(Feb. 2, 2017) After hosting “Get Ramped,” what was by all accounts a successful biking and skateboarding event at Berlin Falls park in October, organizers Tres Denk and Sean McLaren approached the Berlin Parks Commission on Tuesday about continuing their involvement there.
Specifically, McLaren offered his services in setting up a temporary skate park, potentially as frequently as once a month, or even weekly, on Sundays.
McLaren said children in Berlin often don’t have an outlet for their energies, which can occasionally lead to bad behavior or public nuisance. He and friend Jim Soloman have helped install temporary skate parks in Ocean City, Pocomoke and Salisbury, and have emphasized safety and often given away skating equipment during events.
“When I was growing up we could terrorize the neighborhoods and ride our bikes through the trails and do everything that we wanted, but I think that it’s a different world now,” he said. “I think that we can all see … [our youth] don’t have that outlet.”
He said he was happy to give his own time and use his own equipment, and did not want any funding from the town in return.
“I’m here to do that, if you all would allow me, until you have something out there,” McLaren said. “I have so many ramps and so much physical ability to get this done, and I have the will to stay there all day.”
McLaren also said he could provide insurance.
“I just want to make sure that you all know I would love to help in any way possible, and I’m extremely just blown away that you all purchased this facility and I’m so excited for you,” he said.
Denk, president of the Eastern Shore Chapter of the International Mountain Bicycling Association, has worked with municipal and community groups in Salisbury, Pocomoke and elsewhere in Worcester County and specializes in establishing biking trails.
He said he would like to host another Get Ramped at the park, if the town would allow it.
Town Administrator Laura Allen said that event did good job of organizing parking and supervising the safety of participants. She said it included skate ramps and a skills course and was attended by about 200 children of all ages.
Allen asked to set up a meeting with McLaren and Denk in order to discuss their plans, and what kind of town services they would require.
“I think it’s great you came and talked to the parks commission – it was a good first step,” she said. “What I’m hearing is a lot of support for some kind of a regular set up.”
Resident Lisa Cherivtch, who first lobbied the town council to establish a skate park at Berlin Falls nearly two years ago, has a ramp at her home that her son and others in the neighborhood use on a regular basis.
She said there were 20 kids in front of her house when she left to come to the meeting, Tuesday. They asked if she was “going to the skateboard meeting” and cheered when she said she was.
“At any given moment you roll down my road and there are 20 boys [skating],” she said. “They do need a place.”
A group called Berlin Skate Bike Unite was established last year as an “advocacy for a skate/bike community facility in the Town of Berlin.” For more information, visit www.facebook.com/pg/supportbsbu.
Specifically, McLaren offered his services in setting up a temporary skate park, potentially as frequently as once a month, or even weekly, on Sundays.
McLaren said children in Berlin often don’t have an outlet for their energies, which can occasionally lead to bad behavior or public nuisance. He and friend Jim Soloman have helped install temporary skate parks in Ocean City, Pocomoke and Salisbury, and have emphasized safety and often given away skating equipment during events.
“When I was growing up we could terrorize the neighborhoods and ride our bikes through the trails and do everything that we wanted, but I think that it’s a different world now,” he said. “I think that we can all see … [our youth] don’t have that outlet.”
He said he was happy to give his own time and use his own equipment, and did not want any funding from the town in return.
“I’m here to do that, if you all would allow me, until you have something out there,” McLaren said. “I have so many ramps and so much physical ability to get this done, and I have the will to stay there all day.”
McLaren also said he could provide insurance.
“I just want to make sure that you all know I would love to help in any way possible, and I’m extremely just blown away that you all purchased this facility and I’m so excited for you,” he said.
Denk, president of the Eastern Shore Chapter of the International Mountain Bicycling Association, has worked with municipal and community groups in Salisbury, Pocomoke and elsewhere in Worcester County and specializes in establishing biking trails.
He said he would like to host another Get Ramped at the park, if the town would allow it.
Town Administrator Laura Allen said that event did good job of organizing parking and supervising the safety of participants. She said it included skate ramps and a skills course and was attended by about 200 children of all ages.
Allen asked to set up a meeting with McLaren and Denk in order to discuss their plans, and what kind of town services they would require.
“I think it’s great you came and talked to the parks commission – it was a good first step,” she said. “What I’m hearing is a lot of support for some kind of a regular set up.”
Resident Lisa Cherivtch, who first lobbied the town council to establish a skate park at Berlin Falls nearly two years ago, has a ramp at her home that her son and others in the neighborhood use on a regular basis.
She said there were 20 kids in front of her house when she left to come to the meeting, Tuesday. They asked if she was “going to the skateboard meeting” and cheered when she said she was.
“At any given moment you roll down my road and there are 20 boys [skating],” she said. “They do need a place.”
A group called Berlin Skate Bike Unite was established last year as an “advocacy for a skate/bike community facility in the Town of Berlin.” For more information, visit www.facebook.com/pg/supportbsbu.