"That being said if all the skater parents want to chip together buy A parcel of land build...", SAID doc0430.
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WHY SHOULD SKATER PARENTS HAVE TO "BUY" ONE??! THE CITY SHOULD "GIVE" THE SKATERS ONE!!...
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"..tax dollars were not spent on the BMX track the local BMX club paid for it parents volunteered many hours to make it and keep it up!" And AS DID THE KIDS BACK THEN!! But, the CITY came & tossed their TRASH on it (& it STILL WAS maintained!!), until the city GAVE THE LAND AWAY, hence Rotary Gardens (& for, MIND YOU, Non-For-Profit!!....)

There is A big difference between the proposed skate park and the old BMX track, tax dollars were not spent on the BMX track the local BMX club paid for it parents volunteered many hours to make it and keep it up! That being said if all the skater parents want to chip together buy A parcel of land build and keep it up buy insurance then go right ahead, but I for one do not want any of my hard earned money going into it. As one post already stated there is one in Beloit and in Monroe that he takes the kids to so theres an option for some get groups together another is to use the one that already exist an indoor facility behind the old Wal-mart its been there for years........

Opinionsforfree said~ "Just dont skate. Lets ban skatebording in Janesville completely then this wont be an issue."....LMAO! :)
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You are a HATER of THIS sport, because YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO, DO YOU?! :( :( :(.....Well, Hey!! IF you STOP being so POOPY (lol!) about THIS sort of issue, I'll gladly show you! :) BRING BACK THE BMX TRACK!! :) lol! (....AND, nope, no trailer park here! Sorry! :)

Not my taxes please.

I am confused who goes to Wal-Mart? Nice generalization. Thank you for showing us what kind of people we are dealing with. Lets move into the future. The skatepark is not looking for the citys money that is why they are looking for private funds. I am a tax payer as well and would prefer my taxes to go to schools and the safety of the city.

Rotary Gardens is a much better improvment over the BMX track that was there. Why not build a track and skate park next to wal-mart since most of you go there anyways.

I don't see what the issue is. Beloit has a great skate park that I take my kids to and I've never had any problems. Even Monroe has their own skate park and their population is around 10K. There are definately elitist attitudes around Janesville and all it does is isolate and alienate your populace. I'm old enough to remember the BMX track they ripped up to put in Rotary Gardens, all the kids just loved that.

I do not think that they should put a skate park in Palmer Park. Little kids play all over that park and when you add older kids the outcome will not be good.

wwr1961...Absolutely Awesome Statement...The BiGCaT agrees 100%

At least if these kids are outside skating, they are getting some good excercise. My son just went to Fort Wayne and has been at a skate park where Tony Hawk shows up once in awhile to skate. He said it was an awsome time and spent 4 hours skating and was dog tired when he came home. And by the way, Tony hawk spent300000.00 to build it and it is free to the public!!We spent over 10 million to build reuther way for G.M. and we cant spend a couple 100 thousand on our kids?

Remember the inline hockey rink by wilson school. I remember going down there and trying to play since they didn't want us using the tennis courts at palmer. They gave us the worst spot in the town with the worst surface in southcentral Wisconsin, next to gravel of course. I sure did like cleaning up my blood because my skate stuck in the tar, while getting death threats from the basketball players down there. I guess it doesn't matter what makes the most sense. You can't mess with Palmer Park.

How about the south end of Traxler Park by the mud volley-ball court. May be more accessable for the whole city?

"What do kids do when they get bored" WHO CARES!!!!!!

Just dont skate. Lets ban skatebording in Janesville completely then this wont be an issue

chefd: Well put.

I have driven by the park in Delavan may times and I don't see anything negative going on, just skating! Unfortunatley there are quite a few narrowminded people in this city, they seem to find it difficult to look at the bigger picture. They all scream about taxes going up and fiscal responsibility. What do kids do when they get bored????? Anyone of you that cares so deeply about fiscal responsibility can answer..................... Some of them get into trouble, actually quite a lot of trouble. What does this cost the city? Leave your sheltered lives once in a while and look around.

