Skateboard Ban Divides Neighbors

Citing noise and safety concerns, a neighborhood association last week put up signs prohibiting skateboarding on the streets and grounds of a Stanton neighborhood.

The signs have sparked a controversy about whether a neighborhood association can pass rules about city streets, and have given new urgency to a proposed skateboard park.

Before last week, young skateboarders in Stanton Park, a community off Western and Cerritos avenues, hung out on local streets.

They have reluctantly stopped skateboarding since learning about the ban, but they say they resent it.

Instead, they’re now riding bikes or watching videos, said Nick McGrady, 13. “It’s kind of boring,” he said.

Nick’s stepfather, Marty Martino, contends that the ban is illegal. The streets where the kids skateboard run through the neighborhood but are owned by the city--and the city has no rules about skateboarding, he said.

“This is not a gated community. These are public streets,” Martino said. Nonetheless, he and his wife have told Nick to abide by the new rule. He said the ban may provide an extra incentive to consider moving from Stanton Park.

Though Stanton Park doesn’t own the streets, Ken Stroud, treasurer of the Stanton Park Neighborhood Assn. board, said the ban is legal because the disputed streets run only through Stanton Park.

He said some residents complain about the noise, but he said the real issue is one of safety. A neighborhood survey indicated that many residents worry about hitting the skateboarders while driving in the neighborhood. Several residents reported near accidents, he said.

Some residents have called on the City Council to challenge the ban, but council members are reluctant to get involved in a private association’s dispute.

Instead of a legal battle, council members say they want to push ahead with a skateboard park, which the council has discussed.

“The nice thing is that I have both sides agreeing with me to get this skateboard park built,” Councilman David John Shawver said. “The sooner we get it built, the more satisfying it will be to all those concerned.”

Judy Silber may be reached at (714) 966-8988.