HUNTINGTON BEACH : Schools, City to Build 2nd Skateboard Rink

Construction of the city’s second public skateboard facility is scheduled to start in the next three weeks, with completion targeted for early October.

The newest skateboard rink will be at the entrance of the football stadium at Huntington Beach High School on Main Street, near Yorktown Avenue. The project is a partnership of the city and the Huntington Beach Union High School District. The school district is paying $70,000 of the $160,000 cost.

“Our first skateboard facility was completed and opened more than a year ago at Murdy Park,” said Ron Hagan, the city’s director of community services. “That skateboard facility has proved to be tremendously popular, and despite all the predictions of problems, there hasn’t been anything negative since it opened.

“In fact, vandalism once caused by (illegal) skateboarding around the curbs and picnic tables has dropped to zero since the facility opened. So we know these facilities work.”

The city launched its program of building public skateboard rinks about two years ago, after cracking down on illegal skateboarding in front of businesses and at schools.

The new project calls for improving the high school stadium’s entrance as well as providing a concrete rink for skateboarders.

“The city sometimes uses the stadium for public events, so it’s appropriate that this be an area that is fixed up,” Hagan said. “That entrance area is pretty rundown. The project includes a new entrance (to the stadium) and a new ticket booth.”

Hagan said construction of the new skateboard facility is expected to curtail illegal skateboarding that has for years caused damage to the Huntington Beach High campus and to the city’s adjoining Worthy Park.

The school board Tuesday night approved its share of the costs. School officials said the $70,000 comes from district redevelopment funds and school-district fees charged to developers.