Editor’s note: This is the second in a two-part series on the decline of BMX in Wilmington.

With the Wilmington BMX scene basically non-existent and Eastwood Ramp Park nothing more than a memory, many are left to wonder if another BMX-friendly skate park can bring back the once thriving local sport.

In April 2001, the City of Wilmington provided skateboarders with a public concrete skate park, Greenfield Grind, at Greenfield Lake Park. However, the park allows skateboards and inline skates but not bikes.

“The decision to not allow bikes at the city park was made during a series of meetings between the Wilmington Skatepark Association and the Wilmington Parks and Recreation Department,” explained Chris Smith, a UNCW graduate and current nursing student who runs the city’s skate park at Greenfield Lake.

The Wilmington Skatepark Association was made up of the main players in the skateboard community of Wilmington.

“I don’t understand why the city won’t allow bikes at the park,” says Ross Hamilton, a BMX rider of seven years who himself has considered opening a BMX park here in Wilmington. “Most skate parks say that bikes mess up the ramps but I don’t think the city park would be damaged because it’s made of concrete. There is no reason they couldn’t set aside a day for BMX bikers to ride; it’s a form of discrimination.”

Some disagree with Hamilton on the issue of bikes causing damage to the park. Norman Graham III who frequents the park almost daily said, “It wouldn’t make any sense to allow bikes in the city park. It is too small and already crowded enough. The way the park is designed it has lots of places where collisions would be likely. Also, bikes tear up the ledges and rails really bad with their grind pegs. The concrete is already chipping up really bad in places and it would be much, much worse of bikes rode in there too.”

Smith pointed out that the Greenfield Grind got started before a strong BMX presence in the Cape Fear region.

“The skate park at Greenfield Lake took almost seven years of meetings, petitions and fund raising to finally make it a reality,” Smith said. “It was all skateboarders who put in the time and effort to get this thing done, and there was not a strong representation of BMX riders around during the design and planning stages of the park and that’s why the park’s design does not include any BMX friendly ramps or allow for them period at the park.”

Local BMX riders have a strong belief that the scene can be saved, but it’s up to them to step up and get something done.

“The scene would pick up quick if there was a park. It did the first time (with Eastwood Ramp Park),” Hamilton said. “A lot of people still ride but what makes a scene is a place for everyone to come together. My father and I have been doing a lot of searching for a building to open up a BMX-friendly skate park. Not having much start-up capital I’m looking for local business to invest in buying some ramps in exchange for having their logo on the ramp in the park.

“We need a place for BMX riders to ride. If I can’t get everything together I really hope someone can,” said Hamilton.