To the editor:

The first thing that comes to mind when people see skateboarders is destructive, careless, and drug-addicted teenagers.

People who skateboard, such as myself, are often stereotyped as someone looking for trouble, but that's completely wrong.

Skateboarding is a sport that can be viewed as being one with nature.

One of the best skate spots near Cape Coral would have to be in Fort Myers. The only bad thing about it is that skating is banned from downtown Fort Myers because of skaters chipping the granite benches and stairs. If the shop owners were actually teenagers at one point they would know we are just trying to have fun and there is no need to call the police.

The police are always asking why skateboarders keep coming back if we know that there is a city ordinance prohibiting skateboarding downtown and the true reason is that the skate park expenses are off the wall.

If the city actually spent its money wisely instead of buying bicycle cops black and yellow Nike Shocks to match their uniform and spent it on parks and recreation then police would see less skating activity downtown.

Building skate parks that incorporate urban area with stairs, handrails, granite benches, grass gaps, and cheaper fees would help bring more skateboarders to the parks instead of the streets. Doing this would eliminate the damages of stairs and benches along with the frustration of shop owners.

Chris Callahan

Cape Coral