June Casagrande
NEWPORT-MESA -- Support is growing to create a skateboard park for
Newport Beach and Costa Mesa, despite some residents' reluctance to see
one built too close to their homes, one official said.
A joint meeting of the two cities' parks commissions on Tuesday drew
close to 20 people who came out in support of finding a place to build a
skateboard park.
On Thursday, Newport Beach City Manager Homer Bludau met with Costa
Mesa City Manager Alan Roeder to discuss the possibility of building a
park for skateboarders from both cities.
"I think the ingredient we're starting to see in both cities is the
commitment of the city councils and of the residents to create a skate
park," said Marc Franklin, a member of Newport Beach's Parks, Beaches
and Recreation Commission and a longtime supporter of creating a
skateboard park.
Officials warn, though, that it is too early to say whether a
skateboard park will ever come to be or which locations are being
considered.
"What we had was just a preliminary discussion to find a site
acceptable to both communities," Bludau said of his meeting with Roeder.
"It's important to note that, while this is something we're working on,
this is not one of our top priorities at this time."
Neither Franklin nor Bludau would name any possible sites, but
Franklin said that sites in both cities are under consideration.
Many residents have opposed the idea of building a skateboard park,
fearing the facility would attract problems such as vandalism that some
associate with a skateboarding subculture. Others have spoken up to
defend the sport and its participants, decrying such unfair stereotypes
and insisting that the sport deserves the same respect as basketball or
any other activity.
"I think any physical activities that keep our kids engaged and out of
harm's way are great," Franklin said. "We provide so many different
sports as a city for the youth and here's a sport with a tremendous
demand and no city-provided outlet."
Franklin said it's likely that Newport Beach's parks commission will
revive its defunct skateboard park subcommittee. Bludau said that staffs
of both cities are gathering information about where a park might be
built.
* June Casagrande covers Newport Beach. She may be reached at (949)
574-4232 or by e-mail at o7 june.casagrande@latimes.comf7 .
