Newspaper Page Text
Skateboard park
Continued from Page 1
before awarding the bid and perhaps
actually rebidding the construction
contract.
Sublett voted against it without
comment.
In addition, during the commis
sion’s Public Comment Period immedi
ately prior to the regular meeting, two
skateboarders spoke asking the com
mission to hold off on the project and
give “the local skateboard community”
some input on the design of the park.
Jim Hill said he had tried to get
involved with the project through the
local skateboard association.
“But,” Hill said, “We were unable
to make that happen. We want to be
involved in the design. I see design fea
tures lacking (in the proposed design).
What is wrong with making some
modifications to the design. This park
needs to be for all skaters, all ages and
skill levels. And we want to see tax
dollars spent wisely.”
Hill said he appreciated what the
county was doing and offered to work
with the recreation department in
applying for a grant from the ‘Tony
Hawk Foundation’.
Note: Tony Hawk is a professional
skateboarder who formed a charitable
foundation. According to their web
site, the foundation, “through special
events, grants and technical assis
tance, supports recreational programs
with a focus on the creation of public
skateboard parks in low income com
munities.”
Another skateboarder, Calvin Ken
ney was also less than pleased with
the county’s skateboard park design,
which he claimed was done by County
Recreation Director Wesley Davis.
“The design looks good in the draw
ing, but on the ground it’s a different
thing,” said Kenney.
Kenney said having Davis design
the park was like letting a landscaper
build a golf course. “You need a golf
course expert to do the job,” he said.
Later during the regular meet
ing, Davis told the commission he did
not design the park. That was done,
according to Davis, by American Ramp
Co., with his input, at no cost to the
county.
Kenney also said the county needed
to get an experienced company to build
a world class facility that would be a
“destination park” and draw skaters
not only from surrounding counties,
but from around the state and the
south.
Kenney also questioned the safety
factor of what he called a “non-skater’s
design.”
“This design,” said Kenney, “is like
putting a cul-de-sac on an interstate
and calling it an off ramp.” Kenney
said it was not a good design and
skateboards were going to be “flying
everywhere.”
Initially, the skateboard park proj
ect was listed on the consent agenda,
but Commissioner Tony Thaw (Dist.3)
pulled it for public information pur
poses.
Thaw said that since he had been a
commissioner they have been working
on not only the skateboard parks, but
all areas of recreation.
“There’s a lot of good things hap
pening in our recreation department,”
Thaw said.
Thaw spoke about the numerous
meetings Davis held with local skate
boarders.
‘We decided to put a small one on
St. Simons and the large one on the
mainland,” said Thaw, ‘We listened
to their input and attended numerous
meetings. This design can be added
onto later if we need to expand the
park and if the skateboard association
raises the money. We’ve got plenty of
land.”
Thaw also thinks that skateboard
ers will travel to Glynn to use the
park. Many of them will stay overnight
or for the weekend which will be ben
eficial to the local economy, especially
if they have skateboard competitions
at the park.
After Thaw’s comments, Wesley
Davis told the commission that the
park “was not an overnight deal.”
“I’ve been here 14 years,” said Davis,
“and we’ve been working on the skate
board park for 12 of them.”
Davis said he has looked at many
other skateboard parks and designs
and has been meeting with the local
skateboard association since 2007.
Commenting on American Ramp
Co. and the construction contract,
Davis said, ‘We put in the design what
the skateboarders told us they wanted.
When we put the bid on the street we
required that bidders must have been
in business 10 years and have built at
least five skateboard parks.”
After the conversation, Thaw made
a motion to approve the contract.
Coleman asked Davis, “How do you
know this is a good price?”
Davis responded, “We have books
and books of parks that show pric
es. We’ve been investigating this for
years. We’ve looked at thousands of
pictures of parks. We know what they
cost. This is not a million dollar park,
it’s not like the ones you see on TV, but
it has a lot of stuff.”
“A year ago, weren’t you talking
about building a destination park with
skateboarding events?” asked Cole
man.
‘Yes,” said Davis, “but since we only
have about $300,000 to spend, and
not $500,000 this is what we can get.
The association said they were going
to raise money for a larger facility but
didn’t.”
“Did you design it?,” asked Cole
man.
“American Ramp Co. (ARC)
designed it. We are not designers,”
THE ISLANDER, MAY 10, 2010, PAGE 5
said Davis, ‘We told them what we
wanted and they, the professionals,
designed it.”
“Did they consider the geography of
the area?” asked Coleman.
‘Yes,” said Davis, “they built the
one on St. Simons, so they are aware
of the conditions.”
“Did you get a second bid (other
than ARC)?” asked Coleman.
‘Yes. It was rejected as non-respon-
sive,” said Davis.
Coleman questioned whether the
construction contract should have
gone to the company that designed the
park. He said it would give them an
unfair advantage.
Coleman said, “When you’re going
to spend $400,000 on a project, you
should look down the road at longevity
and maintenance instead of jumping
on the first thing you see. We should
take more time and look at others. Let
see how competitive this bid really is.
I’d like a little more information from
people and skateboard park compa
nies.”
Davis said, “I work for the commis
sion. I’m here to do whatever you want
me to.”
At that point Thaw called the ques
tion and his motion was approved. □
State Senate
Means Leadership
Wise, conservative leadership that
protects our freedoms, defends
our values and provides for
future generations.
Faithfully served as Municipal Court Judge for the
City of Brunswick for 16 years
Has practiced law for 23 years; as Senior Partner in the firm of
Ligon, Middleton and Lindberg, PC, he understands the pressures
of running a small business
Is deeply committed to the future of our area, with his residence
in Camden County and his law practice in Glynn County
I pledge to be an advocate for the conservative principles of
limited government, lower taxes, free enterprise, individual
liberties and family values. I will use my best judgment and
knowledge of the law to promote and defend these ideals which
are important to our way of life in coastal Georgia.
\
WILLIAM LIGON
Vote William Ligon State Senate, Third District, in the Republican Primary on July 20.
To learn more: williamligon.com
912.275.8220 Email: info@williamligon.com