What One Man Can Do

In too many communities, there are no or few "boy places." Think about it, where are those places in your neighborhood or community where boys can hang out, be boys, burn off energy, and have fun?Where are the places where boys won't scare the local population (or law enforcement) and attract negative attention? If we're talking out doors, it's often either a basketball court or a skateboard park. That's if the boys are lucky. This is a story about a skateboard park and one motivated man who get's it.

Mark Crothers, is just "a guy" and native resident of Algonac, Michigan. He received the Algonac Asset Award from the Mayor and city council for rejuvenating the town's skate board park. Mark said that prior to the skate park's construction in 2001, he and other guys, "...couldn’t skate anywhere without being stopped by local police and/or business owners...." That's when Mark and others raised the money to build the skate park.

This last year Mark realized the almost 20-year-old skate park was hurting. As the Mayor said when giving out the award, “Mark has fond memories of the park and sprang into action when it fell into disrepair.” Mark gathered up a dozen or so people of different ages, again raised some money, and together they seriously buffed up the park. They even got three artists to come out and create, "...murals and graffiti art throughout the ramps."

...a robust role model
demonstrating leadership and compassion...

When she gave out the award, the Mayor described how, during the process, Mark had been, "...a robust role model demonstrating leadership and compassion to the younger skaters who use it now." The Mayor also honored the young boys who helped with the skate park redo, calling them individually to the front of the room and presenting them with certificates. How awesome is THAT in this age when too many young males are highlighted for bad behavior and demeaned by the media?

In closing the award ceremony, the Mayor and others offered a number of powerful predictions and blessings. One I really like came from Mayor Pro Tem, Rocky Gillis. He said, “Every time a person steps up and volunteers to help something, they own a little piece of that,... Every one of those kids that helped now are going to be the ones that make sure that it stays the way it is for generations to come.”

Mayor Stoneburner said, "... Mark has become a mentor to our own children in this community, ... It doesn’t always happen like this, and I couldn’t be more proud of our community, Mark, and these boys.”

The Mayor also made what I think is a valid prediction. Referring to the boys she said, “They’re seeing how to mentor, they’re learning how to do this, and when they grow up, they’re going to be up here with a crew of kids helping them having done something,” ... “I’m just sure of it. Thank you so much, gentlemen.”

Isn't this an amazing and wonderful story about the impact one motivated man rallying a few allies, can have in the lives of a lot of boys and in the life of his community. You can read the whole story in The Voice, an online Newspaper about Algonac and the surrounding area.

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A Playground for Men

It had to happen. Imagine a place where men can go to play with guy toys. BIG toys, like a giant Komatsu backhoe, Hummers, jackhammers, dirt bikes, quads in mud, and much more. If you are over 16 and love the smell of diesel fuel, man sweat, and getting really dirty, you'll love Männerspielplatz. It's in Germany, and the word literally translates to "men's playground."

From a very young age, many of us played with miniature versions of a dump truck, steam shovel, or fire engine. There was something about these toys that totally captured a young male's imagination. An almost always successful outing with boy or group of boys it to the dealerships where big cats or trucks are sold. Climbing around on the big guys is always a treat for all the males present. But now the Männerspielplatz created the opportunity to release those inner hungers.

I haven't heard about "men's playgrounds" like this in the states. If you know of one, let me know and I'll share it here. For now I'll have to settle for the dream of playing for a day with all the guy toys.

Here's the Männerspielplatz promotional video. It seems to focus on the big machinery, but they offer an enormous variety of ways to get a man (or young male over 16) a reason to say, "Yesssss!"



If the video doesn't show up, go to this link.