Building Skateboard Park a City Priority

For the first time ever, construction of a municipal skateboard park in Ojai has officially become a city priority.

But whether that means the park is closer to becoming a reality after three years of debate remains an open question.

The City Council voted 3 to 2 Tuesday to negotiate an agreement with the Ojai Unified School District that would allow the city to build the facility at the East Ojai Avenue park and ride lot. The city leases the property from the school district.

The district, however, has previously dismissed building a skateboard park on other properties because of liability concerns.

“We’re really disappointed,” said Bob Smith, assistant superintendent. “We’ve got some concerns that could possibly put the district in a tenuous financial position.”

But some city officials believe those concerns can be addressed.

Failing that, officials will examine privately owned sites in the city or two other alternatives--a vacant lot across from City Hall and near a residential area that is likely to provoke neighborhood opposition and a parcel near the busy Y intersection of California 33 and California 150.

Mayor Steve Olsen, who is also the principal of the district’s continuation school, voted against the motion.

“I’ve yet to see any positive movement toward putting a skateboard park on a school-owned facility,” he said. “I just kind of felt let’s get on with it and don’t beat a dead horse . . . let’s find another site that’s acceptable and get a skateboard park built.”

Still, other city officials believe the council action--which included making the skateboard park a priority--sends a message to the community.

“It has become more than a skateboard area,” Recreation Director Carol Belsersaid. “It has become a symbol to youth that government responds to their needs. We need to do it, get it built and then move on to other important areas for youth.”