Jeff Roberts said although it’s been 3 1/2 years since his son, 13-year-old Clinton Kirby Roberts of Elkmont, died when he was struck by a motorcyclist while riding his skateboard on a county road, it’s only been recently, “That I had enough sense to talk about it.”

Roberts said he wonders why the city does not provide a skateboard park. He believes his son would not have skated on public roads if a park had been available.

Three years ago young Roberts’ death spurred an emotional reaction to the issue and the city appointed a group of parents of skateboarders to a committee to study the cost of building a park. Depending on how elaborate the plan and how many modules, such as ramps and jump boards, the city purchased, the park could have cost as much as $100,000.

The city council three years ago also worried about liability issues for such a high-risk sport.

City officials witnessed a demonstration of skateboard modules by Skatewave Modular Skateboard Systems of Delano, Minn., in August 2006, and Athens Mayor Dan Williams said at the time that if the council decided to go ahead with building a park it might be possible to purchase one or two modules at a time.

Williams said this week the idea died for lack of interest on the part of city officials.

“The council just hasn’t had an interest in pursuing it,” said Williams. “I reckon it’s a dead issue.”

But for Jeff Roberts, the issue will never go away, because in his mind it is linked with the death of his son.

“I drove by the archery park and the tennis courts and they were empty,” said Jeff Roberts. “I see plenty of places a skate park could go.”

As well as the expense, part of council members’ stated reluctance to creating a skateboard park stemmed from a brief time when skateboarders were allowed to use a portion of Swan Creek Park near the tennis courts and walking trail. The city eventually had to close the makeshift park because of graffiti, litter and vandalism.

“It’s not a matter of them putting graffiti on the wall,” said Roberts. “What if they did? It didn’t hurt. They need to look around and see what other communities are doing.”

Williams said his idea for a park would be installing just a pad, “and letting it develop in stages. An actual park is expensive. Kids skate anywhere—wherever there’s a smooth piece of concrete. I thought we could build one like the city of Florence did.”

City of Florence Community Services Director Todd Nix said the city’s skateboard facility has gotten heavy use in the past six years.

“There is a good deal of liability protection for all parks in Alabama, especially skate parks,” said Nix in an e-mail reply. “The user is generally responsible for his or herself as they are willingly participating in a risky venture or sport.”

Florence Director of Parks and Recreation Tina Kitchens said, “It is heavily used and it is a skate-at-your-own-risk facility. We’ve had a few broken bones in the past six years, but no major injuries.”

One skateboarder chosen at random as he skated down South Houston Street, passing by The News Courier, Brian Black, said it would be great to have a skateboard park, but that’s not the whole answer.

“I mainly use my skateboard for transportation,” said Black.