EDITORIAL:

Playing King Solomon is not an easy thing to do.

You remember the old biblical story, right? Two women arguing over who was the real mother of a young boy asked Solomon to be the judge and make the right decision.

Solomon made the right decision, often characterized as the epitome of wisdom.

Which brings us to the Costa Mesa City Council.

OK, a debate over skate parks, the Fish Fry and Fairview Park’s natural settings are hardly of King Solomon proportions, but the council find itself in a conundrum Tuesday night.

And they did an excellent job.

At issue was the creation of new skate parks, something that Costa Mesa youth demand.

Lions Park, the home of the Fish Fry, was pushed as a possible site. Those who want Lions Park to stay as is, instead suggested Fairview Park, a passive, natural setting that many find a place of serenity and beauty.

The council, in its wisdom, decided neither was suitable.

Instead, a Solomon-like compromise emerged to split the skate park idea from a large location into many smaller ones.

It was a brilliant move that seems to have made everyone happy.

Well, not everyone. Councilman Eric Bever made a point to denigrate those who think skateboarding is an important issue for Costa Mesa’s youth. But despite Bever’s caustic comments, skateboarding is popular and will continue to be. Creating multiple sites to answer that demand is a good idea.

Another good idea is to leave Lions and Fairview parks alone.

The Fish Fry has a long history Congratulations to the council for finding a way to make everyone happy.

But we would be remiss not to mention the political makeup of Tuesday’s decision.

It was one of the few times that Councilwoman Wendy Leece broke with the majority of Bever and Mayor Allan Mansoor. She instead created the compromise with Councilwomen Linda Dixon and Katrina Foley.

“I like the idea of these modules and parks where they’re going to work and be good recreation for our young people but they’re not intrusive,” she told our reporter.

We agree. And we thank all three councilwomen for having that wisdom.