(Enlarge) Gary Arthur, director of Howard County's Recreation and Parks Department, called the graffiti that covers the new skateboard section of Centennial Park "kind of urban art." The county will let the graffiti remain, except for any vulgarities or gang signs that might crop up, but several neighbors of the park have complained. (Staff photo by Nicole Martyn)

But it was expected and accepted -- at least by the county.

About seven months after it opened, most of the 5,700-square-foot "skate spot" on the north end of Centennial Park, from the blacktop and ramps to the 14 plywood partitions hanging along the fence, has been "tagged" with graffiti.

The artwork includes depictions of Homer Simpson, a robot, a turtle and a bikini-clad she-devil, and tags including "666" and "Rasta shook Dem up!!!"

While some neighbors are unhappy with the artwork, and with the park in general, Gary Arthur, director of Howard County's Department of Recreation and Parks, said the graffiti was anticipated and will be tolerated.

"We knew it was going to happen," Arthur said. "Instead of constantly battling to try to keep it clean, this time we decided we would let it be if they keep it in line and as long as it's maintained and the presentation isn't vulgar."

An inspection of the Ellicott City park late last week found a handful of profanity and vulgar images among the graffiti.

Arthur said park employees check the skate spot weekly and remove vulgar graffiti. Police officers also monitor the park for after-dark activity and help the parks department identify any known gang graffiti, which also is removed, Arthur said.

Arthur noted that graffiti is part of the skater culture and said the parks department is willing to offer skateboarders "freedom of expression" at the facility, which debuted in late April.

"It's kind of urban art," Arthur said. "OK, you can express yourself on this facility. You use this facility. It's art that represents something for you and your friends."

Neighbors not pleased

But some area residents are not satisfied with the park's track record, or its urban art.

Jann Keenan, who lives near the skate spot, said her earlier misgivings about the park before it was built -- lack of enforcement of safety guidelines, failure to monitor activity, and placing it too close to homes -- all have come to pass in the form of vandalism and nighttime use.

Keenan, a mother of five, including a skateboarder, said she hopes the county will re-evaluate the skate spot and move it to a less secluded location.

"I firmly believe that the youth in our area absolutely need a skate park, but it shouldn't be in anybody's back yard," she said, adding that she felt county officials ignored residents' objections to the location, including more than 100 signatures.

"Would Mrs. Ulman (wife of County Executive Kenneth Ulman), would any County Council member, or any member of the Recreation and Parks Board, approve a skate park 300 feet from their home? I doubt it," she said. "But, if so, it's portable. It can be moved, so let's move it there."

Another area resident, who asked not to be named for fear of retribution, said graffiti is out of character for Howard County parks and tolerating it sends the wrong message to youth. The resident said noise from the park is a continual problem and would like to see better noise abatement efforts.

To address neighbors' concerns about noise, park staff planted holly trees to grow into a natural sound barrier between houses and the park, filled ramp openings with a sound-absorbing foam material and erected plywood barriers along the fence, Arthur said. He conceded that the plywood panels have not helped reduce noise, but that his department cannot currently afford to install a more sophisticated sound wall.

He added that he hopes to enclose the skate spot with fencing when his budget allows, and believes all-around fencing would lessen neighbors' worries about the facility being used after dark.

Parks, police field complaints

Arthur said he has received two complaints about the skate spot, including one from a resident who regularly walks the park trails and found the graffiti distasteful and another about trash.

Monitoring the graffiti at the skate spot does not pose any additional costs, Arthur said, since crews already carry graffiti remover, which is a part of regular maintenance efforts at all parks.

"Our park system suffers from graffiti all the time," he said.

The county police department has been called to the facility three times since it opened, according to police spokeswoman Elizabeth Schroen.

The three calls occurred in June and included reports of trespassing, disorderly conduct and a noise complaint. In two cases, officers found no one at the skate spot when they arrived. In the other case, they found youths using the park after dark, called their parents and waited for them to be picked up, Schroen said.

In June, parks officials called a meeting with skateboarders and park neighbors to discuss the problem of skaters and teens using the park at night. Centennial Park closes at dusk.

"With that kind of facility and its popularity right off the bat, it was getting noisy for the neighbors," Arthur said.

At that meeting, Arthur said, skaters were reminded of the park rules and hours, and were warned that the skate park could be taken down if it continued to be abused.

Extra park and police patrols were used over the summer, Arthur added.

