MONROE - The annual spring Skate Board Clinic will roll out on May 5.
The skateboard clinic is organized by Monroe Area Skatepark Enthusiasts to ensure the safety of new and old skateboarders alike.
Tom Miller helped found MASE and has been one of its biggest champions. MASE started as a grassroots organization attempting to build a skate park for kids to enjoy. Miller's children, who first inspired him to get organized, have since grown up, but he still helps put on the annual spring clinic.
"My kids are college-aged now, so I'm not very involved anymore, but there is still plenty of room for expansion," he said.
The first 20 participants to get registered through the parks and recreation department by May 5 will receive helmets and pads provided by Monroe Clinic. The 7th Annual Skate Board Clinic will take place at Honey Creek Skatepark from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 18.
In 1999, when Miller's kids were just picking up the sport, there were very few places for them to practice their tricks like "grinds" and "kick flips," so he and a group of volunteers banded together to raise funds and get a park built. It took more than five years, but the MASE skatepark located at Honey Creek Park off of 4th Avenue West is now a well-kept and clean park. The park features rails, ramps and a half-pipe. It took many donations, large and small, along with a helpful award of $5,000 given by the Tony Hawk Foundation, but it finally was built in the summer of 2006. Miller said that even though he has little involvement with the park now, he still occasionally drives by and talks with some of the parents or young skaters there.
"I was talking with some parents and told them about the clinic and they said they sure appreciate this, and the kids have so much fun," he said.
Miller said he has heard that some of the skateboarders want lights put up around the park so they can skateboard in the dark before the park closes. He said he is glad the youth today are looking to expand, but encourages them to garner funds on their own.
"The kids worked real hard in order to get the park built, and I'm proud of the youth who got it going," he said.
Every park has its problems, but Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley said Honey Creek Skatepark rarely causes grief for the police.
"The issues we have are peripheral at best, but you can't say it's because they have that park over there," Kelley said.
Kelley said the only problems he could recall are complaints about people using the wrong parking lot or the lack of parking if, say, there is a soccer game.
"We've never really had graffitti issues even," he said.
The skateboard clinic is organized by Monroe Area Skatepark Enthusiasts to ensure the safety of new and old skateboarders alike.
Tom Miller helped found MASE and has been one of its biggest champions. MASE started as a grassroots organization attempting to build a skate park for kids to enjoy. Miller's children, who first inspired him to get organized, have since grown up, but he still helps put on the annual spring clinic.
"My kids are college-aged now, so I'm not very involved anymore, but there is still plenty of room for expansion," he said.
The first 20 participants to get registered through the parks and recreation department by May 5 will receive helmets and pads provided by Monroe Clinic. The 7th Annual Skate Board Clinic will take place at Honey Creek Skatepark from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 18.
In 1999, when Miller's kids were just picking up the sport, there were very few places for them to practice their tricks like "grinds" and "kick flips," so he and a group of volunteers banded together to raise funds and get a park built. It took more than five years, but the MASE skatepark located at Honey Creek Park off of 4th Avenue West is now a well-kept and clean park. The park features rails, ramps and a half-pipe. It took many donations, large and small, along with a helpful award of $5,000 given by the Tony Hawk Foundation, but it finally was built in the summer of 2006. Miller said that even though he has little involvement with the park now, he still occasionally drives by and talks with some of the parents or young skaters there.
"I was talking with some parents and told them about the clinic and they said they sure appreciate this, and the kids have so much fun," he said.
Miller said he has heard that some of the skateboarders want lights put up around the park so they can skateboard in the dark before the park closes. He said he is glad the youth today are looking to expand, but encourages them to garner funds on their own.
"The kids worked real hard in order to get the park built, and I'm proud of the youth who got it going," he said.
Every park has its problems, but Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley said Honey Creek Skatepark rarely causes grief for the police.
"The issues we have are peripheral at best, but you can't say it's because they have that park over there," Kelley said.
Kelley said the only problems he could recall are complaints about people using the wrong parking lot or the lack of parking if, say, there is a soccer game.
"We've never really had graffitti issues even," he said.