Skateboarders May Get Their Own Park

Acknowledging the legitimacy of skateboarding as a sport, city officials are considering building a park for aficionados.

After several years of seeing skateboarders use city parks--and even City Hall--as practice areas, officials said, they are ready to explore building a special facility.

“There is no place for them,” said Penny Loomer, the city’s community services director, noting that skateboarding is illegal in most public areas.

Loomer said the park would probably be for beginning and mid-level skaters, rather than advanced level.

“Our intent is to build an entry-level type park,” she said.

The City Council this week approved the concept. Now, city recreation officials will prepare a report on projected costs and possible locations and designs.

“We didn’t want to go to the next step without council approval,” Loomer said.

The city’s action reflects a change in attitude that is being seen across Orange County as the sport continues to be popular. Some cities, among them Laguna Hills and Laguna Beach, have committed to building parks, and several others are considering doing so.

Huntington Beach has had two such facilities since 1993. Officials there and elsewhere have watched closely to see if any liability problems might arise, but no severe accidents have been reported or claims filed. That has encouraged other cities to proceed with parks of their own, officials said.