Let me start out by saying that I don't pay taxes to the State of Connecticut (I’m a NYC resident), so I don't really have a say in how the Connecticut Parks & Recreation is managed. Also, this is somewhat long, detailed story because I want to illustrate just how ridiculous this morning’s entire situation was:
Evil Harrison and I ventured up from NYC to Stamford Skatepark early this morning (Saturday, 19 April 200. We ended up pulling up to the skatepark a little after 8:00AM and when we pulled up, there were two other dudes in their cars parked next to us.
One guy yells out the window, "They're ######' closed!"
Harrison and I both immediately look at each other and yell, "####!" The “dudes” went on to explain that they had just been in a VERY heated argument with the guy "laying woodchips" and then they both point to a heavyset guy in a backhoe, whom is in the process of scooping MASSIVE amounts of woodchips from a huge pile and then dumping them over the fence around the inside perimeter of the park.
Harrison suggests that we assist Heavyset Backhoe Man (HBM) with the wood chip process -- which may possibly allow us to skate at some point today -- rather than drive all the way back to NYC really friggin' angry.
I walk over to talk with HBM (he is looking visibly pissed about his VERY recent heated argument):
I ask, "So, what time do you think you will be done with the wood ship stuff?"
HBM says, "Around 11:00AM."
"Do you need any help?"
"No, and I don’t need any attitudes!"
"OK, thanks!"
I go back and inform everyone of the 11:00AM finish time.
One of the guys parked next to us was literally foaming at the mouth at this point. I think he maybe had a stressful week at work and was REALLY looking forward to getting his “skate on”. Now, it's not looking like this is going to be possible and he will have to go to work skateless. The guy curses and yells for a couple of minutes and then both dudes finally leave.
Harrison and I decide to hang out and wait for the HBM to finish. The Pope is in NYC today, so traffic back into the City is going to be a mess anyways.
As the minutes go by various people come -- and go – while HBM SLOWLY fills the perimeter of the park with more wood chips. We also begin to notice a fine layer of dust covering most of the cement in the skatepark.
At about 10:00AM, HBM leaves the area with his backhoe and parks it on the other side of the park. About ten minutes later he comes back with a couple of other Park & Recreation guys in a truck bringing rakes and shovels with them.
I go and talk with one of the rake guys, whom is now inside the park:
I ask though the fence, “Hey, do you guys need any help?”
Rake Man says, “Nope, we should be done pretty soon.” “You guys want to come in and skate, huh?”
“Yep, we sure do!”
“OK, well as soon as we get done here someone else is comin’ in with a blower to get rid of the dust and then you guys can skate.” “Should be around 11:00AM.”
“OK, thanks!”
I go back and inform Harrison and some other folks that we now have to wait for them to “blow the park out” before we can skate. Everyone else leaves in disgust and now it just myself and Harrison watching the Connecticut taxpayers dollars hard at work.
Just before the Parks & Recreation guys complete the raking, a third guy comes in with a blower and starts blowing all the stray woodchips and dust out of the park. Also, a semi truck pulls in to the park and -- I’m not making this up -- dumps an entire semi-trailer load of wood chips into a pile to replace the depleted pile that is now scattered around the perimeter of the park.
At about 11:00AM, the Parks & Recreation guys complete their woodchip mission and FINALLY leave the park. We are now finally allowed to skate!
About an hour later, a REALLY strange, skinny old man hobbles up to the gate and watches everyone in the park skate for about 5 minutes. Then, he goes back to his car and –- I’m not making this up, I swear -- grabs a big cardboard box from the trunk, walks over to the huge steaming wood ship pile, and then begins to fill his box with FREE WOOD CHIPS.
AWESOME!
Later on in the afternoon the wind started to pick up and everyone in the skatepark was coughing and sneezing and getting dust and crap in their eyes while yelling, “Freakin’ Wood Chips.”
