Skaters Break Park Rules, One Kid Lands In Hospital

If they don't wear the helmets and follow the rules...CLOSE THE PARK DOWN!!!

@tmargette, build your own skate park if you want to play by your own rules. If you want to play on government property then you have to play by their rules, end of story. I don't care if skaters wear helmets or not. I just think it is silly to hear adults complaining about how unfair it is that they can't do dangerous stuff while on public property. Also, comparing a riding a bicycle or playing tennis to skateboarding is stupid. You folks can hurt yourselves and set poor examples for children all you want on private property. Stop whining and see the situation for what it really is.

@sk8bdr4life Very well said. I was there when the news crew came, then next thing we know, there is a police officer there, and the peaceful, fun day was interrupted. Skaters did NOT threaten anyone. @ReligionStinks - YOUR tax dollars don't pay others hospital bills or lawyer fees. You think YOU pay peoples bills? How arrogant. Many skateboarders hold positions as lawyers, and Dr. Shafer spearheaded this project. I wear a helmet because that is my choice. I believe minors should wear helmets. However, adults should have the opportunity to make that decision on their own. Like the previous post mentioned, no one is patrolling the greenline for protective gear, or monitoring the 200+ parks and baseball fields. Get a life, and let people live theirs. Here is a link to some people having fun BEFORE the police disrupted it, and scared children. Skateboarding is not a crime. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2354290614085.2121175.1154769649&type=3

So you don't wear a helmit because your friends will "laugh at you". I see. So, when you crack your skull open, are those same friends, who you're trying SO HARD to impress, going to pay for your hospital bills? Probibly NOT. Wear a helmit... they didn't make any other pads manditory, just helmits... for a really good reason. Oh, and by NOT wearing a helmit, you're waving your right to get upset or ticked off when you get a $50.00 citation for not following the helmit rule. WEAR A HELMIT!!

It's not our job. It starts at home if the Mom or Pops don't care then why should you. Just make sure your little Jim or Jane wears a helmet.

No helmet = no skate. I am a taxpayer in this city and don't want my tax dollars going to pay your lawyer and your medical fees. If you don't want to follow the rules, build your own skate park on your own private property and enjoy. If you want to blame somebody, blame lawyers.

If you folks don't like the city's rules, then perhaps you should build your own skate park and make your own rules. You hippies seem to forget that the city provided that park in the 1st place. You guys may be in your 40's but you still sound and think like punk teenagers, whining about how the toys your given shoulding come with rules to keep you safe.

When people play basketball ball or tennis on asphalt courts do you see a single person wearing a helmet? NO! How about the baseball fields and football fields that the city has built when it's just practice? Rarely. Is the news out there doing stories on kids getting hurt because they didn't have protective gear on? NO! When people are riding their bikes down the Greenline, how many people do you see wearing helmets? Very few, and it's not a rule to do so but it's funny how the media isn't doing stories on the fact that there is no rule for helmets on Greenline when kids and adults cross busy streets every day like Highland with no helmets with crazy drivers not looking out. If you are a parent and your kid is a beginner under tha age of 18, then you should make your kid wear a helmet not the city. The city wants to create a blanket rule for everyone for insurance purposes and I understand that, but a helmet is not going to prevent all head injuries, and certainly not going to prevent knee injuries, broken bones, twisted ankles, or getting your teeth knocked out. Might as well say that you got to wear an armored suit if your are truly trying to prevent injury and that will just prevent anyone from enjoying what the park which was created for creativity, self-discipline, exercise, accomplishment, personal success, and most importantly individual FREEDOM to do what you love to do without someone standing over you telling you to do it their way. It's called America people, the land of FREE! This is not a dictatorship and if you are over the age of 18 you should not have to wear a helmet or anything else if that is your choice. I think the media like 24 and News 3 need to do stories on the rapes, murders, theft, gangs, drugs, and all true crime that Memphis has a serious problem with and just leave the kids alone. Find someting truly important to write about that is going to benefit our city! Skateboarder of 25 years

I wonder if Jackie shows up every time a kid gets hurt playing basketball or falls down on a bike. It will be such a joke to see tax payers money, going to waste to have Memphis police become pad nannys when so much other crime takes place in the city. How often do people get cited for not wearing helmets on bicycles? When was the last time someone got a ticket for jay walking? Its bad for the city to pick and choose which laws it wants to enforce. If the person riding that park is an adult, leave the choice up to them, if the person is a child, the parents are responsible. Oh, Jackie forgot to mention how her camera man by the name of Courtney, yelled profanities and threatend several minors that were "blocking" the camera shot. Good reporting abc, keep it up!

Most kids think helmets aren't cool. Neither is being in a coma or death. The helmet is to keep you skating. I'm 47 and still skating thanks to helmets.