Only one skate park on city plate

Deirdre Newman

The city needs to focus on building one skate park before it even

considers skate parks of various sizes in other locations, city

leaders decided Monday.

The City Council held a study session to consider a variety of

park sites throughout the city. But many of the council members

quickly realized the same thing: “We need to get the No. 1 location

built,” Councilman Mike Scheafer said.

The realization curbed the intended discussion and turned it to

the TeWinkle Park site, which the council will consider as the

location for the first permanent skate park on Monday during its

regular meeting. In September, the Planning Commission designated

TeWinkle Park as the primary site for a skate park.

Skate park advocate Jim Gray said he thought discussion on

multiple locations for skate parks was premature.

“The demand is so well established, and a site has been

established that’s so viable,” Gray said. “So to divert it to look at

other sites is not fair to skaters.”

In June, the council directed the recreation staff to gather

information on locations for a large, permanent skate park and

smaller parks.

Recreation staff members found that 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 parks could be spread around the city because they

are less expensive to build, the community tends to lose interest

over time, staff members found.

Councilman Allan Mansoor brought up concerns raised by some

residents in the Mesa del Mar neighborhood about a skate park at

TeWinkle Park and said he wants to keep the option of a skate park at

Costa Mesa High School open. The city and school district have been

discussing a site at the school for a few months, but no specific

site on campus has been announced.

Mayor Gary Monahan summed up his feelings on skate parks: “It’s

gung-ho,” he said. “Build the darn thing now at TeWinkle [Park] and

worry about another location later.”