Well it was looking promising for a while. The authorities acted like they were interested and wanted us. But I just got this email:
______________________________________
Dear Ryan,
I have done quite a bit of investigating into your request to have your demonstrations during DOD weekend, and unfortunately, we will not be able to have your group participate in our event this year.
The reasons are three-fold:
First, our insurance policy will not cover any “sporting demonstrations,” and, in this instance, our Risk Management department says a waiver form signed by your participants will not suffice.
Second, the various City departments with which I have had to discuss this matter feel that they don’t know enough about this activity to be able to support it as part of a City-sponsored event.
Third, our Parks & Rec department has informed me that as part of the City Municipal Code, your activity, in fact falls under the “unlawful” category. See below.
Sec. 39-6. Destruction of park property unlawful.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person, other than authorized personnel, to cut, mark, remove, break or climb upon or in any way injure, damage or deface the trees, shrubs, plants, turf or any of the buildings, fences, bridges, monuments, fountains, back stops, goal posts, coin meters or other structures or property within or upon any park, parkway, mountain park or other recreational facility.
Ryan, I tried really hard to find ways to include your activity. For your future events and demonstrations, I would advise you to contact the Parks & Rec department to discuss how best to proceed in using City of Denver parks. You may speak with Ron Sanders in Safety and Stu Bader in Events who may be able to find ways to ease any future dealings with city parks. The main number for Parks & Rec is 720-913-0696.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Best,
Melinda Laz
______________________________________
Sounds like a bunch of crap to me. Especially the part that says it is illegal to climb things in a PUBLIC PARK!!! You gotta be kidding me? Little kids climb stuff all the time. They are telling me that little kids who naturally climb trees and stuff in public parks are breaking the law? The other two reasons are unfortunately semi legitimate in today's world of uptight legal paranoia.
I don't know what else to do. I could contact these city officials to educate them about parkour but I don't know if it is worth risking our prized hotspot. I dont want any trouble with them trying to arrest us for "climbing" stuff. I am open to any suggestions. What does everyone else think?
