I'm tired of having to drive all the way to Tamarac or Weston for a skate session. Yes there is Ramp48 closer by, but Fort Lauderdale needs a skate park so kids don't end up skating downtown next to dangerous intersections and ruin private property. Holiday Park would be a prime location in central Fort Lauderdale for a skate park where skaters can connect and stay off the streets. Holiday Park's "A SENSE OF COMMUNITY" What transforms a crowd into a community? A chance for people to connect. Parks provide that chance. Holiday Park is where lifetime friendships are formed, where the gap between generations is bridged, where people discover what they have in common. How do you grow a hometown with a sense of community? It Starts In Parks! I believe the times are changing and parks should accommodate those changes with the vast growing sport of skateboarding. They thought it would be a fad, but we are still here. The War Memorial Auditorium certainly has accommodated to hosting MMA Fighting Entertainment. Mixed Martial Arts teaches a lot of discipline, but connecting punches might not be everybody's after-school hobby. I really think the youth can better connect if provided with a place to skateboard, build friendships, and express themselves individually. Let's give that chance. Holiday Park's "MISSION STATEMENT" To provide the opportunity to experience fun and rewarding recreational programs, events and leisure activities, in an aesthetically pleasing and safe environment accessible to all. On Holiday Park's programs list: http://ci.ftlaud.fl.us/life/guides/holiday.pdf , there isn't any roller hockey programs to suit the two spacious roller hockey rinks on site, and to my knowledge there are only used by way of pick up games. I'm sure a summer skate program could be implemented and make better use of the roller hockey rinks if they choose to sacrifice one of them and construct a skate-park in it's place. Either way, the park has plenty of space to host a skate park facility and would make the park more accessible to today's youth. When was the last time you saw some kids voluntarily go and play a round of volleyball, racquetball, or shuffleboard these days? No disrespect, but I really think a skate-park would attract many users, families, events, and positive energy. Fort Lauderdale's 100 years would certainly be celebrated best by ushering something positive for our kids to really enjoy, and also their future kids. Thank you for reading my rant and hopefully a movement in the right direction to get this going. Please contact Phil Thornburg, Director of Parks and Recreation Department: 954-828-PARK (7275) and let your voice be heard. Sincerely, Chris Sideway Suan

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