Use of the skate spot has leveled off, as Arthur said he expected, dropping from 25 to 30 skaters during peak afternoon hours in May and June to five to 10 skaters during peak hours now.

Challenges and adjustments at the Centennial skate spot have not dissuaded Arthur from including the feature at other county parks when funding is available, he said. He said he considers skateboarding to be a mainstream activity that should be accommodated at public parks on par with tennis and basketball courts.

user comments (26)

user milton says...

No Gary Arthur, you did not anticipate anywhere near this magnitude of graffiti. At least be a little bit honest in your comments. If you anticipated it, why did you not mention one word about before the park became covered in graffiti? This came completely out of the woods, and you are powerless to do anything about it. Attempting to reframe the problem as “urban art” does little to pacify neighbors who your park visually assaults.

Posted 12:03 PM, 11.19.09 | Permalink

user belovedcartoonmouse says...

Watch out kids. Rich grownups have found out that you're having fun. Don't expect it to last. Don't worry, when they get rid of the skate spot (and make no mistake, they will) you can always go back to your empty parents house, steal their alcohol, take some of those prescription pills and have premarital sex.

Posted 9:39 PM, 11.19.09 | Permalink

user mdl7 says...

Let the skaters have the park - yes, I knew that the 'not in my backyard' crowd was going to speak up at some point. But, too late. I'm just hoping that it keeps the skaters from the areas where pedestrians try walking - like the sidewalks by the various strip malls.

Posted 9:00 AM, 11.20.09 | Permalink

user sarh says...

Doesn't it make sense for a kids' skate park to be within walking distance of somene's backyard? You know, so you don't have to drive them to the skate park everytime they want to go?

Posted 9:55 AM, 11.20.09 | Permalink

user halethorpe says...

I grew up in Howard County, and I'm so glad to see that the anti-teenager sentiment hasn't changed a bit. Any time that it's attempted to create a place where teenagers can gather - such as the Wilde Times Cafe - it's shut down because of the possiblity of bad behavior. With that mindset, better close down every bar in Howard County, because someone could get drunk and do something stupid. It's no wonder that the semi-joke in Columbia/Ellicott City back in my high school years was that the only thing for teens to do was get drunk in someone's basement.

Posted 10:30 AM, 11.20.09 | Permalink

user distressedhouse says...

Urban Art or Vandalism -call it what you may. Ken Ulman come on out for a second photo opportunity and clean up the graffiti. You asked the skaters at the Skate Spots dedication to be respectful of the surrounding communities or you would remove it. Now we have urban art and constant noise to contend with. Take down the worthless plywood panels that do nothing to deflect noise and only promote graffiti and install a functional sound barrier to reduce noise to adjacent communities. Clunk, clunk clunk.....sunrise to dusk. Wouldn't wish this in your backyard of mine.

Posted 10:50 AM, 11.20.09 | Permalink

user seriously says...

Call it what you want, but isn't it better to have the "vandalism" in one controlled area than all over the place. It's part of the skate culture, their artistic outlet ... However, I do not appreciate it when it is vulgar, uses profanity or is violent, but as the article states, the Parks crew is out there once a week cleaning up such artwork. But I do have to ask, are all those complaining, were you all completely innocent when you were teenagers? Because from what it sounds like, you never partied, violated the law, drank, did drugs, skateboarded, and the list goes one, you must have all been perfect angels. With the skatespot the kids are in a confine area, they aren't hogging up the streets so you can't drive by, they are out of the way. I think what it comes down to is showing a little respect for one another, and this is directed to both the neighbors and skaters. Skaters, stop skating at night and neighbors, stop complaining about every little thing that they do. Maybe really what it comes down to is parents knowing where and what their kids are doing.

Posted 11:16 AM, 11.20.09 | Permalink

user alittlesanity says...

Should we have a skate park for the kids at that location? Sure, let them have fun. Should area residents be bothered by the noise? No! Figure out how to sound proof it. Should the grafitti be allowed? Sure, if it's tasteful, not gang related or offensive it should be allowed.

Posted 12:43 PM, 11.20.09 | Permalink

user hocoterp01 says...

Just let the graffiti be. Its a skate park, not a church.

Posted 7:28 PM, 11.22.09 | Permalink

user toasteroven says...

I'd be annoyed, too, if I shelled out $500,000 for a nice house near the park only to have them build noise pollution right next door. That $500,000 house is now worth $450,000. Maybe Ken Ullman can pay out the neighbors?

Posted 12:30 PM, 11.23.09 | Permalink

user milton says...

