One skate park approved, more on the table

Deirdre Newman

Having just approved a site at TeWinkle Park late last month, the

city is already working on finding sites for other skate parks.

On Monday, the City Council will consider a variety of park sites

during a study session.

The exploration comes on the heels of the Planning Commission’s

designating TeWinkle Park as the primary site for a skate park.

The council will examine the city’s parks to identify those large

enough to provide enough space for either a permanent, in-ground,

10,000- to 15,000-square-foot skate park and/or 5,000-square-foot

pocket-sized skate parks.

Skateboard activist Jim Gray, fresh off his victory at TeWinkle

Park, said he’s glad the city continues to make skate parks a

priority.

“I’m happy they’re spending time on it,” Gray said. “I’m happy

it’s become important enough to look at. We’re a little curious

because we don’t know what they will come up with.”

In June, the City Council directed recreation staff to gather

information on locations for a potential in-ground, permanent skate

park, smaller, pocket-size skate parks and an update on the Mobile

Skate Park.

Recreation staff members found that the skaters prefers permanent

skate parks with all elements made of poured concrete. They recommend

a permanent park of at least 15,000 square feet designed to meet the

needs of young and adult recreational skateboarders and inline

skaters of all ages, skating styles and abilities.

Though smaller, pocket-sized parks could be spread around the city

since they are less expensive to build, the community tends to lose

interest over time, staff members found.

The recreation staff used several factors in evaluating each park

as a site for building a skate park including adequate open space,

visibility from the street and close proximity to public

transportation. They believe having several skate facilities will

keep down the number of skaters at any one park and improve the

overall experience.

They also explored building a park collaboratively with the school

district, Newport Beach and the county.

The Mobile Skate Park Program, which was created in 2001 as a

stop-gap when a proposed park at Charle and Hamilton streets fell

through, could be used for special events when a permanent and

pocket-size parks are built, staff members said.

The funding designated for a permanent, in-ground skate park is

about $528,000. No funding has been budgeted this year for

pocket-size parks. The cost to build and equip one of those would be

between $25,000 -- $35,000, staff members found.

Mayor Gary Monahan said the priority now is building a skate park

at TeWinkle Park. But that should just be the start, he added.

“If we delay [TeWinkle] now for any reason, it will never happen,”

Monahan said. “And kids deserve better. I don’t believe one park is

enough. There are many skaters out there, and by having more than

one, it would take pressure off one park to be full all the time.”