Ever closer to a skate park

There was a familiar mix of good news and bad news in Costa Mesa last

week.

The good was the Planning Commission’s decision to designate a

part of TeWinkle Park as the primary site for a skateboard park in

town. Construction of a place for skaters to go that is off the

streets and off private property is long overdue.

The bad was the immediate plans to appeal the decision by members

of the Costa Mesa Bark Park Foundation.

Without an appeal, all that would have stood between the

community’s many skaters and bowls and half-pipes to play in would

have been city money. It would have been just a matter of the City

Council budgeting funds for the park.

Instead, if foundation members carry through with an appeal, there

will be yet another debate that comes down to a choice between kids

and pets.

The City Council, as we have stated before, will be right to

choose kids. Councilman Mike Scheafer, who has said firmly that

construction of a skate park is a top priority, needs to remain

dedicated to that goal and bring his colleagues along for the ride.

A council discussion on Oct. 13, we hope, will be the final

hurdle. The goal at that meeting should be nothing less than a clear

and unambiguous plan for a skate park. There should be no secondary

sites, no possibilities.

The worst thing that can happen now is for the plan to fall apart.

After so many delays and disappointments, there finally seems to be a

community will -- though not a unanimous one -- to get a park built.

Skaters are organized behind leader Jim Gray. City officials are led

by Scheafer. The Parks and Recreation Commission and now the Planning

Commission support the idea. If it cannot be done in this climate,

there seems little hope that it will ever get done.

And that will end up hurting years and years of Newport-Mesa boys

and girls.