If anything this shows how people need to be much more skeptical of the Department of Recreation and Parks, including how they maintain public assets and how they spend our money. In June of this year, graffiti was painted on the Verizon building in Oakland Mills. The Verizon people cleaned it up right away, but I wonder what would happen if they would have taken the approach of the Department of Rec and Parks and embraced it as “urban art”?

Posted 12:51 PM, 11.23.09 | Permalink

user momjeans says...

Wow! Those skater punks are actually pretty good artists. I wouldn't like seeing a lot defacing scribble scrabble, but this graffiti or urban tags or whatever you call it looks pretty good to me.

Posted 2:48 PM, 11.23.09 | Permalink

user lostfaith says...

You know, I get so sick of these uptight adults who want to see symphony woods turned into another place to park their $60,000 SUV's so they can shop all day but heaven forbid kids have a place to skate that's monitored. Also they will know where their kids are. When I was growing up in columbia we skated around the mall where we were kicked out of every building front. These are also the people that throw their wine parties and backyard BBQ's till midnight and make just as much noise to their neighbor's.

Posted 7:16 PM, 11.23.09 | Permalink

user bamagrits says...

Hey, I'm a Adult who's already raised my kids & I think I'd rather hear a little "Clunk, clunk clunk.....sunrise to dusk." than the constant whine from my Adult Neighbors' chain saws, leaf blowers, wood chippers, lawn mowers, etc. ALL weekend, EVERY weekend.

Posted 8:48 PM, 11.23.09 | Permalink

user commonsenseplease says...

We uptight adults pay for that skate park. Only in Liberalville HoCo would people actually consider children's destruction of a space that we've given to them at no cost to them an expression of art. The kids who did this are disrespectful little brats. How about we tell them to clean it up, keep it clean or we take away the tax dollars that pay for its maintenance.

Posted 9:42 PM, 11.23.09 | Permalink

user hocoparent says...

They usually say a picture is worth a thousand words, but I believe the articles picture does a disservice by only portraying half of the story. Where are the pictures of the Skate spot on a sunny fall afternoon, filled with skaters ranging in ages from 7 and up, patiently waiting their turns to go down the ramps, obeying the unwritten codes of skater ettiquette as they zip across the asphalt, taking time to show younger skaters new tricks or give them a fist bump or word of encouragement as they watch a younger kid succesfully master a move? That is what turns the graffiti into urban art, it must be properly viewed as a background to the excitement and movement of the young skaters. The skate park graffitti, properly maintained to be within bounds of respectability, is the set dressing for the stage the skaters perform on. I wonder how many of the complaining neighbors have sat on the hill as I have (watching my 12 year old), amazed at the athleticism and dedication of skaters dismissed offhandedly as "noisemakers". I have always found the skaters to be polite, well mannered and very thankful for a safe place to practice, and as intent on perfecting their skills and building new ones as any devoted golfer or tennis player. A few splashes of noise and color in a small corner of Centennial Park, in order for our kids, good Howard County kids, to have a safe place as an outlet for their creativity, both physical and mental, is a small price to pay.

Posted 10:57 AM, 11.24.09 | Permalink

user girlinec says...

We are big fans of the truly amazing urban art. We travel to skate spots all over the state and there isn't a single one that doesn't have it's share of graffiti. Keep this great outlet for artistic expression and a fun part of the skate culture going! Would challenge anyone to prove that the value of their home went down a single penny because of its location next to this part of the park. It's the economy, silly!

Posted 5:22 PM, 11.24.09 | Permalink

user lostfaith says...

Hey "commonsenseplease", you say that the kids should be made to clean it up? Well maybe if their parents taught them better than to "deface" public property there wouldn't be a problem. So maybe you should go and clean it up and teach your kids to. I could not agree more with what hoco parent said. I think its great, as long as its respectible. Like I said before, when I grew up here we didn't have skate parks, we had to use the mall area. So would you rather your kids be around town where you don't know where they are? Or at a skate park that is staffed and you know where they are? When we skated around downtown in the mid 90's nobody had cell phones like we have now.

Posted 5:46 PM, 12.03.09 | Permalink

user brooksiefan says...

I object to the writer's characterization of graffiti as "urban art." More properly it is "suburban art." Two thirds of the "artists" arrested for graffiti in Baltimore City come from the surrounding counties. As a resident of Baltimore City I wish you all would keep your little vandals at home.

Posted 10:35 AM, 12.04.09 | Permalink

user lostfaith says...