Optimism: I entered this one a bit late but I know many individuals that do other sports as well as skateboard. What an ignorant comment!

I am a 30 year old skater with 4 and 7 year olds who will more than likely skateboard. I like the Palmer Park location. Roger and Fern have worked very hard on this project as they did for the Peace Park and they are getting the same negative feedback they did when the fundraising was going on for that. I also am in support of the Pet walking area as well. I do think both areas could co-exist. I think its funny since the whole Aquatic Center thing that the city has been looking for room at Palmer and now we are getting our spot taken away. The Comittee at one time just wanted to utilize the unused Tennis courts in the same area for the Skatepark (which is not just for skateboards but bikes, inline and scooters etc.) but for some reason the city didnt like the idea to use the already there concrete. Skateboarding is no longer just a fad and grows larger every year. The X Games steadily gain more viewers and riders and skateboard and BMX sales are steady. I have been to the parks in Delavan and Beloit and many other parks around the area and the kids respect something that is "holy" to them. Before I had a license I would have skated from anywhere to get my wheels on some real ramps and rails. Theese kids need some support and there is more than 5%. You may not see the kids as they have to go to other cities/areas do to the Skateboard Ban plus there is nothjing to ride here. Just remember kids are kids they all have groups of trouble makers. I am tired of other sports getting whatever they want because they "need" more space to play. I know that Dawson field ejects a lot of players of the year do to foul language and drinking. Every sport has its "Bad Eggs"...from dog fighters, drug users, fights, bad language, etc. I have friends whom I skate with that are Lawyers, Doctors, Teachers, Union Workers, Top COmpany Salesmen, etc. Please break down the wall that skaters are all a bunch of vandals and trouble makers. Skaters come in all shapes and sizes and play other sports and do other activities.

Excellent point, nurse4u. I think a lot of the injuries could be avoided by taking some extra precautions...

perhaps G M could donate their parking lot on the corner of e state and jackson st. there is plenty of room for the park as well as parking, and maybee even a playground. G M could certainly use the write off, and their former employee's kids could use something to entertain them

My son is looking forward to this skatepark. He really doesn't care where it is built. He will be there. One thing I would like to suggest is that the kids wear proper safety equipment.

Nice try, Bill. But your comments are pretty transparent. Lengthy, but transparent.

It's understandable that people are nervous about the kids trying stunts and getting hurt, but that's the name of the sport. No different then my brother and husband getting drilled in the nose w/a baseball back in their little league days. Most sports cause injuries, but it's their choice to do it. And I think that a public skatepark would be great! I would love to be able to go down there w/my nephew and watch him and all the other kids skate/do tricks. I'm only 25 y/o, and there wasn't much for us to do back when I graduated. Movies and the private skatepark cost an arm & a leg just to sit there for 2 hours. And as for the comment about putting it by the cop shop to prevent gangs... gangs are all over down in the 4th ward, and isn't that why they put bike cops down there? Haven't seen much of a change!

billnewbie...I understand...there alot of people on these blogs that use them to degrade people. I don't know the cities plans for future development or where maybe the appropriate place to put something of that nature is...I do however believe that this city is in dire need of things and places for kids to go. Hanging out at the Dunkin Donuts on Milton Ave could be traded for something more interesting and fun to do if the city is willing to invest in the kids of this city.

