Barnstable Recreation Skate Park
Written: Aug 18 '00 (Updated Aug 23 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: A sign of respect for the kids in the community, a free facility for out-of-towners as well
Cons: There's nothing like this in Bergen County NJ
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| sarahgutch's Full Review: Cape Cod |
Traveling with teens is tough, no matter the destination or time of year. It's pretty obvious before we ever leave the house that either we will provide them with constant, expensive entertainment, or they will try their best to torture us with their boredom. Couple that with a teen who craves extreme sports, and we have found that we've got someone who is nearly impossible to satisfy.
At home in New Jersey the opportunities to skate (board or in-line) are few. There are a couple of skate parks where we can drive 45 minutes to an hour, sign a waiver, then hang around for a number of hours for the "session," then drive him home. Not a fun day for the parent-driver. Any local attempts at skating around town are met with signs "NO Skateboarding, NO Bike Riding, NO having fun," with or without police enforcement of these rules.
I know part of the allure of skating is it's "bad boy" or "outlaw" nature. My adult son has come home with horror stories of police and other authority figures coming down hard on them just because they are on skates. But I trust my kid to use his best judgment, and that the things he does on skates would be impossible were he to impair himself with drugs or alcohol. This is activity they can feel great about when they accomplish the newest fancy grind or jump, even though I can't pretend to understand their language. Anyway, I have never restricted his or his brother's skating, even after a scaphoid (wrist) bone had fractured. Some real cool video can be seen on the internet of my son skating in his Gore-Tex cast.
What a wonder when we arrived in Cape Cod, called a local skate shop in Hyannis, and learned that there were several skate parks around the cape, and a free park not too far from where we were staying! We found the Barnstable Recreation Skate Park behind the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Rink, paid the $2 rental fee for elbow and knee pads (our son brought his own helmet, which would have cost an additional $1 to rent), signed the waiver and left him there for a couple of hours.
When we returned, I looked around and saw that there is plenty to keep a "sk8er" entertained. Two deep cement pools are rimmed with grinding rails, connected with a passageway and gap, at least 4 quarter pipes, and numerous rails, curbs, boxes and ramps of various sizes. The facility is clean and supervised by knowledgeable, pleasant young adults. Hours of operation are 12 noon to 10 p.m. daily, except Monday when the park is closed. Bikes only can use the park on Thursdays and Sundays from Noon until 5 p.m.; all other times it's just skateboards and in-line skaters. My husband observed from the sign-in sheet that most of the skaters were local, with a very few from out of state like my son.
There was a large plaque stating that the park was built and dedicated to the youth of Barnstable in 1999. I was impressed. The plaque stated, I quote with added emphasis: "The Town of Barnstable Recreation Department, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and Barnstable 'TOGETHER WE CAN' Prevention Team resolved to construct and sponsor this Skate Park for the youth of our community. This authorized Park elevates skateboarding and inline skating to an acceptable, recognized sport in the eyes of our Town. Funding was provided through the Community Development Block Grant program and the generous donations & contributions to the community."
Then there was a long list of sponsors, from local businesses, banks, community organizations and families. All this reflects an attitude of respect for the kids which I appreciate.
We were able to drop our son off with a couple of bucks in his pocket so he could buy snacks and then continue to enjoy our vacation. Later we returned to video tape his skating for a few minutes, bought him a t-shirt and headed back, everyone happy, to the motel.
This facility not only makes a positive statement to the kids in their community, it saved our vacation!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
sarahgutch
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Member: Abbie Slaman
Location: NJ
Reviews written: 42
Trusted by: 22 members
About Me:
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