Canku Ota

(Many Paths)

An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America

February 7, 2004 - Issue 106

Morongo Tribe Donates $250,000 To Help Banning Build New Skate Park For Area Youth;
"It's About Kids and Caring"

A symbolic giant check for the quarter-million-dollar donation was presented by Morongo tribal chairman Maurice Lyons.

"It's a very exciting moment," said Lyons. "It's about kids and caring. We all share the need to create a better quality of life for our kids and to provide them with opportunities for healthy development. Our contribution symbolizes our belief that the futures of our communities and our children are woven together. We are very proud to be able to make this donation and to be a positive participant."

In a recent editorial, the city's local newspaper, The Record Gazette, noted that, "sadly, as it became clear that the costs to build a decent skate park, well into the six figures…appeared to be beyond the reach of the Banning community, the idea remained but hopes for such a project had faded."

The tribe's gift now represents the largest donation received by the city to date and puts organizers at more than the halfway mark of their $500,000 goal.

The gift will assist the city in tapping into one of the fastest-growing youth recreational sports in the country.

According to Heidi Lemmon, founder of the Skate Park Association of the United States of America (SPAUSA), skate parks are the number one choice of teenagers when polled by Parks & Recreation departments. Industry websites report that there are approximately 7-10 million skateboarders with an estimated 1,000 skate parks in the country today and over 100,000 skateboard decks are being manufactured each month.

"We have learned what a fast-growing sport skateboarding has become. Skate parks have been built in Moreno Valley, Corona, Riverside, Desert Hot Springs, Palm Springs and Yucaipa," said Lyons. "But there has been none in the Pass Area so it makes sense for one to be built for our community's kids."

On the SPAUSA website, Lemmon noted that "in 1996 we had a list of over two hundred U.S. skate parks. Parks are being built so fast that we are having a difficult time tracking them. Churches, communities, and schools throughout the nation are adding to their youth programs."

"Back in 1999 a group of local skateboarders, their friends and family, together with a local pastor, filled the Banning City Council chambers to express their belief in the need for a skate park," recalled Banning community services manager Chris Millen. "Since then, Banning city leaders and staff have been exploring the feasibility of a skate park."

Millen said the park's size is currently envisioned at approximately 10,000 square feet that he says is a "modest-sized" property.

A final plan for the park was selected by the Park & Recreation Committee in October of last year. A group called "It's All About The Kids" was formed by Mayor Art Welch, City Council member Barbara Hanna, business leaders Jim Smith and Jay Taylor to raise the money needed to build the new facility.

Council member Hanna said, that with the news of the Morongo gift, she anticipates a groundbreaking to begin in six months.

"The tribe's gift is a godsend," said Hanna. "It is a dramatic and generous step forward and brings us significantly closer to making the park a reality. Everyone connected with this undertaking was thrilled with the news."

"The Morongo tribe understands the difficulties that local governments face today in providing services to their communities. Like many of the families we are trying to help, our struggles are not over," said Morongo tribal council member Anne Hutton. "But we are fortunate in that we can make a contribution to those in our community. We believe that all of our outreach comes down to giving from our family to other families and we try to demonstrate this through personal commitment, volunteering, and financial assistance."

According to Hutton, the tribe gives to hundreds of community groups and non-profit charitable organizations every year. In the past that has included the Banning Unified School District, Cabazon Elementary School, Sun Lakes Charities, Shelter From The Storm for Battered Women, Walter's Children's Charity Classic, Child Help USA, Indian Child & Family Services, Nicolet Middle School, the San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital, the Riverside Sheriff Association Relief Fund, and Banning High School.

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