The only other good thing that happened today -- besides the fact that I got to skate a kick-ass skatepark (minus the freakin’ wood chips, of course) is that there is a cool, retired dude that has a shiny, brand new, hot dog + snack van parked about 50 yards from the skatepark. So, if you get hungry and/or if you forget to bring water or Gatorade, you can buy some from Hot Dog Van Man!
Re: Stamford Skatepark and the Ridiculous Wood Chips
i went around 1 today and i had a blast.... occasionally i would get like something in my eye, i was there from 1-430 and i t hink it happened twice. other than that, COME BACK TOMARROW MORNING, me and my brother wanna rip that sh*t
Re: Stamford Skatepark and the Ridiculous Wood Chips
That park rules; but the management is absolutely retarded. They should have shaded bleachers so people can watch skateboarding, not a 10 foot chain-link fence and 4 benches inside the park. The wood chips are just the finishing touch of stupid.
Re: Stamford Skatepark and the Ridiculous Wood Chips
yeah, and the gates on the wrong side, lol. love the park, did you know that the world cup of skateboarding was gonna have their first east coast competition there, but the town didnt let them... probobly cause they dont want "hooligans" coming in from like all around and stuff. max, get down there tomarrow.
Re: Stamford Skatepark and the Ridiculous Wood Chips
Aww younleft out the best part!
what about the guy who said he was on the earthwing flow team?
what #### is that?
we have a new game to play. "spot the silverfish nerd"
Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesgrace
Let me start out by saying that I don't pay taxes to the State of Connecticut (I’m a NYC resident), so I don't really have a say in how the Connecticut Parks & Recreation is managed. Also, this is somewhat long, detailed story because I want to illustrate just how ridiculous this morning’s entire situation was:
Evil Harrison and I ventured up from NYC to Stamford Skatepark early this morning (Saturday, 19 April 200. We ended up pulling up to the skatepark a little after 8:00AM and when we pulled up, there were two other dudes in their cars parked next to us.
One guy yells out the window, "They're ######' closed!"
Harrison and I both immediately look at each other and yell, "####!" The “dudes” went on to explain that they had just been in a VERY heated argument with the guy "laying woodchips" and then they both point to a heavyset guy in a backhoe, whom is in the process of scooping MASSIVE amounts of woodchips from a huge pile and then dumping them over the fence around the inside perimeter of the park.
Harrison suggests that we assist Heavyset Backhoe Man (HBM) with the wood chip process -- which may possibly allow us to skate at some point today -- rather than drive all the way back to NYC really friggin' angry.
I walk over to talk with HBM (he is looking visibly pissed about his VERY recent heated argument):
I ask, "So, what time do you think you will be done with the wood ship stuff?"
HBM says, "Around 11:00AM."
"Do you need any help?"
"No, and I don’t need any attitudes!"
"OK, thanks!"
I go back and inform everyone of the 11:00AM finish time.
One of the guys parked next to us was literally foaming at the mouth at this point. I think he maybe had a stressful week at work and was REALLY looking forward to getting his “skate on”. Now, it's not looking like this is going to be possible and he will have to go to work skateless. The guy curses and yells for a couple of minutes and then both dudes finally leave.
Harrison and I decide to hang out and wait for the HBM to finish. The Pope is in NYC today, so traffic back into the City is going to be a mess anyways.
As the minutes go by various people come -- and go – while HBM SLOWLY fills the perimeter of the park with more wood chips. We also begin to notice a fine layer of dust covering most of the cement in the skatepark.
At about 10:00AM, HBM leaves the area with his backhoe and parks it on the other side of the park. About ten minutes later he comes back with a couple of other Park & Recreation guys in a truck bringing rakes and shovels with them.
I go and talk with one of the rake guys, whom is now inside the park:
I ask though the fence, “Hey, do you guys need any help?”
Rake Man says, “Nope, we should be done pretty soon.” “You guys want to come in and skate, huh?”
