Chris Scroggins of Soddy Daisy, owner of a skateboard shop near Coolidge Park, said Chattanooga needs a free park for use by skateboarders.
Mr. Scroggins told members of the City Council there are some 8,000 local skateboarders. He said many of them ask him why there is no free skating area in Chattanooga.
He said the city has the Skate Park next to Finley Stadium. But he said skating there three times a week would cost $1,200 for a year.
City Councilwoman Sally Robinson said the city banned skateboarders about a decade ago because "they were damaging public property and causing a huge problem."
But she said, "I think Chattanooga is big enough and the sport is popular enough that we can find an area. Let's try."