Posted by: Kim_Hamilton on 04/27/2009 10:39 PM
Updated by: Kim_Hamilton on 04/27/2009 11:37 PM
Expires: 01/01/2014 12:00 AM
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Skateboarding…or not… at Feeney Park~By the PineTree Pedaler, Brett Loring
Snowboarding was stretch for me last month. But at least when gravity won I hit snow, not solid, unforgivable pavement. Common sense (really age plus fear) prevailed when I visited the skateboard park at Feeney Park in Murphys recently with my son. In the neighborhood of my youth scooters, bicycles and Big Wheels were the rage when I was growing up; older teens seemed to be the only ones with boards. So I cannot speak from first-hand experience here, only observation and admonition...
However, if you are proficient on a skateboard, or have kids or grandkids who know what they are doing when they hop on the deck with four little wheels, at the back of Feeney Park they’ll find a fully paved course to grab some air and to practice grinding, ollie-ing, kickflips and nose grinds. “Fully paved” was a deterrent to me even to stand on the rolling board, so I just watched as my son and a twenty-something skater independently did their thing. When I heard the “old guy” state to his girlfriend that a particular move didn’t use to hurt, I quickly did the age-factor math and evaluated the physics involved which served to confirm my decision to only observe. If you have anyone attempting the quarter-pipe, rails or ramps, be sure they have “body armor,” at least a helmet, and ideally pads for other body parts that have potential for sudden impact with concrete.
For those who merely accompany or transport skaters to Feeney Park but prefer to not have wheels between their feet and terra firma, Feeney Park offers shade and benches to enjoy, trails to stroll, and fields to kick or toss around a ball without any little wheels involved. Youth sports groups seem to dominate field use, especially on weekends and late afternoons, and offer spectator enjoyment as kids run, cheer, and score goals or hit homers. For more information about the park, go to www.feeneypark.org.
by Columnist Brett Loring
If you have any questions or comments for Brett, you can email him at Brett@thepinetree.net.
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