After going to City Hall with both parents who had to produce positive government issued ID and signing the application in front of a city employee.Then we enjoyed a family trip to the 'Lock-up' section downstairs at the Pocomoke City Police Dept to have 'skater mug-shots' taken. The people at the station were very friendly and explained the process is new and they will work out a 'system' for the kids.
We received a call from Angel Thornes at the Pocomoke PD 2-hours later letting us know that the card was ready and had Grayson pick up his "Offical Skatepark card" in person after school the next day. (He was so excited)
Thursday night we checked all of our stock skateboard equipment and discovered his board had a split wheel so we drove to Toy's R Us in Salisbury Saturday to purchase a new skateboard and helmet... arriving back in Pocomoke after dark to a closed skatepark.
Talk about a kid filled with anticipation who could care less about any adult bickering, he was finally going to get to skate in the new skatepark.
10:34 AM we arrived only to find the gate locked so I called the station and they told me that an officer had already been dispatched to open the park for us. She was very friendly, opened the gate and told me there had been a grand total of 4 (four) kids there on Saturday...
Grayson did not care he was first and had it all to himself, he promptly ran to the top of the small ramp, skated down and shouted: I LOVE THIS SKATEPARK!
He skated all over everything up and down but I quickly realized that the kid needs a little instruction from the old man... but the cop who opened the gate sat in her car the whole time I did not want to "illegally" demonstrate how to do a kickturn on a ramp to my son. I decided then and there to obtain a pass for myself and would encourage any parent who has ever skated to get one too. (if its free then its for me)
Yes the park is a little small and the equipment is jammed together, but Grayson did not notice and he wants to go back for an afternoon session.
We would like to organize a community group to raise funds to improve the skatepark.
PARENTS IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED YOUR CHILDREN DOWNLOAD THE FORMS AND GET THEM SIGNED UP THEY WILL THANK YOU FOR IT.
2 comments:
Today the PCPD officer on ‘Skate Patrol’ was very friendly, courteous and professional.
Stephanie talked with her about the idea of duty officers accepting registration and she was receptive but professional is stating that something like that would have to go through the chain of command.
We spent the better part of the day at the skatepark today and there were several “qualified resident” kids ‘drooling’ over the fence and chomping at the bit to use it.
If the Burke’s suggest anything in Pocomoke, it’s automatically a bad idea that will never happen until one of ‘Pocomoke’s Royalty’ brings it up as their own idea.
Now if someone else were to ask the Mayor, Chief or City Manager (hint hint) there is a pretty good chance that more kids will be able to use the facility.
Overall it was a pretty good experience today and everybody is glad there is something healthy for the community to enjoy.
$25 dollars annually for non-residents is cheaper than Ocean City. BUT... given the quality of the Pocomoke skatepark, this non-resident will have to pass. I would rather drive another half hour to Chincoteague. Its free there and you don't have to go through all the hassle of going to city hall, filling out paperwork, and getting your picture taken. ATTENTION CITY OF POCOMOKE! your hours are inconvenient AND who wants to register by MAIL? And I still don't understand the concept of "socking it to" the non-residents and having it free to residents. Well... when Salisbury gets a skatepark, maybe they'll charge out the wazoo to "non-residents" and we'll get to skate for free!
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