“Yep, we sure do!”
“OK, well as soon as we get done here someone else is comin’ in with a blower to get rid of the dust and then you guys can skate.” “Should be around 11:00AM.”
“OK, thanks!”
I go back and inform Harrison and some other folks that we now have to wait for them to “blow the park out” before we can skate. Everyone else leaves in disgust and now it just myself and Harrison watching the Connecticut taxpayers dollars hard at work.
Just before the Parks & Recreation guys complete the raking, a third guy comes in with a blower and starts blowing all the stray woodchips and dust out of the park. Also, a semi truck pulls in to the park and -- I’m not making this up -- dumps an entire semi-trailer load of wood chips into a pile to replace the depleted pile that is now scattered around the perimeter of the park.
At about 11:00AM, the Parks & Recreation guys complete their woodchip mission and FINALLY leave the park. We are now finally allowed to skate!
About an hour later, a REALLY strange, skinny old man hobbles up to the gate and watches everyone in the park skate for about 5 minutes. Then, he goes back to his car and –- I’m not making this up, I swear -- grabs a big cardboard box from the trunk, walks over to the huge steaming wood ship pile, and then begins to fill his box with FREE WOOD CHIPS.
AWESOME!
Later on in the afternoon the wind started to pick up and everyone in the skatepark was coughing and sneezing and getting dust and crap in their eyes while yelling, “Freakin’ Wood Chips.”
The only other good thing that happened today -- besides the fact that I got to skate a kick-ass skatepark (minus the freakin’ wood chips, of course) is that there is a cool, retired dude that has a shiny, brand new, hot dog + snack van parked about 50 yards from the skatepark. So, if you get hungry and/or if you forget to bring water or Gatorade, you can buy some from Hot Dog Van Man!
__________________
LESS KEYBOARDING, MORE SKATEBOARDING! THE 1%ers
I'm an evil, twisted, sadistic genius with delusions of grandeur, bent on the total humiliation of all those around me. I am no mere tin-plated dictator; even the laws of physics cannot deter me. My godlike powers are without limit, and I use them freely and capriciously. so back the FU#K AWAY!!
Re: Stamford Skatepark and the Ridiculous Wood Chips
Quote:
Originally Posted by sexualharrison
Aww younleft out the best part!
what about the guy who said he was on the earthwing flow team?
what #### is that?
we have a new game to play. "spot the silverfish nerd"
Re: Stamford Skatepark and the Ridiculous Wood Chips
Thanks James, your ace reporting has lessened the injury of missing the trip due to being stuck in home repair hell. I probably would have made everything much worse with my major lack of patience and anti diplomacy skills. Saving it for next time HBM !!
Evil Harrison, How many wood chips did you smoke?
Last edited by SILVERFLAKE; 04-20-2008 at 09:25 PM.
Re: Stamford Skatepark and the Ridiculous Wood Chips
Welcome to Connecticut: lots of dumb people.
Rabid Skunk, a friend of mine and myself got yelled at by some crazy guy who I guess is in charge of the skatepark... we were helping some town workers bail water out of the smaller bowl because we showed up one morning to skate and everything was full of water. He was seriously crazy, kept talking to himself and telling us that people from the town were going to show up and see us inside the gate when it was supposed to be closed and that we'd get in tons of trouble. Maybe he was the guy running the backhoe?
Re: Stamford Skatepark and the Ridiculous Wood Chips
Ok maybe I'm just overly thick or don't get it because I've never been there but why were the woodchips there in the first place. Like what purpose are they suppose to serve for a skate park?
Stamford Skatepark and the Ridiculous Wood Chips
. We ended up pulling up to the skatepark a little after 8:00AM and when we pulled up, there were two other dudes in their cars parked next to us.
Re: Stamford Skatepark and the Ridiculous Wood Chips
like no other
Re: Stamford Skatepark and the Ridiculous Wood Chips
