Skateboarding and Chattanooga have had a strange, tumultuous and, at times, hostile relationship over the last 20 something years. With skateboarding being “illegal” in the entire city of Chattanooga, youths looking to engage in and practice skateboarding (an Olympic sport) are either forced to break the law or frequent the Chattanooga skatepark. A park which, for much of its history, was not free and subjected youths to religious influences and rules. This is a shameful history for a modern city such as Chattanooga, and while I am happy to see positive changes coming to the skatepark, Chattanooga has a long way to go to mend its troubled past.
One clear opportunity Chattanooga has right now is to make another skatepark. Yes, two skateparks.
Nearly every other city I have lived in or visited that is comparable in size to Chattanooga has more than one facility for skateboarding and roller skating. Right now Chattanooga has an entire park full of modular skateboard obstacles, many of which are still in great shape and could be easily moved to another location. A parking lot, an old foundation site, an abandoned tennis court; there are so many possibilities within this city, and they would provide a desperately needed place for people to practice these creative, healthy sports. Not to mention, providing a place for people to skate in the city where skateboarding is illegal while they tear up the current park to build the new one.
Please Chattanooga, show Skateboarding some love.
Jesse Mutter