Readers Respond -- Residents urge skate park construction

As a Costa Mesa resident, I can only address what Costa Mesa should do

about a skate park. First, stop congratulating yourselves on the mobile

skate park. Leave out the fact that the obstacles provided are

challenging only to skaters under the age of 10. Its hours of operation

make it no different to many than if there was no park at all.

Costa Mesa needs to build a park that is open seven days a week (yes,

people do skate on weekends) and have terrain that is challenging for a

wider range of skaters.

Costa Mesa dedicated time and resources into getting a park built and

then got cold feet at the altar and abandoned the idea. The most common

explanation has been the lack of a suitable space to build one. According

to the city’s Web site, Costa Mesa has 26 public parks of various sizes,

yet they can’t find room in one of them to build a skate park.

The city of Westminster has four parks, one of which now includes a

skate park. Fairview would be an ideal spot for a park. It is far enough

from residential developments to eliminate noise concerns, yet easily

reached from anywhere in the city. It has plenty of parking for skaters

and their parents. The park is large enough to accommodate a skate park

without impacting its use by other groups.

It was with great disappointment to me the other day when I was

reading a flier from the Friends of Fairview Park in which it said they

were planning to put Costa Mesa’s second dog park there. I would strongly

urge all members of the City Council not to approve a second park

dedicated to canines until they build the first park dedicated to

skaters.

MASON STEEL

Costa Mesa

This is in response to (Readers Respond, March 12) “Residents push for

places to skate.” We really wish there was a place closer than Irvine or

Huntington Beach to take our boys.

We stumbled upon the Irvine skate park off Walnut Avenue last month

during soccer playoffs, and we’ve been back there at least eight times.

It’s perfect. They have rental gear available, supervision and a fenced

skate area with a variety of rails, bowls, etc., for all levels of

skaters. And it’s for those that Roller blade as well as skateboard.

I voiced my opinion through the Daily Pilot in Feb. 6, 2001, (Mailbag,

“Newport-Mesa needs skate park -- or two”) and it seems that another year

has gone by without anything positive happening on this subject for those

that enjoy this “sport.”

I would like for everyone to have the opportunity to skate within

their own city. A skate park seems like the only solution for what the

city seems to imply as destructive behavior.

As far as the Newport-Mesa Unified School District being involved, one

suggestion might be to sell the small parcel of land that they own near

16th Street and Whittier Avenue to Newport Beach, and build a skate park

and greens for all to enjoy. This could be managed by the Parks and

Recreation Department.

Or how about the vacant land that parks and recreation acquired along

Coast Highway just south of Superior Avenue? Just how many generations

are going to continue to be harassed and restricted for enjoying the

“sport” of skating?

DEBI DiFRANCESCO

Newport Beach

Newport-Mesa kids deserve a skate park. It’s a sport that should be

recognized by the community for the skill and dedication it takes to

master the tricks. Just because City Council members are ignorant to what

a fakie kickflip is does not justify their ignorance to the sport.

STEVE IVERSON

Costa Mesa