A bounce on the wild side?

At first glance, I thought it would be routine.  

I mean, really, how much discussion could there be about a place with a lot of trampolines?

Answer?  A lot.

Remember, folks, this is Buffalo Grove where nothing is left unturned.  I recall covering a village board meeting a number of years ago when the Board drilled representatives from Baker’s Square about their sign.  In the long run, they got their sign – it just didn’t help their food at all.

So imagine the concern the Village Board had when it was revealed that an operation specializing in trampolines wants to open in the village.  We’re not talking a trampoline or two; we’re talking about a facility with more than 121,000 square feet of space.  That’s a lot of bounce.  In fact, according to Xtreme trampoline’s web site, it offers “Xtreme Trampolines is large warehouse filled with commercial grade trampolines.   There are 5 separate trampoline courts, including a dodgeball court and a giant foam pit.  Customers pay by the hour to have a ton of fun!” 

I’m not sure the board is worried about Dodgeball (yes, it’s upper case and a trademark) or the highly popular “giant foam pit”, the Board’s main concern appears to be the way Xtreme Trampoline administers its specialty – jumping and flipping by generally untrained participants.  To no surprise, the village, as it generally does, had the public service agencies check on police and fire activity at Xtreme Trampolines’ current Carol Stream location.

Rest assured, it does not seem to be attracting undesirables as there does not seem to be much, if any, police activity.  The Fire Department found, however, that Xtreme Trampolines averages 3.4 ambulance calls a month, of which 75 percent (2.5) require advanced life support.  Fire Department representatives expressed concern about excessive time being used responding to emergency medical calls at Xtreme Trampolines.  Each call, it as noted, takes an average of two hours.  The Fire Department’s report also noted that the 3.4 ambulance calls in Carol Stream are by that village’s fire department.  There are additional medical calls handled by private ambulance companies based on the need by Xtreme Trampoline staff.

The ever-popular foam pit

At issue here is the nature of the injuries, which can range from sprained ankles to head injuries.  Granted, Xtreme Trampolines requires participants to sign a waiver (legal papers that absolve the business from anything when someone acts like a duck head), but that does not reduce the possibility of someone untrained in trampoline use trying some that they should not be trying.

Unreasonable?  A colleague of mine, who happens to be a gymnastics coach, says the danger of people injuring themselves on trampolines is very real – especially when they try to do flips.

So once again, the village is faced with scrutinizing a business that wants to enter the village.  To no surprise, there were a lot of questions at the June 6 Board meeting.  That is the nature of the village of Buffalo Grove, which has for years, not let any business in for the sake of generating tax dollars.

Which, if you think about it, may be a good thing because imagine what would happen if the Board approved Xtreme Trampolines and its owners put in a hockey rink?

Bounced checks