h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My son is a very keen skateboarder and to date has had one broken arm, and countless cut elbows and knees, he refuses to wear arm and knee pads. One thing about skateboarding is that it is keeping him very fit and out of trouble mostly, although the area where we live (East London) does not have a skateboard park, and my son and his friends have been campaigning for the local council to build one but to no avail.

The skatepark my son uses is an indoor one about 4 miles away. It was created a few years ago as a business venture in an old industrial warehouse building. It's not huge but can handle about 40 kids comfortably. Cost is £4 for 2 hours for members £6 for non-members.
Our local council has offered to build a skatepark in the local recreation ground near my house but the neighbours are petitioning against it. Many people think park areas are just for looking out at while they are doing the washing up - not for community use at all. Then they complain about teenagers hanging around on street corners with nothing to do.

i'm a sk8r myself and i've only gone to a sk8park once in my life. i find they're ok once in awhile, but the real rush is sticking to the streets with a few of your friends, or even solo sessions. tell your son to go find some ledges and stair cases laying around. believe me, the streets are pretty amazing. no matter what level you are, there's something out there for ya. if not, then a little rearranging is all it takes.

i'm a sk8r myself and i've only gone to a sk8park once in my life. i find they're ok once in awhile, but the real rush is sticking to the streets with a few of your friends, or even solo sessions. tell your son to go find some ledges and stair cases laying around. believe me, the streets are pretty amazing. no matter what level you are, there's something out there for ya. if not, then a little rearranging is all it takes.