Skateboarders roll front and center

June Casagrande

An ordinance to tighten restrictions on skateboarding could attract

heated emotions from both sides at Tuesday’s Newport Beach City Council

meeting.

On one side, residents, officials and business owners say the

restrictions are needed to avoid property damage like the broken tiles at

McFadden Square. On the other side, families say the ordinance is too

restrictive and unfairly punishes good kids and a good sport.

“There are no places for kids to skate in Newport Beach,” said Jake

Hoose, a Newport Beach father of two young skateboarders. “I’d like my

kids to have some place to skate that’s safe. Kids shouldn’t be forced to

skate where it’s dangerous, like in the street.”

Last week, the city’s Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission

approved a first draft of an ordinance designed to stop some of the

problems they say are associated with skateboarders.

“Some of the kids are causing a lot of damage to city property,”

General Services Manager Dave Niederhaus said last week. “You can’t go

into any park without seeing damage.”

For example, on Jan. 8, vandals caused about $1,500 in damage when

they removed 16 of the 65 metal anti-skateboarding devices at Arroyo

Park.

The solution, officials say, is an ordinance that broadens

restrictions on skateboarding in the city’s parks.

The proposed ordinance, which the City Council will vote on Tuesday,

extends restrictions on skateboarding to any area in the city’s parks

with a 6% or greater slope. It also prohibits skateboarding on brickwork

and ornamental surfaces; on things such as picnic tables, benches,

planter walls and handrails; and on tennis, basketball and other courts.

* June Casagrande covers Newport Beach. She may be reached at (949)

574-4232 or by e-mail at o7 june.casagrande@latimes.comf7 .