Yes that’s me a few years back with Anika & Klara at the ribbon cutting ceremony for Alex Road Skatepark in Oceanside California.

While  Alex Road Skate Park is not my “home” skatepark. I was sad when friends like Orion told me it was closed due to vandalism.

So I could go cry about it, or maybe complain about it, or find out what’s next.  I went with find out what’s next and contacted Eileen Turk Neighborhood Services Division Manager Parks & Recreation Division for Oceanside.

Below are my questions – her answers & some important information on what you can do to keep this park open.

SF:  I’m bothered that anyone thinks it’s ok to take a spot used & enjoyed by many and just trash it.  Is that what happened?  What was the extent of the vandalism?     

ET:  Our restroom was destroyed with graffiti and the toilet was ripped out.  The Park is tired of painting over graffiti and now they had to order a new toilet.  It was a terrible mess.

I’m sorry Orion went and found the park closed – I truly want it to be open to everyone.

SF:  Is there or will there be a Watch Program like Neighbor Watch – the park is not staffed so what should someone do if they see “suspicious/bad” behavior?

ET:  I’m having a Community Meeting on Thursday June 9th at 3pm all are welcome.

SF:  Is the closing temporary?  

ET:  Yes the park is reopened upon completion of repairs.

SF:  What are the next steps?  What can people who want the park opened do to help?

ET:  They can call me at 760-435-5529 or email me at  [email protected]   I know they want the park open – but they need to police it.  Alex Road Skate Park cost $800,000 to build.  We are so lucky to have it, we do need people to protect it.

Thanks Eileen for your time & I hope lots of people do go on Thursday June 9th at 3pm to the park.

Bullies vandalized the park – it doesn’t matter why – what matters is the bullies are winning we are on a path to close the park and have another example where skateboarding  is “bad”.  Vandalism doesn’t just happen here, in LA Sheldon Park where Girls Skate LA was going to have their monthly meet up was also closed for vandalism.

The girls made the best of it – actually ended up at the Berrics

but is this what we want – to have to skate only at private facilities because we can’t protect public skate parks?  That’s not what I want – I want more freedom to skate everywhere.

Looking forward to June 9th at Alex Road 3pm to find out who and how I report vandals to – if I see something I’m going to say something because every public skate park is my park.

 

UPDATE 6/9/16 – after the Community Meeting