Readers Respond -- Residents push for places to skate

It’s a real letdown for me as a Newport Beach resident, and mother of

three, to see how our Newport Beach City Council is handling the

skateboarding issue. If we’re not going to build a skateboard park, then

why implement an ordinance that further penalizes skateboarders?

(“Newport adds skateboard restrictions,” Jan. 24). Do we really believe

that posting signs and having our cops chase after our sons is the

sensible solution?

Let’s take a hint from our neighbors in Costa Mesa. They have also had

a great traveling skate park program that temporarily sets up ramps and

provides safety equipment so that kids can enjoy skateboarding in the

appropriate setting. This sure beats making laws and trying to banish

skateboarders who, like all residents, are entitled to enjoy their sport

of choice in city parks.

Ordinances do nothing to promote a sense of community, and isn’t that

what really matters?

JENNY BIOCHE

Newport Beach

This is in response to the story regarding the destruction of public

property due to skate boarding (“Skateboarders roll front and center,”

Jan. 29).

Gee, I wonder why there is such rampant destruction? And what do our

fearless leaders propose? To crack down even harder on the perpetrators?

City officials have the nerve to suggest a more punitive response, rather

than find a solution that would provide the skateboarders a place to

skate.

Oh, wait a minute, I forgot.

There once was a plan to build a skate park, where the children could

skate freely on equipment that was deemed suitable, as well as safe --

one that would preserve the use of public property rather than harm it.

If one were to observe other beach communities, it would be noted that

they almost all have skate parks -- and I would speculate that those

cities do not have problems with destruction of walls, benches, etc., as

in the case of Newport Beach.

In conclusion, it should come as no surprise to anyone that there are

broken tiles and sidewalks in our city -- if you don’t build a park, they

will not stop skating; they will simply skate elsewhere, and it might not

be where you want them to be.

ROBIN SINCLAIR

Newport Beach

Newport Beach and Costa Mesa could start by making a trip up to Santa

Barbara and other cities that have skateboard parks and talk to their

city officials and see the positive influence it’s making on their

communities (Editorial, “Find a solution to skate issue,” Jan. 31).

At least investigate the possibilities. The biggest problem with

skateboarding is there’s no place to legally skate other than dangerous

places. What is a park if it doesn’t cater to the needs of the community?

If they put a skate park at the foot of the Balboa Pier, it could also

bring in business from the parents who would bring their children down to

skate and have lunch or dinner and shop while the kids are skating. And

to the Balboa Inn, with tourists with children.

Dream on. Let’s start thinking positive instead of negative.

PEGGY MAROTTA

Balboa Island

QUESTION

SKATING THE ISSUE?

What should the Newport-Mesa Unified School District and the cities of

Costa Mesa and Newport Beach do, if anything, to solve the skate park

issue? o7 Call our Readers Hotline at (949) 642-6086 or send e-mail to

[email protected]. Please spell your name and include your hometown

and phone number, for verification purposes only.f7