El Mirage opened its skatepark early in August, and the Arizona Republic did an article about it. I called the reporter beforehand and was able to get them to talk about how bikes were banned from the skatepark in the article, but that's about as far as my efforts went. They didn't use any of my quotes. At least we've got a discussion going, right? As with most newspapers online, you can comment on the article, after registering. It's a pain in the ass to register, but do it because this article is one of the first items that comes up when you google "El Mirage Skatepark". Anyone looking for info on the park will see your comment when you post it. Be respectful, make your point clear, and don't cover what's already been covered. There are plenty of arguments we can use to get bikes in the skatepark, and with my comment on the article I only scratched the surface. The more we can embarrass El Mirage officials into doing what is right for the children in their community, the better. Here's the link:
http://www.azcentral.com/community/surprise/articles/2009/08/04/20090804gl-nwvskatepark0805.html
July 10th, 2009
Doug Strong's work ethic and logic es El Mirage
Jim McCasland of Prescott Parks and Rec really did a great job in completely researching the bikes in skatepark issue before opening the Prescott Skatepark, but he is now retired. Currently Paul Bernardo and Michelle Yates from Glendale, Mickey Ohland from Chandler, and Tom Ellis from Marana are all great examples of parks and rec officials who have learned what bike riders need, and continue to stay interested and provide for the needs of bike riders, skaters, and inline skaters in their respective cities. It still, however, boggles my mind when I come across parks and rec officials in Arizona, after all that's gone on here, that harbor draconian attitudes against kids who ride bikes, and embody such a slothful approach to finding a positive solution to the issue like El Mirage Recreation Administrator Doug Strong.
A few days ago, Michael Doyle e-mailed to tell me a new street plaza style park was finished in El Mirage. He and some other riders and skaters were checking it out, and some parks and recreation officials were out there. Michael asked the officials if the park would allow bikes, and they said it would, and he should come out for the grand opening on August 8th. Mike said he felt they were bullshitting him, though.
Listen kids, I’ve said this tons of times, and I’ll say it again: If you ever want to find out if a park will allow bikes or not, call up the head of parks and rec. It’s easy! They will tell you! I called up Doug Strong, Recreation Administrator for the City of El Mirage within minutes of receiving Michael’s e-mail. Doug said that the park would not be allowing bikes, and the decision was made before he was hired to his position in October ’08. Okay, but did he know that bike riders in El Mirage wanted to ride the park? He claimed he didn’t know, because he said no bike riders participated in the city’s process to make the park. You know the story, we’ve heard the same line of bullshit from so many cities. The park wasn’t designed for bikes. Well, how did THAT happen? I told him about the bias that New Line Skateparks (the designer) and California Skateparks (the builder) have against bikes, like almost every skatepark designer and builder has. He didn’t care. I also told him that skatepark designers and builders always try to keep things under wraps so the bike riders don’t hear about them. You see, bike shops NEVER get notices about new skateparks being built, and upcoming community input meetings. Skate shops do, most of the time DIRECTLY from the skatepark designer. Sure it’s announced in the newspapers, but how many 10-14 year old kids read the goddamn newspapers?! So from the very start, skatepark designers feed all the public input meetings with what are essentially ringers—a bunch of kids that only skateboard. The parks and rec officials think only skateboarders want a park, and the designers make sure to design it ONLY for skateboarders, which is a complete sham anyways (just refer to my article, “Expostion of the ‘Bikes Damage Skateparks’ Myth.”)
I then queried Doug if he knew about the multitude of skateparks in Arizona that also “weren’t designed for bikes” but now allowed them, and are experiencing no problems. He said he knew, but he didn’t care. Mesa, Marana, Prescott Valley, Bullhead City, Arivaca, Douglas, Show Low…none of these skateparks were “designed for bikes”. And yet they now allow bikes, and are experiencing no problems with bikes whatsoever. But you won’t see Doug talking to those cities about it, no sir. He can’t be bothered. Too much work to pick up a phone or shoot out a quick e-mail.
Next I asked Doug if he knew that he would have an enforcement problem with bikes on his hands at the new skatepark. He said he did and that El Mirage P.D. was well prepared for it. Did you catch that?! HE SAID HE DID REALIZE THAT KIDS ON BIKES WOULD BE RIDING THE SKATEPARK AND THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD HAVE TO USE CITY RESOURCES TO KEEP CHILDREN ON BICYCLES OUT OF THE SKATEPARK!!! How nice it must be to have a job that doesn’t subject you to the constraints of logic and reason! Was this guy born to a Visigoth family in the Year of our Lord 1043? He didn’t think El Mirage citizens wanted bikes allowed in the skatepark, but he knows they’ll have to keep bikes out! Simply………..amazing.
So then I asked Dougy what the mission of El Mirage parks and recreation was, as he understood it. He had had about enough of me showing him what a shit job he was doing at that point, so he asked me if I was a citizen of El Mirage. I told him I was not, and he was quick to get bail out of the phone call. Since I’m not a citizen, he is not required to talk to me. Who cares, I instantly found the answer to my question on El Mirage’s website. The mission of El Mirage Community and Recreation Services is “provides opportunities for residents, while collaborating with neighboring agencies, to promote healthy lifestyles, increase educational attainments, strengthen community image, and establish a livable community.” Doug Strong, with his “no bikes” policy and complete refusal to re-evaluate it is FAILING at not just one, but THREE of the points he is supposed to be accomplishing. 1. BMX park-style bike riding is a healthy lifestyle. 2. A concrete park that allows co-mingled use strengthens community image, by showing that the community is tolerant of all kinds of positive activities, and by promoting a sharing attitude of public spaces among its youth and adults. 3. A park that allows bikes makes for a more livable community, by providing a higher quality of life for its youth and adult citizens. More options and opportunities= more livable.
While Doug
Strong is not required to talk to me, he is, however, required to speak with
El Mirage citizens, and I would highly encourage all El Mirage bike riders,
parents and supporters to call him at (623) 876-2951 and tell him you DEMAND
that the new skatepark allow kids on bikes. DEMAND that Doug ACTUALLY DO
HIS GODDAMN JOB!
