A day of music, skateboarding and biking for area youth is being planned for Saturday, Aug. 4 at 98 S. Glaspie St. in the Village of Oxford.
‘I had talked to the teenagers in the area and they were gung-ho about this,? said Oxford resident Tom Smith, who’s planning the village-sanctioned and sponsored event to be held the same day as Celebrate Oxford. ‘We have good kids in this community and they just need somewhere to go.?
Council last week voted unanimously to allow Smith to use the former industrial property the village owns for his proposed outdoor event, which will include a show featuring musical acts comprised of local young people, skateboard course and BMX bike course
‘I think this is a great thing Tom’s trying to do,? said Councilman Tom Benner. ‘We have the property. We have the building. And I think it needs to be put to good use for our community. Kids do need something to do.?
Village officials also agreed to provide up to $6,000 in funding for the event. The village will use insurance money it received when a quonset hut on the 98 S. Glaspie St. property was destroyed by a fire in October 2005.
Smith is also trying to secure financial support from Oxford Twp. Parks and Recreation and local businesses.
Plans are currently being pursued to rent an eight-piece portable skateboard course (demonstration model) for $3,500, according to Manager Joe Young. Some of the $18,000 raised by the Skatepark Committee, headed by Brian and Marla Wenzel, will be utilized.
Smith originally pitched the idea of spending up to $24,000 to purchase a portable skateboard course for the event. From 98 Glaspie St. and downtown Oxford to Seymour Lake and Stony Lake township parks, the portable skateboard could be moved anywhere and become a ‘great boon to the teenagers,? according to Smith.
‘It can be stored and housed at 98 Glaspie, but it can be used anywhere,? he said.
Councilman Chris Bishop indicated he liked ‘the idea of a temporary skateboard course because it’s not a permanent thing that has to be patrolled, maintained and taken care of.?
‘It can be folded up and put away,? he said.
Smith said both the skateboard and BMX courses will feature donation buckets to raise money for construction of a permanent skatepark someday.
‘This could be a catalyst to raise money,? he said. ‘They could get their $90,000 park if it’s properly promoted.?
The event would be covered by the village’s insurance, but as an extra measure of protection, patrons would be required to sign a waiver of liability.
Kids under age 16 would also be required to have a parent or guardian present at the event.
‘Parents aren’t going to be able to drop their 10-year-old off at this thing,? Smith said. ‘They’re gonna have to be there with them.?
Tickets for the event will cost $10 each for those 13-years-old and up or two passes for $15. Senior citizens and children under 13 would be charged $5. All ticket revenues would come back to the village.
Smith also hopes the village will take the revenue and use it to improve and develop the 98 S. Glaspie St. property into a recreation and entertainment venue.
Councilwoman Teri Stiles was hopeful the event could ‘kick-start? local interest in doing something with 3.42-acre site.
Since the village purchased it in March 2006 for $700,000, the property’s been used by the DPW to store road salt and leased to a private company to store boats.
Money aside, Smith said the most important reason for the event is to give local youth something to do.
‘We’ve got some good teenagers in this community that are getting in trouble because they’ve got nowhere to skateboard,? Smith said. ‘They told me if they gather six or more down at Scripter Park, the police kick them out of the park. That’s not right.?
‘The teenagers (have) got to have somewhere to go.?