We, the undersigned citizens, parents, and skateboarders of Willis, MI, wish to express our support for our local youth by proposing the construction of a local skateboard park. Skateboarding is one of the most popular youth activities in the country, and its time that we provide the undeserved skateboarders in our community with a safe place to challenge and express themselves.


During the past several years, hundreds of successful publicity funded skate parks have been constructed in cities and towns across America. Not only have they been proven to be statistically safer than a baseball, basketball, or public pool, theyre also an excellent way to get young people involved in civic and community development. They are the future leaders of America, so lets help teach them the basics of leading.


Young people need to have a sense of ownership in and connection to the community in which they live. A skate park is a great way to build such bridges. Rather than give young people tickets for participating in a sport they love, lets provide them with a legal place to skate, the same way the city currently provides basketball courts, baseball fields, and running tracks. By organizing and beginning to lobby for a public skate park, these young local skateboarders have already shown a great deal of initiative, creativity, and responsibility. Lets not ignore this opportunity to fulfill an important need and strengthen our community.