Skate park location at issue

The Volcom skate park at Costa Mesa’s TeWinkle Park has been so popular, city officials want to build a second park. But choosing a location may be as big an ordeal this time around as it was the first time.

Right now, the only site under consideration is Lions Park — a site that was rejected in 1999 after neighbors complained about the loss of green space and possible flooding.

The city is moving ahead with conceptual designs and the council has funded final design in the budget approved last week. But a few residents already are getting riled up about the plans.

“When do we get to be heard — the skate park is not wanted at Lions Park!” Park Drive resident Jamie Korando wrote in a June 19 e-mail to the city. “I have two toddlers. Taking them to the tot area to play will be unacceptable since it will be right next to the skate park.”

Other old and new concerns are the loss of grassy areas and flooding, especially at the southwest corner of the park at Anaheim Avenue and 18th Street.

City Manager Allan Roeder said some of the issues have been addressed in the eight years since Lions Park was last on the table. Flood control measures have been taken and storm drains improved near the park to alleviate water back-ups, he said.

But the spot under consideration is the picnic shelter — where the Lions Club that gave the park its name holds its annual fish fry. And that spot isn’t roomy enough to answer the wishes of those who want a bigger skate park.

The Volcom park is 15,000 square feet. Some proponents would like to see the second park more than double the size of the first.

Councilwoman Katrina Foley said the new skate park should include space for BMX bikers, who aren’t allowed at the Volcom park.

“You’re not going to be able to cram all that in at Lions Park,” she said. “I do think we should be looking at several locations and we should have options we can choose from to get the best park.”

Her alternate suggestion is the east side of Fairview Park by the golf course.

For now, city officials expect to recommend a consultant in August and be holding community meetings on a skate park at Lions Park in October.

The council then may have to hash out answers to some old objections, while others likely have evaporated since the Volcom park opened.

“To some degree, people see that you can own and operate a skate park and there are not going to be a lot of negative impacts from it,” Roeder said. “But is that going to eliminate, for example the loss of open space at Lions Park? Probably not.”