Change of Rules and Regulations in the Skatepark of New Port Richey

To: Parks & Recreation Director Elaine Smith

Hi, we the undersigned are skateboarders that live in the Tampa Bay Area, we travel everyday in order to skateboard in skate parks. There aren't many skate parks in the Tampa Bay Area, and most are very far from our homes. The skate park of New Port Richey happens to be the only skate parks in the New Port Richey area. We would love to skate in the New Port Richey Skate Park, and would not mind the $20 a year membership as long as we don't have to skateboard with pads. Pads are very uncomfortable and stop us from skateboarding at our best. They are itchy and sometimes burn the skin due to long term wear. I do believe that kids under the age of 10 should wear a helmet, due to their inexperience in the extreme sports. Most of us skateboarders skateboard in the streets just because we don't have to wear pads.
- I Alex Olivera have skated the streets for 8 years, I've seen a lot of things I wish I didn't and I try to keep kids in skate parks because I know they'll be safe there and not under bad influence. The main reason why kids don't want to go to skate parks is because they have to wear pads, and that leads them back to the streets.
I believe that if this skate park didn't require pads, there would be a lot more kids skateboarding in the New Port Richey Skatepark at all times, there would be less kids in the streets and it would reduce their risk of getting into gangs or doing drugs.

Please Parks and Recreation Director Elaine Smith take this petition into consideration.