LA PALMA : City Is Inclined to Let Skaters Be Legal Again

The City Council is having second thoughts about its January vote to ban roller or in-line skating in Central Park.

At its meeting Tuesday, the council directed city staff to prepare an amendment to city ordinances that would once again allow skating in the park. The proposal is scheduled to come before the council May 2. If the council adopts that ordinance change, the ban on skaters would be repealed. Skateboards, however, would continue to be outlawed from the park.

The council acted on the skating matter after hearing a report from Ron Kenny, director of the Recreation and Community Services Department.

He said it has become increasingly difficult to enforce the anti-skating ordinance in Central Park because of the numbers of skaters. “They are from all age groups, with most being cautious participants,” Kenny said. His staff has received many complaints about the ordinance.

“The Police Department has been called on occasion to enforce the law, but the violation of an anti-skating ordinance often must take a lower priority to other criminal activity in the community,” Kenny said.

Council members generally agreed that roller skates and in-line skates could be legalized again in Central Park. But some on the council said they are adamant about excluding skateboards. “Skateboarding, I definitely think, should be kept out of there,” Councilman Duane F. Schuster said.