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Skateboarders get short reprieve for skate ramps |
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Written by Josh Scheuerman
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Thursday, 02 October 2008 |
Salt Lake Valley Health Department held a short meeting this morning to determine if skateboard ramps were causing unnecessary damage to the public due to noise ordinance violations. The problem however, is the council didn’t know anything about skate ramps or how much noise they actually produce. This problem will be addressed come April 1, 2009 when the topic is brought back before the board for review and public input with all the facts.
The ban came from a two-year review of Salt Lake Valley’s noise ordinance and two public hearings that were held during that period. There was no one present to oppose the ban because no one in the skate community knew it was going up for review with the health department. Three weeks ago, the ordinance was put into effect and immediately the community spoke up loud and clear, “Let skateboarders do what they love to do within the confines of their property.” Because the ban came from a noise complaint, the health department was involved, but Salt Lake City got most of the bad rap for being the city in which the restrictions were imposed. Since the ban on private half-pipes here has been over 900 e-mails supporting the lifting of the ban and rewording the noise ordinance to include skateboard ramps into outdoor activities held from 7 am – 10 pm. Although other sports, lawn care and power tools are already existing under the ordinance for noise, extending the clause to include action sports would classify the sports into traditional sports such as basketball, volleyball, and horse shoes that already happen in yards across the valley.
For the next 6 months, skate ramps are once again skateable, while the city collects data and talks with the two parties representing each side. Skateboarders have had to fight for city skateparks to be built which would allow them to venture out of their yards and lifting the ban until more information is collected the right thing to do, each party should still be respectful and come to an agreement that works for both.
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