Let's all make a difference

By Roger "Ziggy" Zigler

I moved to Spokane in 1978 and 3 years later Spokane would never be the same as a result of my "Alternative" lifestyle. All I wanted to do was to ride my bike. I lived and breathed, was absolutely drawn, fascinated and unable to resist my desire to ride my bike.
I couldn't wait for the next issue of BMX Action to hit the newsstand knowing that there would be something there that would stir me up inside and fuel my desire further. I was never wrong. It was an addiction that I could not escape from and one that many youth today are suffering from. An addiction that for a short time led me down a difficult path. One that branded me for life in some peoples eyes but yet one that I am able now to understand. I had little to do with my time and the only place that my friends and me where welcome to ride was difficult and far. There once was a skate park in Spokane. Located east of Division at Francis. I road there as much as I could and for a good reason. It was scheduled for removal with no further construction to be done at that site. Just bring in the heavy equipment and level the thing. Fence it in so that "Those kids can't get back in there ever again" Ya we had to sneak in to ride. Then one day it was gone. It was like giving a child a Christmas gift and telling him that he can open it, look at it, dream about it but not play with it. Gone!!! Why? What did we do? Why did they do that? From what I understand the place did not make any money for who ever built it so they flattened it so that there would be no liability. Figures that someone in Spokane would do something like that. Put money and liability above community and youth activities. After all it's not like we would be running the town when they are old or anything like that.

It has been over 20 years now since I left Spokane and during that time I have found how much of an impression I made on so many Spokane youth. One day in California at an ABA national BMX event I was standing on the starting hill when someone that I did not know walked up to me and said. It's been so long since I saw you. I just wanted you to know how much you inspired me when I was young. You changed my life by giving me something to do with my time, otherwise I would have been in all kinds of trouble. I was over 1,000 miles from Spokane and there was a life affected for the better. He had his son with him and the child had a smile on his face. Would that child have had a smile on his face if I had not given his father something to do other than get it to trouble? What kind of life would that child have had?

When I found out that Spokane was planning a riding spot free of scrutiny from the police under the freeway I was amused. I figured that it was just something that someone wanted to do and that was the end of the story. When I saw it for my self I was surprised. When I herd that they where going to put in a skate park I was skeptical. I figured that it would be something like well…. a joke something that was made for little kids and would not be used much at all. When I saw the on line pictures of the park today I was turned in to a believer. I finally began to believe that after 25 years that Spokane (Second largest city in our state) could finally support something that gave kids a place to ride after closing down the last BMX track (Inland Empire BMX) not supporting the one prior to that before it to failed and shutting down Riverside BMX.

I can see that times have finally changed and that perhaps there is a better future for Spokane youth than there was in my day. At the same time it's time for others to change. It's time for the community, riders, skaters, city & county, and not least the bicycle industry to come together to support this most wonderful attraction to youth than has ever been in Spokane history.

How many youth are there in Spokane right now waiting to make a difference in other peoples lives even though they don't know it?

I plan on one day moving back to Spokane and when I do I will be proud to know that the people that are running "Our" fine city will be from that group of youth that had something to do with there time other that get in to trouble.

Founding member of the Spoke & Sport FS team,
BMX competitor,
Business owner
Proud to be a supporter of the Hillyard Skatepark.

Roger "Ziggy" Zigler
spirit91@myexel.com

Related Links: Hillyard Skatepark, Spokane

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