City Council says no to skatepark

For more than a decade, Laguna Beach officials have scoured the city looking for a location for a skatepark that wouldn’t spark neighborhood protests.

But on Tuesday night, the City Council unanimously voted to back a subcommittee recommendation that the search be called off — at least for now. Lack of available land and noise and traffic concerns have been the primary challenges.

The council, however, did approve having the skatepark subcommittee investigate possible pop-up sites, where a company could set up temporary ramps and rails during set times, and possible use of parks in other cities.

“We knew it was going to be an uphill battle, said Michele Hall, chairwoman of the subcommittee, which began meeting in March. “Every one wants one, but no one wants it in their backyard.”

Three years ago, for instance, the city received a less-than-warm response when it held a community meeting at Moulton Meadows Park as it considered that space for construction of a skatepark. Residents claimed the park would sit too close to houses and attract drug activity, noise and litter.

Hall said a skatepark would require about 20,000 square feet, but she added that skateboarding is as ingrained in Laguna’s culture as surfing and volleyball.

A temporary setup would “show people skate parks don’t bring crime into neighborhoods,” Hall said.

Hall suggested a city-owned lot south of Art-A-Fair in Laguna Canyon that could be used for six months for $15,000.

The council also affirmed another subcommittee suggestion to shuttle children to and from permanent skateparks in nearby cities.

Hall said Pam Estes, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach, was “interested in partnering with us on an afterschool or weekend program” involving getting kids to skateparks outside the city.

Details still need to be worked out, but Hall said children could be charged a fee, such as $15, and supervision would be provided.

Councilman Bob Whalen asked that Hall or city staff check with the Laguna Beach Unified School District about possibly using an El Morro Elementary parking lot for a pop-up site.

The skateboard committee initially came up with a list of 14 possible sites for a permanent skatepark that included Lang Park in South Laguna, land next to a utility station in Laguna Canyon and the Aliso Beach Park inland parking lot, according to a city staff report.

The subcommittee homed in on the Aliso Beach lot because it was already zoned for recreational use and was easily accessible by public transit, among other reasons, but it had drawbacks. The land is county-owned, and a skatepark could interfere with the Laguna Ocean Foundation and California Coastal Conservancy’s plan to restore the Aliso Creek estuary.

Parent Aaron Talarico urged the committee to keep pushing for a permanent site.

“Someone needs to just do it,” Talarico said. “It’s not that big of a deal. There is no perfect site.”

He said shuttling kids to other cities for their sports sends the wrong message and added: “I’d like to have a community meeting again.”