Concerns that skateboarders will vandalize and trash our community are unwarranted and immature.

We've seen how a skate park can compliment a neighborhood, such as the one in Ballard, and even build a sense of community among those of all ages and interests. Isn't it discrimination to outcast a group merely because they enjoy a certain activity?

It's disappointing to see comments like the following that was posted on the Herald's Web site under last week's story on the effort to get skate parks built here under the citywide skate park plan.

A citizen wrote... "We will not support this type of activity so close to our homes. We have tolerated enough noise, dirt, strange odors, construction crew disturbances, etc during the last year + (with) the Myrtle Reservoir project..."

They are referring to a proposed skate facility at the new Myrtle Street park, an idea that has so far been hotly contested by some neighbors.

But instead of reducing all skateboarders to delinquent miscreants, try welcoming them. Research has shown that many fears and generalizations associated with the popular sport are just untrue.

Any public area can attract bad behavior. When centrally located, skate parks can often deter delinquent activities because skaters populate the park.

If built well skate parks aren't noisy. A concrete park generates about as much sound as a conversation between two people.

They are also proven to be relatively safe, when comparing injuries from other sports.

We think another comment on our Web site sums the issue up much more respectfully.

"The issue is what recreational opportunities we provide for our kids. Skateboarding offers healthy exercise and can be easily monitored - which isn't true of playing video games or surfing the Internet. Kids these days can get into as much or more trouble sitting at their computers than they can skateboarding in a public park."