UPDATE: Etnies Opposes BMX Ban at Namesake Skate Park

Etnies, the company whose name is on Lake Forest's popular skate park, took a stand Friday against the at the park.

A strongly worded missive on the Etnies blog assured BMX fans the company had no role in the city's decision, which was announced on Lake Forest's website around 5 p.m. Thursday, as City Hall closed for the day.

"This decision was made by the city of Lake Forest, completely outside of the control and without the consent of Etnies, and we are following up with the city of Lake Forest to see if this decision can be overturned," a company representative wrote.

According to a press release posted online by the city, "recent concerns over liability, insurability and governmental immunity" led to the ban.

Etnies received a courtesy call about the decision Thursday morning, according to Senior Public Relations Manager Ashton Maxfield.

"We weren't aware that they were going to completely ban BMX," Maxfield said. However, the company did know city officials had been "researching liability issues" regarding BMX in skate parks for some time, he said.

Etnies' blog post also distanced itself from the park's management personnel, which does not include Etnies representatives.

Etnies "is NOT in favor of this decision," the letter reads, listing the ways in which it supports BMX, such as sponsoring riders, supporting training facilities and selling BMX-specific products. The company "has supported BMX since 1995 ... [and] was one of the first shoe companies in the action sports community to embrace BMX by providing footwear to meet their specific needs," the letter concludes.

Although the ban took effect Thursday, Etnies sees hope for reversing the decision in wording suggesting the city's concerns could be resolved at some point.

"When these concerns may be resolved is unknown at this time," reads the city's press release. 

The Etnies executive team plans to meet with Lake Forest officials, share information it has gathered about liability at skate parks and try to persuade the city to reverse its ban, Maxfield said.

Since the BMX ban was announced, "ongoing conversations" between the company and the city have taken place, he added.

Etnies, an American footwear company owned by Sole Technology, is headquartered in Lake Forest.

In recent months, it also fought the Lake Forest City Council when it —tubes of metal, plastic or other material attached to front or back bike axles so riders can slide along hard edges—which city officials said can damage the skate park's concrete surfaces.