Comments on just up the pike: safe silver spring summit recap

And just who is going to pay for this special "spa...

2009-05-22T10:58:13.596-04:00

And just who is going to pay for this special "space" that the youth want? It costs money to create and maintain space, and from what I've heard, these youth just want to come down to Silver Spring and "hang out." They want the local economy to support their desire for a place, but don't want to support the local economy by spending money in the shops and restaurants.

I deleted my last comment because I didn't like th...

2009-05-20T21:10:11.325-04:00

I deleted my last comment because I didn't like the way I said it. Too bitchy.

But here are the facts.

The East of Maui Skatepark was built specifically to be an interim park. It was never intended to be there permanently, because from its beginning, it was known that downtown would ultimately have one of two things -- a giant mall, or some other kind of walkable shopping area.

Everything that was built downtown at that point, the skatepark, the Interim Playground (with the sand volley ball courts), the concert stage, and the kiddie play area, were only intended to be downtown temporarily.

And my whole point is that in terms of planning for permanent facilities and amenities, it seems that very little thought and consideration has been given to teens in terms of them being equal members of our community, with needs that are equally as important as those of adults.

The only part of the redevelopment that can at least in part be considered something that's for teens, will be the ice-skating rink. And we all know how many black and Hispanic kids ice skate.

2009-05-20T20:37:08.564-04:00

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East of Maui Skatepark closed due to insurance and...

2009-05-20T09:42:49.492-04:00

East of Maui Skatepark closed due to insurance and other rising business costs while use and revenue remained flat. Talk to the owner (he has a skatepark out at the shore), like I did and you'll find the County had nothing to do with his closing. This was not something "taken away" from SS kids. If it had made enough money and been a successful business, it would still exist here in SS today.

You're talking about many years ago. I seri...

2009-05-19T21:52:36.421-04:00

You're talking about many years ago. I seriously doubt that Ike Leggett would sit still for someone suggesting that it would be bad to do something for County folks because it would bring in black kids from DC.

And it's not just Mr Leggett: I can't think of anyone who would object to "black" kids from DC. But I can think of a lot of folks who would object to anything that attracts lawless folks from anywhere.

But it's still true: we need more and better facilities for all of the kids, and there are so many subcultures -- let's not simplify everything down to race, okay? -- that what you might build today for one youth subculture, might be an unused white elephant five years from now. Or it might become the home turf of another youth subculture, using it in unintended ways and excluding those for whom the original facility was intended.

And as to people in Red Shirts... the more people in town who are warring with the Bloods, the more people are likely to be taking shots (cheap or otherwise) at the people trying to bring a little order.

Many years ago when Downtown Silver Spring was jus...

2009-05-19T06:28:00.000-04:00

Many years ago when Downtown Silver Spring was just an idea, I said repeatedly, to anyone who would listen, that we needed recreation for young people downtown.

Again and again, I was shot down. The reason given? That would draw all the poor black kids from DC. So-called progressive people actually said that.

When DTSS was being planned, the needs of kids was simply not part of the conversation...not for very long anyway. It wasn't a priority, either by the powers that be or by the community.

Could that be the reason that everything kids ever loved downtown was only "interim" and ultimately destroyed?

The East of Maui Skatepark, the Interim Playground, the turf, skating on Ellsworth -- all were taken away.

And even after 935 Bonifant was demolished and Montgomery County spent a small fortune on leveling and sodding that field, making sure to make it nice for someone, did anyone consider doing something creative for kids there?

I know it's important for doggies to have a place to poo, but I think kids are a little bit more important.

I'm just saying. I mean, the doggies do like that field.