Readers Respond -- Residents push for places to skate
It’s a real letdown for me as a Newport Beach resident, and mother of
three, to see how our Newport Beach City Council is handling the
skateboarding issue. If we’re not going to build a skateboard park, then
why implement an ordinance that further penalizes skateboarders?
(“Newport adds skateboard restrictions,” Jan. 24). Do we really believe
that posting signs and having our cops chase after our sons is the
sensible solution?
Let’s take a hint from our neighbors in Costa Mesa. They have also had
a great traveling skate park program that temporarily sets up ramps and
provides safety equipment so that kids can enjoy skateboarding in the
appropriate setting. This sure beats making laws and trying to banish
skateboarders who, like all residents, are entitled to enjoy their sport
of choice in city parks.
Ordinances do nothing to promote a sense of community, and isn’t that
what really matters?
JENNY BIOCHE
Newport Beach
This is in response to the story regarding the destruction of public
property due to skate boarding (“Skateboarders roll front and center,”
Jan. 29).
Gee, I wonder why there is such rampant destruction? And what do our
fearless leaders propose? To crack down even harder on the perpetrators?
City officials have the nerve to suggest a more punitive response, rather
than find a solution that would provide the skateboarders a place to
skate.
Oh, wait a minute, I forgot.
There once was a plan to build a skate park, where the children could
skate freely on equipment that was deemed suitable, as well as safe --
one that would preserve the use of public property rather than harm it.
If one were to observe other beach communities, it would be noted that
they almost all have skate parks -- and I would speculate that those
cities do not have problems with destruction of walls, benches, etc., as
in the case of Newport Beach.
In conclusion, it should come as no surprise to anyone that there are
broken tiles and sidewalks in our city -- if you don’t build a park, they
will not stop skating; they will simply skate elsewhere, and it might not
be where you want them to be.
ROBIN SINCLAIR
Newport Beach
Newport Beach and Costa Mesa could start by making a trip up to Santa
Barbara and other cities that have skateboard parks and talk to their
city officials and see the positive influence it’s making on their
communities (Editorial, “Find a solution to skate issue,” Jan. 31).
At least investigate the possibilities. The biggest problem with
skateboarding is there’s no place to legally skate other than dangerous
places. What is a park if it doesn’t cater to the needs of the community?
If they put a skate park at the foot of the Balboa Pier, it could also
bring in business from the parents who would bring their children down to
skate and have lunch or dinner and shop while the kids are skating. And
to the Balboa Inn, with tourists with children.
Dream on. Let’s start thinking positive instead of negative.
PEGGY MAROTTA
Balboa Island
QUESTION
SKATING THE ISSUE?
What should the Newport-Mesa Unified School District and the cities of
Costa Mesa and Newport Beach do, if anything, to solve the skate park
issue? o7 Call our Readers Hotline at (949) 642-6086 or send e-mail to
dailypilot@latimes.com. Please spell your name and include your hometown
and phone number, for verification purposes only.f7
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