A rash of complaints regarding skateboarders in the downtown area has led the Clarkston police chief to draft a revised ordinance to deal with the problem, but local skateboarders are none too pleased.
The current ordinance prohibits only biking or similar devices on Main Street. Chief Ernest Combs wants to clarify the wording to include skateboarding as well as in-line skates, which have also become a problem. The ordinance would also prohibit skateboarding on structures above ground.
Ever since the landscape wall was built at the Washington and Main streets municipal parking lot, Combs said, there’s been a problem with skateboarders jumping off of it. The same has been said about the flower boxes at Depot Park. There are already abrasions on the new planter walls at the park because of skateboarding.
More than the damage, Combs is concerned about injury. He said the kids try to emulate professional extreme sport athletes, jumping off railings, stairs and walls, and eventually someone will get hurt.
‘I’m not anti-skateboard,? he assures, but wishes skateboarders would take their sport to the skateboard park in Ortonville or Waterford.
Combs has taken a half dozen citizen complaints about the skateboarding.
He hopes the revised draft will be approved at the next City Council meeting, July 14. City Attorney Thomas Ryan will review the draft in the meantime.
If anyone under the age of 17 violates the revised ordinance, which would be a civil infraction, Combs said the skateboard will be confiscated and their parents will have to pick up the skateboards.
Clarkston High schoolers and skateboard enthusiasts Alexx Keesling, Aaron Winston, Jon Guibord and Aaron Engler, all 15, aren’t happy with the proposed ordinance.
‘We need a place to skate,? Engler said. Of going to a nearby skate park, he said, ‘How are we going to get there??
‘We’re not doing much damage,? Winston assured.
And if the boys ever injured themselves, they say they wouldn’t sue the city. ‘We know it’s our own fault,? Engler said.
All the boys said they’ve been told by local police several times to walk their skateboards, often when they’re skateboarding to school.
Keesling thinks ‘warning? signs should be posted stating limitations for skateboarders such as no jumping off walls. But skateboarding shouldn’t be banned completely, he said..