BRATTLEBORO — This whole skatepark ordeal reminds me of the reality show Survivor, where inside alliances are formed and galvanized, strategies are plotted, and immunity from public process and scrutiny is granted, then granted again for privileged access to the spoils of a valued green-space splendor and the once-spacious neighborhood playground haven it will permanently occupy as its reward.
There, the producers create a fractious and desperate atmosphere to maximize drama and to present pop-up obstacles. At this point, castaways bump into one another to try and find secure ground (maybe even overlapping territory) to find some leverage point and bearing to stand firm.
Those left behind are continually driven off and treated as some intrusive annoyance.
That same description applies to a lot of us who are neighbors to Crowell Park. The concrete skatepark plan has now miraculously arrived here at its apparent hand-selected, but unsuitable, resting place.
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This coveted, longtime, and familiar place - a distinct part of our lives - will be concrete-converted and compacted as an attraction, an overwhelming draw, and a landing pad for skateboarders from all around.
The increased commotion will purportedly not generate noise from an unsupervised concrete area open until evening hours, even when combined with users funneling through from Routes 9 and 30.
We have been forced into a win/lose situation with one dominant, yet select, group prevailing the entire way.
With boosted and boasted preference and favoritism granted to the proponents, opponents to the plan are painted as people who don't respect our youth and are given no place setting at the table.
However, our reality is very far removed from that island and more evolved - at least, one would hope, as we are a community with many intelligent, well-thought-out choices and a multitude of assets at our disposal.
Just as I would not prioritize one of my kids' needs over the needs of the other when making a parental decision, neither should one group be preferred by the town at the expense of another.
The very people who live near Crowell Park have clearly experienced such treatment.
We could have handled this controversial issue as a community, allowing for a more unified and respectful decision-making process.
We could have evaluated criteria with fresh ideas for all proposed sites when time was of the essence, when awareness peaked and the issue demanded our attention.
There was plenty of opportunity to do so. No insurmountable harm would have resulted in an effort to reach out for unified resolution at this critical juncture to find the best solution.
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The skatepark will be a permanent concrete structure that replaces something else - the simpler things that we take for granted until they're gone for good.
Things like shade on a hot summer day. Some natural space conveniently close by for small children with parents.
The Crowell Park site has so many demands that are emerging and will emerge for the skatepark: drastic alterations, hidden costs, and complications. The skatepark will be unsafe, and we all will live with its impacts for a long, long time.
Isn't it worth a second look at other possible sites?