Newtown Needs A Skateboard Park

To the Editor:

When I’ve written to you in the past, sometimes my thoughts are inspired by a single word. I’ve found it interesting to look up words we used every day in the dictionary that seem so simple and meaningless, yet when studied in detail have an impact that delivers many ideas in a single punch. The word that recently got my attention is “Because.” Take a look (Webster dictionary), Be cause”/,conj. (oe, bycause; by + cause.) 1. By or for the cause that; on this account; for reason that, to assign the reason of a thing, or that on account of which it takes place. A cause, motive, explanation, justification, or the like, of an action that takes place.

So what’s my point? You guessed it. Newtown needs a skateboard park. Why? Because — almost all skateboarding accidents happen on the streets, not in parks, with a high percentage involving motor vehicles.

Irregular riding surfaces account for over 50 percent of injuries. Think about this “reason.” Do baseball, soccer, basketball, lacrosse, etc, have places to enjoy their players’ favorite sport? What if they had to play in the Super Stop & Shop parking lot? Just “because” skaters uniforms aren’t blue and gold should they be excluded? Does it matter to you if a skateboarder gets killed “because” the town in which they live have residents that can’t get past their personal misconceptions?

Here’s an insightful statement, by Herbert Spencer: “There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance — that principle is contempt prior to investigation.”

July 26 Donate to Skate is having its first fundraiser — a skateboard competition festival. Come see for yourself. Skateboarding is a challenging sport. Newtown has a great group of boarders. Talented and motivated. If I was asked to help raise money for kids because their safety was at stake, would I? Yes. Because it’s the right thing to do for “our” community. The Newtown Community needs to open their eyes and become accountable for their youth as a whole. Go to donate to skate.com. Please volunteer, make a contribution, or come to the fundraising festival. Why? “Because” you’ll show that you care.

Donations are kept in an account at Newtown Parks & Rec. Please make a check payable to: Newtown Parks & Recreation – Gift Fund w/“Donate to Skate” on the memo line and mail to: Newtown Parks & Recreation, 3 Main Street, Newtown CT 06470 or you can stop into the office to hand deliver it.

Thanks to all those who have already given their donation, time or both. The website will have the list of donors to recognize and thank everyone soon.

Sincerely,

Lori Capozziello

123 Toddy Hill Road, Sandy Hook                                June 25, 2008