How can your town broaden options for skateboarding and other outdoor activities?

Following the start of the deconstruction of a skatepark at George C. Wright Jr. Municipal Park in Smyrna, skateboarding enthusiasts spoke out about the lack of spaces and opportunities to practice their sport. What do you think could be offered to skateboarders and other fans of the outdoors in your town?

• Something like South Germantown Bike Park would be cool. — Tara Pettit
• Bring some pump tracks around! We have one BMX track in Delaware, and it’s only open a few hours a week. We have to travel to Maryland and other surrounding areas to be able to utilize outdoor pump tracks/skateparks! Will the deconstruction still continue for the skateboard park?! We honestly just discovered the Smyrna skatepark due to hearing about it being taken apart and immediately went to check it out, and my kids loved it! — Hillary Ternahan
• Yes, pump tracks! — Heather Donohue
• Get lawyers involved, get liability wavers as bulletproof as possible, and open up an off-roading area for off-highway vehicles. It doesn’t matter in the state where; we will all travel if it’s worth it. On that same property, have a skatepark and BMX tracks. They don’t take up that much space. If done right, the owner could make back the cost within four to five years or better, and then, you’re sitting on a gold mine, especially in the days of food trucks. — John Coroniti
• Great idea. We in Milford have a fantastic BMX track by the high school. — Denise Bella
• Skateboarding is a wonderful sport and takes lots of talent. Milford needs a park for all. I am in my 70s, and all people and teens deserve a park for their interests. We have baseball, football and softball fields, tennis courts and pickleball. So, let’s get skateboarding. — Denise Bella
• I agree. I also think that any of these places should have a removal clause, which would be for drugs, violence or weapons activity. You get one chance. If they blow it, it’s on them. — Glen Mcclements
• We need a private complex for skateboarding, motocross, BMX and go-karting. It should be privately owned and operated, with insurance included in the membership fees. — Chip Klase

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