Thursday, August 24, 2006

That's Just Wrong: Extreme Park

Reported by:

Craig Stevens

Producer:

Diana Reed

Contact:

dreed@wsvn.com

Archived Reports:

All That's Just Wrong

For kids today, it is all the rage. Extreme sports are extremely popular. But when a group of kids were told they couldn't play at a new extreme park, they called us to say: That's Just Wrong.

WSVN -- From boards to blades, kids today don't just feel the need for speed -- they feel the need to flip and fly as fast as humanly possible.

But, in Key Largo, a local park is already putting the brakes on a group of kids, not because of what they wear or what they look like but because of what they ride.

Nicholas Hernandez, BMX Biker: "We can't ride our BMX bikes here at this skate park."

It turns out the bikes have been banned from the park since it opened this spring... meaning riders like Nicholas Hernandez are restricted from the ramps.

Hernandez: "I've heard that that park is too small, that the ramps aren't made for bikes, that they'll fall apart. I've heard that the fence is too low."

But what Nicholas didn't hear was a sensible answer, and that's when he decided to shift gears by calling That’s Just Wrong.

When 7 News got involved, we contacted the director of the YMCA that runs the park. He told us their insurance company won't cover the bikers.

Kurt Stelzner, YMCA: "You look at that end. One, if a BMX biker went up there and put his brakes on, he's going to go straight over into the pavement."

We also, however, contacted County Commissioner Glen Patton.

He told us he knows these kids were promised a safe place to play on their bikes and he intends to deliver.

Glenn Patton, County Commissioner: "It's just a matter of getting the contract with the YMCA squared away and having the insurance in place."

Next step -- getting it on the county commission agenda and hopefully resolved by next month.

Patton: "It probably takes 15 or 20 people to sign off on this."

Which is good news for these bikers, who look forward to doing their own tricks on the other side of the fence.

Hernandez: "We each take our own runs and go around the skate park and do our tricks, then get back to the top of the ramps, and we all take turns and ride."

 

PLEASE SEND STORY IDEAS TO:

thatsjustwrong@wsvn.com
DADE: 305-598-HELP
BROWARD: 954-796-HELP

Latest Video