Rolling Forward
The Community Skate Event and Monroe’s Skateboarding Future
Monroe, NC, is a city that thrives when we unite, and our upcoming Community Skate Event this Sunday at noon at the Science Center is proof! I met with Councilmen David Dotson and Gary Anderson and Funroe Board Company’s owner to plan this epic day—music, ramps, ice cream trucks, rails, and a cookout hosted by our Monroe Police Department. It’s a celebration of our youth and our #MonroeStrong spirit. But this event is just the start of a bigger mission: updating our skateboarding ordinance to balance safety, fun, and downtown vitality.
For a year and a half, City Hall and council have fielded countless complaints—skateboarders nearly colliding with pedestrians, skating near diners, or darting onto main streets, posing safety risks. Our current ordinance, which treats violations as a misdemeanor and even mentions “roller scooters,” is outdated. It lacks clear definitions for skateboards, longboards, and other types, and offers no guidance on where skating is allowed downtown. Who’s liable if a kid gets hurt? We need clarity. I’ve researched solutions, like restricting skateboarding to roads with speed limits under 25 mph, and creating a downtown map to designate safe skating zones. It’s about common sense—safety first, while protecting our vibrant downtown.
Councilmen Dotson, Mayor Pro Tem Franco McGee, and I have championed this for months, pushing for ordinance updates and a better skate park. An incomplete draft ordinance was pulled—it hadn’t been vetted by committees and needed refining. Some thought we were crazy, but when our community rallied, council listened. Yes, election season brings white-horse heroes chasing points, but I’m not here for politics. Funroe’s owner has publicly criticized me, and I remember those moments. Yet, I believe in our kids—not every one plays football or soccer. Skating gives them purpose, keeping them off screens and out of trouble.
I don’t love government regulation. I prefer diplomacy, finding win-win solutions over conflict. We can’t be strong-armed, but we can collaborate. Funroe is one piece of this puzzle—surrounding businesses matter too. We’ve proposed a trial skate space to council, giving skaters a chance to prove they’re not hooligans but respectful kids, as I believe most are, despite the bad rap from history. It’ll take council support, which I’m optimistic about post-rally, but skaters must respect their surroundings and authority.
Join us Sunday, April 27, 2025 to skate, eat, and show #MonroeStrong unity. Let’s give our kids a safe place to shine and prove skeptics wrong. Stay engaged—subscribe to the Robert Burns Podcast on all platforms, sign up for the Mayor’s Newsletter, and become a Monthly Champion with a monthly donation today!
