Cape needs bigger skate park

To the editor;

I am wondering about Cape Girardeau's minimal attempt to provide a skate park for its youths. About seven years ago, My friends and I, along with some parents, tried to get a skate park or BMX track started. We went through Cape and Jackson officials and were not really even given the time of day. However, a few city council members in Scott City as well as some others helped and got a small BMX track up and running in Scott City. It was an awful track. It was a track though. After a few months the track became deserted.

Now that the popularity of extreme sports has boomed on TV, local riders as well as those from far would like to have a larger park to accommodate them. We have a small setup in Cape, but it is very small. Jackson has some ramps as well but doesn't allow bikes. This leaves as our only other option riding through town trying to find places to ride. Most of the time it is on private property, and the landowners always kick us off. We don't wish to cause any type of commotion but are left no other choice, because there is nowhere else to go.

I just hope someone who shares my longing for a place to ride -- somewhere to have fun all day rather than 15 minutes -- will read this.

J.P. HARRELL, Cape Girardeau