Skaters need to band together for more clout

The move toward development of a skateboard park in Cape Girardeau is slow, but it's beginning to gain momentum. With more grassroots support, more involvement by skateboarders and parents and even the creation of a skateboarding club, the effort to build a safe place for skateboarders could really pick up steam.

At an informational meeting sponsored by the city's parks and recreation department, fewer than 20 interested individuals showed up. If a skateboard park is going to happen, it's going to need a much bigger show of support.

The parks and recreation department is looking for ways to bring skateboarders together and appears more than willing to help facilitate a skate park. The big issue, of course, will be funding. The city is looking at a tax increase to pay for essential equipment, projects and services and isn't likely to be inclined to add a skate park to its list of top needs.

Fund raising by skateboarders would go a long way in convincing city officials of the benefits.

This effort deserves community support even from individuals who have never been on a skateboard and particularly from business owners who complain about skaters on sidewalks in front of their stores. The sooner a skate park becomes reality, the sooner skaters will have a safe place to go away from city sidewalks.