The recent decision by the City Council to not supervise our new Skateboard Park is one that could only have been rendered by people with no
working knowledge of our skate park, and/or skate parks in general.
No other skate parks in our area operate without supervision. Some initially
open without supervision, but it is eventually added later on as problems
develop. It has become obvious that our park needs a gatekeeper.
Our skate park has a burgeoning problem with a growing cadre of non-resident teens who use it as a place to hang out, swing dope deals and smoke
cigarettes.
They may use a skateboard to get to the park. But once there, they don’t skate. Instead they occupy valuable skating space. They litter and they hassle younger people who came to actually skate.
Another serious problem is unsupervised youth skating without safety equipment.
I can virtually guarantee the absentee parents who don’t properly
pad their children are going to be the very ones demanding millions when
their little darlings lose some grey matter after smacking their unprotected
skulls upon the wicked and expedient (albeit polished) concrete.
As the City Attorney undoubtedly will agree, posting rules regarding the use of safety equipment does not indemnify the city against future lawsuits, nor does it
demonstrate due diligence in regard to preventing injury.
Pedlow Skatepark/Encino is staffed. Entry costs $1/per month for children,
$3/per month for adults. The Cove/Santa Monica issues an ID card for users, the fee schedule for which may be found at:
http://www.smgov.net/comm_progs/skatepark/fees.htm
It’s time we fell in line with current skatepark standards in order to
preserve a healthy skating environment for our kids as well as reduce our
liability from future criminal activity and user injury.
