SALEM Motorcycle events planned downtown

Skateboarders are getting a place to practice their skills.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- Area motorcyclists, with city council's blessing, will be invited to visit downtown Salem this summer for a series of proposed bike nights.
Dan Engle asked Tuesday for council's support of his event. Motorcycle enthusiasts will be invited to the city's central business district every Thursday beginning May 24 through summer's end.
Engle is the owner of B.B. Rooners and Ragni's, bar and restaurant businesses on the 200 block of East State Street.
During the events, Engle is asking the city to shut down part of Broadway Avenue near East State Street so that classic cars can be shown there in conjunction with the bike nights.
Engle also wants the city to limit parking along the 200 block of East State Street to motorcycles during bike nights.
"It will be impressive if bikes are parked along the street," Engle said.
Security, cleanup: He told council he is willing to provide security for the events and to clean up affected city streets and sidewalks afterward.
"It's worth a try," Councilman Walt Bezeredi, D-4th, said of the proposal.
Similar supportive comments were made by other council members, prompting the panel to hand the matter over to the administration to arrange details.
Councilwoman Alma Apicella, R-at large, said she is not in favor of the bike nights.
After the meeting, she said she supports family events in the downtown. "My idea of a family program is not a bike night," Apicella added, declining to elaborate.
"It's an interesting thing, and we won't know whether it will work until we try," Mayor Larry DeJane said.
Skateboard facility: In other matters, Bezeredi told council that the city parks commission has approved a plan to construct a $30,000 facility for skateboarders at Wadsworth Memorial Park on the city's north side.
The facility will feature apparatus skateboarders typically use to perform stunts.
Construction is expected to start soon and conclude by late spring or early summer, Bezeredi said.