Skatepark a hit, but some kids miss on following rules governing use

August 18, 2004
Santa Paula News

There’s no doubt that the biggest hit of summer for Santa Paula kids is the skatepark, but there are some users who are jeopardizing the fun of others by not following the rules or are risking their own welfare by not wearing the proper skating attire.

By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesThere’s no doubt that the biggest hit of summer for Santa Paula kids is the skatepark, but there are some users who are jeopardizing the fun of others by not following the rules or are risking their own welfare by not wearing the proper skating attire.The almost $400,000 skatepark opened at Veterans Memorial Park over a week ago with great fanfare and has “generated fun for those using it, but one of the issues coming up is who is going to enforce the rules concerning use,” said Acting City Manager Paul Skeels, the SPFD Chief.The park was meant for skateboarders, inline and regular skates but the city has received complaints that “kids are taking bicycles into the park, a use that was not intended. It also seems to be dangerous for those kids using the skatepark properly. We have signs posted saying no bicycles; we do not want heavy bikes flying through the air hitting the kids,” as well as metal bicycle parts damaging the facility itself.Another issue is skaters and safety gear: “Pretty clearly the rule on that is that skaters are to wear helmets, elbow and knee pads,” said Chief Skeels. “Many of the kids are but many aren’t,” in spite of the signage noting that safety gear must be worn to use the 12,000 square foot park.“We don’t want anyone hurt using the park because they are not properly attired and it’s another rule that is posted.”Santa Paula Police have initiated a policy of heightened patrol at the park, stopping by hourly to enforce the posted user rules.
“When we make our passes by the park,” SPPD officers advise users in violation of the rules that they must wear safety gear; bicyclists are told to leave the skate park area.Such enforcement actions “seem to be helping” noted Chief Skeels. “We’ve gotten positive feedback from people who have seen the SPPD stop by,” the park to enforce the rules.“For awhile the park is going to be attracting a lot of interest and probably until the end of time there will be some guy trying to ride a bike in the park. But such prohibited use – as well as skaters not wearing the proper safety gear – make it hard on those kids sticking to all the rules and regulations of park use.”A law to be enforced is no riding of bicycles, skateboards or skates on Main Street, which several merchants said have become a problem since the 10th Street park opened.The city has banned such use of sidewalks in the central business district and offenders are subject to tickets.“Clearly, the merchants don’t want it,” and the SPPD will enforce the law, although “officers can’t be everywhere at once,” Chief Skeels noted. “Problems like these make it tough for those kids who observe all the rules of street and park usage . . .they want the other kids to abide by all the rules.”It is expected that the skatepark will be closed this week while final construction, including wrought iron fencing, is completed.



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