Skateboard Park gets high-five

By Danielle Seckler

   At the Bear Valley Park District meeting held on Tuesday, Nov. 20, many people showed up to thank the Park District for the new skateboard park in Sugarloaf. In spite of the repair closure within 9 days of the grand opening, both skateboarders and parents came out. Several skateboarders informed the board that since its opening; it has been well used throughout the daylight hours. The cracks in the skateboard foundation apparently did not bother the users.

   General manager Reese Troublefield had thought that the foundation would only have to be repaired twice a year, which was a surprise to him that it occurred so quickly. In spite of the cracks, many of the skateboarders were pleased that the Park District repaired them so quickly, with only one day of the park being closed.

   Among those who spoke about the skateboard park was Pastor Don Foor of the Community Church. His church had replaced the parking lot and allowed skateboarders to skate there, to opposition from his parishioners. To much surprise to the doubters, the skateboarders have shown themselves to be watchful and respectful of the property; and once called the sheriff about vandals. “I’m proud to have the kids on our lot”, Foor stated. When Foor was a child, baseball fields were in the highest demand; however skateboarding is the culture of today's children, he said. It is Foor’s belief, like so many others who spoke, that the valley needs at least two more skateboard parks.

   The only problems stated by speakers was that the park was too small for all the people who want to use it and that it closed at 7:00 p.m. One young man stated that since the skateboard park has opened, the sheriff will no longer allow them to skate at the Community Church’s parking lot, with has lighting and the skateboard park does not. Pastor Foor told the audience that he would speak to the sheriff department and let them know that it was ok for skateboarders to continue to use their parking lot. Since the Park District is currently looking into lighting for the Sugarloaf ball field, they have decided to get bids for lighting that could be used for both the baseball field and the skateboard park.

   In other business, the Park District decided to create a subcommittee with three of their board members and two of the CSD’s board members. Those who volunteered from the Park District for the subcommittee are Jennifer Mc Culler, Katheryn Pool, and Don Allen. The CSD has a park committee which consists of Rick Ollila and John Day. The CSD’s park committee recently held a meeting to gather a large consensus from the public on what should be built on the Paradise Way Park. However, Park Commissioner Don Allen stated that the Park District should take the lead in this effort.

Would you like to comment on this article? Just send us an email to PR@bearvalleynews.com. Let us know if you would like us to put it in a letter to the editor and if you want your name printed.

Back to Front Page