for trespassing on private property because previoulsy it had always been open to the public. That could open up a huge can of worms between the skaters and law enforcement. The city has been approached many times by the locals themselves wanting to donate their own blood,sweat,and tears to maintain the park, and to raise funds to keep it open and growing, only to be ignored. So to put this park in the hands of a privately run institution, with it’s own special interests, that has no motivation to run it, is not a solution. It is ethically and morally wrong. All we ask is that the Park remain PUBLIC, FREE OF CHARGE, and open 24 hours a day. There has never been a problem with this in the past 9 or so years, and we would like to keep it that way.
Enclosed is a link to an online petition, that will be submitted to the College,the Parks Dept.,and local politicians. *Keep in mind that after you submit your signature, a donation feature pops up. That in no way is an obligation to donate money. All we need is for you to sign the petition. We would be truly grateful. Time is of the utmost essence on this one, so please go to the attached link and sign that puppy as soon as you read this. Thank You truly,the skaters of Indianapolis Indiana.
