Transparency, The Police and Youth

What an unfortunate situation to have occurred in such a hospitable town as Hot Springs, Ark., host to nearly 3 million visitors a year.

Tourists particularly enjoy our historic downtown district, stretched primarily along a 10-block section of Central Avenue. Sandwiched between two mountains, a row of eight bathhouses - named a Historic Landmark District - faces dozens of shops on the opposite side of the street. Hot Springs National Park, celebrating its 175th anniversary this year, comprises the entire area.

To protect pedestrian safety, the City of Hot Springs passed an ordinance prohibiting bicycles, skateboards, roller skates, rollerboards and any similar apparatus in these clearly marked areas. Tom Daniels, president of the Downtown Merchants Association, says despite strategically placed signs designating the no-wheels zones, skateboarding violations have been an ongoing problem.

Most of the time, local police just ask the skoarders to move on, and they do. This time, however, at least one of violators had already been asked to leave Exchange Street Parking Plaza before he joined the group of two adults (ages 21 and 19) and four juveniles (three 16-year olds and one 13-year old) arrested on Central Avenue. According to newspaper interviews, members of the group admit knowing they were violating the ordinance, but were prepared to lose their boards and possibly pay a fine. After they tape recorded the event.

Did the arresting officer perform his job appropriately? We'll see. Should young teenagers be hanging out with 19- and 21-year old adults who have nothing better to do than skate through downtown during the summer? Probably not. Hello p-a-r-e-n-t-s? Does Hot Springs need another skating venue to add to the nine parks and Hot Springs Greenway where skating is already allowed? That's being discussed.

Thanks for helping us let the world know this video is neither a complete account of the skateboarding incident nor an accurate portrayal of Spa City, America's first resort.

Rebecca McCormick,
Travel Journalist and Photographer
Hot Springs, Ark.