Nowhere to skate

Skateboarders in Cape Girardeau have few options when it comes to their sport. Most businesses don't want them riding on their property and the police typically run them off sidewalks.

Unlike baseball players or soccer players, skateboarders don't have a park or place to call their own in Southeast Missouri.

But that's not because the city doesn't think one is necessary.

Dan Muser, parks and recreation department director, said the city is interested in developing a skateboard park.

But the city doesn't have the money for many new projects right now, so any skateboard park is a long way off.

Muser has been meeting periodically with skateboarders and parents interested in getting a park to Cape Girardeau, but interest seemed to wane over the summer.

"We've tried to get an organization of parents and users to get the project rolling," Muser said. "There's still an interest from the city."

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board has talked about turning Capaha Pool into a skateboard park should it ever be closed and a new aquatics center built, but those plans are long-range ideas that haven't been put on any timetable yet.