BiGCaT:
NVgrf is something of a guerrilla when he writes his opinions, particularly when he expresses disrespect for others. He throws his “bombs” then he ignores responses like an insurgent hiding in the brush. He can be coaxed out of his refuge but he hardly ever engages in an exchange of ideas, he prefers to express contempt for people whom he deems inferior as he seems to be consumed with hatred for conservatives, republicans, George Bush, John McCain and anyone who draws his ire. My original post expressed my concern for the physical wellbeing of skateboarders in skate parks designed for stunts on somewhat dangerous obstacles, particularly for the novice, and that placing the skate park near the police department would keep it from becoming a gang territory which would prevent it from being defaced and little used due to the intimidating effects of gangs. Also, the area I suggested is centrally located and well served by public transportation. But then NVgrf attempted to distort my statement into some kind of anti-kid screed, as he has made a number of less than flattering assumptions about me, which speaks volumes about his judgment and character.

BigCat and ijwelch90 you both said it perfect. I also have a son who does both and is a good student. We do need more for the children. People are very selfish when it comes to children. I do not see why?

ame8736...U are right on. This city needs to spend more money on their youth. Janesville really don't have alot to offer to their kids. Activities for the Youth would keep some of them out of trouble. I know you can't keep them all out of trouble but the youth are our future and an investment in them is an investment in our future generations! To say it is a waste of time or money is simply poor judgement.

How narrow minded are people in this area that think that there will be gang members and trouble at a skate park? And to the person that wrote that people that play baseball dont skate board is insane@! I have family members that do both and get good grades in school. Why is it that all the communitys in the area consider a skate park a good alternative for kids and our backwards little town thinks we need new manhole covers. By the sounds of most of the comments you dont have family that likes to do that activity, it can be used for more than skateboards, also bikes and inline skates. How many kids does that cover now? Bottom line we need on and we need to do it soon... stop complaining.

NOT SURE WHERE WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE FOR IT BUT THE KIDS NEED SOMETHING TO DO AROUND HERE TO KEEP THEM BUSY AND OFF THEIR BACKSIDES SITTING IN FRONT OF VIDEIO GAMES

In california where all this crap started

The skate park is a better investment than the lovely manhole covers that the workers are painting nice stripes down as they mark the roads. It is about time we invest some money in the youth of Janesville instead of taking things away. Go to Rockford or Delavan and drive by the skate parks there and see them full most of the time. Not all will use the park, but it is another activity to offer to kids or families if you are into that thing.

If a skate park is viable in the city of janesville then it should be done in the private sector. This city needs to stop wasting time, effort, and money on luxury itmes. We all know that the tax base is going to shrink so lets be fiscally responsible.

NVgrf...Please clarify your comment here about Bill that you say "As open minded that Bill is of those who are different from his elitist self, I vote you build it in his back yard." Did he make a comment in the article that upset you?

Actually, one was built in a park a few blocks away. The kids have a great time there. It is good to see them away from their computers. Just kids like you and I were, Bill. Do you remember that?

The skate park behind the old walmart is privately owned and is expensive to skate at. I think the article is about a public park that would be free. I do think somewhere downtown would be nice but there isn't much room. I like palmer.

We could build it in your backyard, but that might be a little too far for kids to travel.

As open minded that Bill is of those who are different from his elitist self, I vote you build it in his back yard.

Put it between the police department and the hospital. That way, gang members won't congregate there and if someone gets hurt, it's a short crawl to the emergency room.

My "other" would be....in Beloit where they already have one. I don't see how a skate park next to batting cages is a good idea. The kids that use batting cages and the kids that use skate parks are two ENTIRELY different "clicks". There would sure to be fights over territory....my opinion, but I truly believe that is what would happen. Maybe if there is a huge demand for a skate park (which isn't there one behind the old Walmart Building?) maybe it should out by the ice skating place, by the guards building? I am all for kids expressing themselves in their own uniqueness, but seriously, these skate parks are a place for trouble. At least that is what I have whitnessed, I am sure I am generalizing, but I wouldn't want my kids hanging out at one.

Hey smarta**, I read the article and the title of the poll question and it does not say what kind of skating the park is for. If you are so smart, why not answer my question?

Go back to sleep under your rock. SHHH.

Don't the skaters have full access to the bike trails already? Or, are you referring to skateboarders?