PETITION IN SUPPORT OF A FREE COMMUNITY SKATE PARK Skateboarding is a healthy, non-competitive sport that thrives in the Methow Valley, and the rest of the country. The town of Twisp, along with Winthrop, Carlton, Methow and Mazama has no permanent, safe, clean facility for the valley’s young people to come together and recreate. We desperately need a designated area to for our youth to call their own. To skate, hangout and or just be with their friends. Skateboarding is here to stay. We, the undersigned are requesting support in creating, designing and building a facility. We, the undersigned, support the development of a free, public, concrete skate park in Twisp. Notes to the Parents and The Twisp Town Council: In 2007 there were over 13-million skateboarders in the US (according to SGMA.) 93.7% are younger than 24. When one considers that there are about 80-million people in the United States between the ages of 5 and 24 (according to U.S. Census Bureau), it suggests that 1 out of every 7 youth in the nation are skateboarders. In communities where health and physical activity is an important social value, the number of skateboarding youth may be much higher. Similarly, in communities that support their skateboarders with sustainable skate parks, the skaters tend to remain active for longer periods of time. Participation statistics demonstrate that this level has been consistent for the past 15 years (U.S. Census Bureau.) And still, there are only about 2,500 skate parks nationwide to accommodate 13-million skateboarders. Some Other Quick Facts: • The average skateboarder is between 7-16 years old. • Almost all skateboarding accidents happen on the streets, not in parks, with a high percentage involving motor vehicles. • Irregular riding surfaces account for over 50% of all injuries to skateboarders. • Skate parks with smooth surfaces and protective gear requirements have a very low injury rate. • Youth ages 12-17 who are frequently bored are 50% more likely to smoke, drink, and use illegal drugs. • For ages 14 and under, less than 1% would use drugs while skateboarding, in-line skating or freestyle biking and all prefer their sport to drugs. • Studies show that a skate park has no more noise than the ambient surrounding noises that exist in other parks and is not nearly as noisy as a baseball park.