Salt Lake Valley Board of Health Director Gary Edwards apologized for the eruption the prohibition caused - it spawned Web sites, online petitions and thousands of angry e-mails - saying evidence does not support a noise-ordinance-based ban on sport ramps.

"We now have another constituent group we are well aware of," Edwards said, telling the board that numerous is "too small a word" to describe the volume of complaints.

The skateboard constituency was not hard to spot. Two boys, ages 9 and 4, wore bright shirts with the word "criminal" in block letters on the front. A blond-haired boy with baggy jeans made a similar statement. His shirt advised: "Skate Utah (just not in your own backyard)."

Still, ramp owners were pleased with the decision, which remains in effect until April 1, 2009. During the next six months, county officials will study the noise issue, hold more public hearings, then present a new recommendation.

"I'm pleased with how that went," said Rick Shaffer, of South Jordan. "It sounds like the board is open to consider all sides."

His wife, Mikey, was more direct. "They didn't really think the writing of the law through," she said. "You can go buy ramps at Target."

On Aug. 7, the board voted to ban sport ramps in private yards as part of a noise clampdown. The move came after complaints from some residents who neighbor backyard ramps.

After the ban took hold, the Salt Lake City Council was swamped by complaints about the health board's rule - even though the council didn't enact the rule. Now the council is crafting a statement that calls for more transparency on public-policy matters.

Health board Chairwoman Nano Podolsky said any ramp updates now will be posted on the board's Web page as well as an online-skate site registered since the controversy.

But Royal DeLegge, the environmental health division director, said the prohibition never should have slipped through. "I accept responsibility for that."

Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon said he is aware of skateboarding's popularity, but argued for a balance to keep the neighborhood peace.

"It's unfortunate that we end up having regulations because of neighbors that are inconsiderate of one another," he said. "Hopefully, we'll be able to come up with something that works for everybody."

Corroon takes his own boys, 5 and 6, to skate parks and noted the county supports everything from new skating facilities to the popular AST Dew Tour.

Brian Baade, a Salt Lake City resident, called it "crazy" that skaters still must defend their sport before government bodies. "It's a legitimate sport," he said, "but for some reason, in the eyes of the public, it remains this little fringe thing."

Ramps, he argued, are no nosier than swimming pools. What's more, traditional sports such as baseball have declining numbers, he noted, citing numbers from the National Sporting Goods Association, while skateboarding is growing.

And given Utah's rising obesity level, Baade said barring backyard ramps "seems asinine."

For at least six months, the health board seems to agree.

djensen@sltrib.com

Between 1998 and 2007, youth participation in many traditional sports dipped, while the number of skateboarders (and bowlers) spiked. Following is a peek at the 10-year trend, chronicled by the National Sporting Goods Association:

* Baseball: Down 32 percent

* Basketball: Down 15 percent

* Soccer: Down 15 percent

* Volleyball: Down 20 percent

* Skateboarding: Up 85 percent

* Football: Up 29 percent

* Bowling: Up 12 percent

* Softball: Down 45 percent

* Golf: Down 40 percent

* Hockey: Down 29 percent

* Skiing: Down 34 percent

* Mountain biking: Down 23 percent