Not a sign of things to come

Deirdre Newman

Still high from his victory leading the charge for a skate park in

the city, Jim Gray was amused when he saw signs at TeWinkle Park

heralding the construction of the long-awaited park.

The signs, posted by the city, declare the “future home of Costa

Mesa’s Skate Park” and show a skater in full safety regalia with a

helmet, knee pads, elbow pads and gloves.

But what stood out to Gray was the fact that the skater portrayed

is an inline skater, not a skateboarder.

And as anyone in the know knows, the two get along just as

infamously as skiers and snowboarders, Gray said.

“It’s just a comical irony about the people who are fighting for

[the park],” Gray said. “There is a thing between skaters and

Rollerbladers. We don’t hate them, but they are sometimes a pain to

us.”

The City Council approved the skate park in October after

advocates pushed for one for more than a decade.

There was no nefarious intent to the sign, Senior Engineer Bart

Mejia said. It simply was meant to emphasize safety.

The design with the inline skater was chosen because it was the

only image the city had with the appropriate safety gear being worn.

“We do not want to show a picture of a skateboarder without safety

gear,” Mejia said, stressing that the park will be open to both

skateboarders and inline skaters.

Gray is continuing to help the city with its plans for the park,

which is scheduled to start construction this fall. He is also

looking forward to “Go Skateboarding Day” on June 21, which is being

introduced by the International Assn. of Skateboard Companies. The

day is intended to raise awareness about how robust the sport of

skateboarding is throughout the world, Gray said.

“We’re trying to overcome on some levels the stereotype that

skateboarding is this little trendy thing that comes and goes,” Gray

said. “It’s a big, big sport/activity and there still is a lot of

awareness that needs to be raised about that.”

“Go Skateboarding Day” is meant for skateboarders to get together

with family and friends and participate in and celebrate

skateboarding.

And maybe with their inline brethren. And, of course, with helmets

on.

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at deirdre.newman@latimes.com.