I enjoy many forms of art. I stand for animal rights and I consider myself to have good morals. I am also utterly enthralled in the world of skateboarding.

I have written this, because I am at the skate park nearly every day I can be, and I haven't turned out a bad person.

I hope to shed some light on the skate park and write about my experiences and views on this truly misunderstood place.

Over the years, the Ararat Skate Park has seemed to acquire parental concern, bad names and countless stories of vandalism, and because of these false stories, the future of the Ararat Skate Park could be put at risk.

Little does the community know, the skate park is one of the most commonly used recreational facilities in Ararat.

On a beautiful sunny day, the skate park is packed full of kids all eager to learn new tricks on their item of choice.

To me, the skate park is one of the most accepting places I've ever been involved in during my short time of living.

Every local of the Ararat Skate Park is different, but it's okay to be different, because the people there do not judge.

The skate park has helped not only myself, but many other people find their way in the world. It has helped me to look beyond the social norm and think for myself.

As mentioned previously, the people at the skate park are all very diverse.

To those who see the skate park as a place for dead beets, you are wrong.

Over the years, the skate park has seen painters, tradies, youth workers, students, tattoo artists, teachers, and many other people of all different backgrounds come to just skate, scoot, bmx, or just watch.

I am deeply concerned for the future of the skate park as I feel this is a facility that Ararat can not lose.

This is a place of freedom, a place of expression.

Concerned users of the park have formed a committee in the hope of improving our beloved skate park.

So far we have raised just over $20,000 to update our outdated skate park.

Just a few years ago, we took a step in the right direction by receiving the grant to demolish the toilet block which seemed to attract illegal behaviour.

By doing this, the skate park never sees anything bad happen anymore.

We hope to keep this up as the skate park does not deserve a bad name.

We hope to keep progressing and eventually raise even more money to help our skate park.

All I ask is that when you hear a bad story about the skate park... Please, look beyond that.

We are a good bunch of people just trying to enjoy ourselves, just like everybody else in life.

Sincerely, a very concerned user of the Ararat Skate Park,

- SAM RUDOLPH, 

Ararat