The skate park, here at Rose Park, stays pretty active with skaters coming out to work on their skill, but some other things have happened out here that have shed a negative light on the park.
Today there was a robbery, there have even been fights here, and last summer there was a shooting. However, if you ask anyone out here they'll tell you that those incidents are isolated.
"It's really not as bad as it seems," says Caleb Horner, who skates frequently at the park. While some people may think that the skate park might be a breading ground for mischief, which guys like Horner say it's just a great place to come and hang out. "It's actually free, and it's entertaining. It's better to be doing this then sitting at home playing video games."
"People really do have a good time out here, these kids have a good time," adds Ferron Mercer. "People just joke around mainly, but nothing's really serious."
Although, some may point at the crimes that happen there, like today's robbery or even the shooting from last June, the people out here know those are just random acts.
"It's really random, people might beef one day and then two months later be friends," points out P.J. Butler, who knows a thing or two about the random acts at the park. After-all, he was the victim from the summer shooting. "[The skate park is not a playground for crime, or nothing like that. People just have fun and people make mistakes. That was something stupid that happened one night."
So, do all of these things bother these guys?
"No," answers Horner. "I'm not going to get involved in any of that so it doesn't really bother me."
These skaters out here, say that the common perception of the skate park seems to be negative, but they all admit that the skaters at this park act like a family. They add that the older skaters looking out for the younger ones.
While sometimes bad things happen, they maintain that its still a great place to hang out, and have some fun.