So that they don't interfere with the one's you already have there in the city?

Posted 2:44 PM, 12.04.09 | Permalink

user commonsenseplease says...

Lostfailth, you are correct that it starts with the parents. But, if a kid does screw up and do something like this, they need to be held accountable. Not sure why me and my kids should be out cleaning up what someone else destryed, but, if my kids were responsible, you bet your ass they'd be out there cleaning it up. And, I'd be over there frequently enough to know who they were hanging with and what kind of stuff was going on there. Your post goes on talk about how much the skate park is needed as if the grafitti is a necessary part of a skate park. Are all skaters vandals or is it possible to have a skate park that they take care of?

Posted 10:32 AM, 12.05.09 | Permalink

user belovedcartoonmouse says...

Watch out kids. You are about to learn a tough lesson in life. Rich suburban adults do not like you having fun. And when you are up against rich, suburban adults, you will lose. They will push you and your crazy lil fun activites to places where the adults aren't as rich or to places where it's illegal. Or you could dabble in drugs or sex to pass the time. If it makes you feel any better, the rich, suburban adults are statistically likely to die before you. Of course, that is after they steal your social security...which, in the year 2050, will be called "Hey, remember that?" Bottom line: I'd plan for a new skate spot. There are property values at stake.

Posted 6:12 PM, 12.05.09 | Permalink

user lostfaith says...

No graffiti doesn't HAVE to be apart of the skate park, but does popcorn have to be apart of a movie theater? It's a choice and part of a lifestyle. Would you prefer them contain it to the skate park or go around town and pain sidewalks and bench's? Those who did the paintings should be encouraged to take up art classes in school and expand their creative side. Heaven forbid they become great at a skill that doesn't produce a white collar job, drive a high end car and live a dull cookie cutter life, and then think back and wonder what could have been if they had just been able to better express their talents.

Posted 3:47 PM, 12.06.09 | Permalink

user cripkitty says...

So, I can say this. I grew up in Howard County. We can't skateboard at Lake Elkhorn, Lake Kittamaqundi, Centennial Lake, or Wilde Lake. We can't skate at the mall, where are we gonna go? Howard County has had problems for YEARS having stuff for kids to do. So what if there's graffiti? This skate park is one of the most well behaved in the state. Centennial neighbors perhaps need to exercise a bit of patience and remember they'd rather have their kids there than in jail.

Posted 11:37 AM, 12.08.09 | Permalink

user bayougirl says...

I, too, am a parent grateful that there is a place for these amazing athletes to go and skate in a place designed for that purpose. I watched my son get run off from the village center, the mall, and parking lots because of safety issues. I drove him and friends to Baltimore and Virginia to use those parks, and did car pool to the one in Columbia. So I am glad that there is a place for these young people to go outdoors to have fun, interact with others, and develop skills that don't require a control and monitor--one that encourages physcial fitness. I once listened to a police officer tell me that the skateboard "culture" involved drugs and warned me to take the board from my son. I'm glad I didn't. He is a superb athlete and a successful college sophomore who still skates often.

Posted 1:11 PM, 12.08.09 | Permalink

user says...

Skateboarding and graffiti do not necessarily have to go together. I am a 36 year old skateboarder who has been enjoying this sport for almost 30 years. I have lived in Howard County most of my life and they have always seemed to fight the sport rather than embrace it. I almost went into shock when I found out they were building a skateboard park for the public. Almost all surrounding towns and cities offer skateboarding facilities to the public...Bowie, Olney, Gaithersburg, Greenbelt,....just to name a few. Howard County and Columbia have been long overdue for this park, and hopefully soon they will build another. That being said, I am at the skatepark sometimes when kids show up to paint....... most of these knuckleheads that are spray painting aren't even skaters. They come to the park just to paint thier stupid "Tags" on everything. I always have a problem with this because its really hard to skate while 10 feet away some dumb kid with 45 spray paint cans is polluting the air I'm trying to breathe. It's the 'Skate Spot' not a finger painting class, if you are a "tagger" why not stay at home and paint your fathers garage!!!! It's taken the sport of skateboarding decades to get where it is today... not all kids are made to play football, baseball, golf, etc. Skateboarding is a sport that allows individualism and self expression through itself.......real skaters know this, and they don't go to the park to paint. They go there to skate. If you are a 'Tagger' go play Beat Street somewhere else because it sounds like you may be putting our spot in jeopardy.

Posted 10:20 AM, 12.09.09 | Permalink