Donate To Skate

To the Editor:

In support of the informative article on the Prevention Council last week, I couldn’t help feeling the urgency toward providing a skateboard park as well as other recreational facilities for our Newtown Youth.

Drew Taylor, representing Newtown High School’s chapter of SADD [Students Against Destructive Decisions], suggests [in The Newtown Bee; January 26, 2007] that “parents take a cue from the report, volunteering to set up a place that would attract a diverse group of teenagers.”

“This would give kids something to do on the weekends, keeping them out of trouble.”

Although your child may not be a skater, I feel the development of a skateboard park will be a stepping stone of what we can do to provide healthy recreation for our youth. Newtown Parks and Recreation does a fabulous job providing activities for young children and adults.

It can be hard to figure out how to entertain teens, because all they really want to do is hang out. I have a teen so I know. Hang out — doing what? Where?

Drew concluded, “The town should rally together to provide a place where teens can go to have fun without getting in trouble and they’d be less likely to drink.”

In reading the article, over 800 out of 1,000 respondents said they would support a recreation center.

The skateboard park is a step in the right direction. I was heartbroken to read that 235 people out of 1,000 people who did the survey said they would be likely to buy beer for underage children. These parents are taking the easy way out. What are they thinking?

After the development of our skate park our intention is to always have an attendant. We’d like it to be open for our youth according to their schedule, meaning weekends, vacation time, etc. There will be a charge to use the park so there will always be funds to pay the attendant, upkeep, and insurance.

The Ridgefield skateboard park is an example of what we’d like in Newtown. Rollerbladers are welcome! Yesterday I took my son to The Ram Pasture to ice skate. It was a beautiful sight to see so many kids on the ice.

Let’s listen to Drew Taylor’s advice and rally together. We need to create an environment that will be a testament to our values. We all want our kids to grow up in a healthy environment. We don’t want them to have such few choices of entertainment that drugs and alcohol become their choice.

I feel parents I know (teens’ parents), are trying to keep their kids on the right track by keeping them involved in sports and escorting them to places out of town for fun activities. We also have groups come to our houses where there is supervision to hang out.

When I’m old and gray (which isn’t far away) I’d like to look back and say, “The trouble was worth the time.” The Skate Campaign just started a few weeks ago and has already opened my eyes to how many outstanding people live here. The skateboard park can be the beginning of even better things to come. If we join forces I believe anything is possible. What’s your dream?

To the beer-buying parents and adults: Instead of taking a ride to buy beer, take a ride down to one of the many fundraising activities Donate to skate is planning, or volunteer your time. Oh, and, don’t forget to bring your kids!

Sincerely

Lori Capozziello

Donate2SkateLC@aol.com

123 Toddy Hill Road, Sandy Hook                          January 31, 2007