Skate park appears headed to Wildomar church
By: BRIAN ECKHOUSE - Staff Writer
Plan had been for skate park to be build at public grounds, but things changed | ∞
WILDOMAR -- Months of campaigning by two Wildomar teens appear to have paid off: A skate park probably will be built within the community.
Community leaders, Cornerstone Community Church and Glory Skateboards announced plans Monday to build a 100-foot-by-50-foot skate park on the church property at 34570 Monte Vista Drive. Building could begin as soon as mid-November, they said.
"I'm glad we found Cornerstone," said John Lloyd, chairman of the Wildomar Parks Formation Committee.
The teens -- Mickylene and Priscilla Delgado -- arrived at Monday's meeting of a skate park subcommittee at Mission Trail Library not knowing that the church and Glory Skateboards, a firm located in Walnut, had tentatively agreed to build the park.
"Ever since we started, I prayed that we could get a skate park for the skaters of Wildomar," said Mickeylene Delgado, 17.
The Delgado sisters have collected more than 1,000 signatures of support and amassed $400 in fundraising. They took that money and bought T-shirts -- with the words "Wildomar Skaters" displayed loudly -- that they have been selling with the intention of generating as much as $5,000, said the 15-year-old Priscilla.
That's the tentative cost Glory Skateboards will charge for installing the skate park, including materials and labor.
Generally, said Glory Skateboard's Jonathon Mills, a skate park of the size planned for Wildomar would cost at least $5,000, not including materials and labor.
"A lot of times, churches say, 'How can we reach the next generation?'" Mills said, explaining that the discount is an expression of the company's appreciation of the church's effort.
Indeed, outreach was a consideration for Cornerstone, which already is the church for more than 200 children.
"It's another place for them to hear the gospel," said youth pastor Burke McMahon, 34.
Mills, who lives in Canyon Hills, believes the facility would appeal to teenagers across Southwest Riverside County.
Murrieta and Temecula both have small skate parks, but since they're public, anyone can skate -- as long as they're being lawful. At the planned Wildomar skate park, the church could regulate who participates.
"It's on private property," Mills said. "So we can control (troublemakers) by saying, 'Out.'"
Community leaders, including Lloyd, had hoped to build a skate park at the 10-acre Marna O'Brien park on Palomar Street or at a future park in eastern Wildomar.
But the leaders promised voters that the future park near Susan Drive and La Estrella Road east of Interstate 15 was their first priority -- after they first reopened Marna and two other parks -- before they could consider allocating money for a skating facility. Homeowners in mid-2006 approved an annual fee up to $45 to bring parks back to Wildomar; they had closed in 2000.
The future park in eastern Wildomar may be three to five years away, Lloyd said. The county had been negotiating with a developer to help build -- and open -- the park sooner, but the slowing real estate market may delay the project.
With Cornerstone stepping up, the skate park can be built much sooner -- without circumventing the leaders' pledge to voters, said Tim Underdown, a member of the Wildomar Municipal Advisory Council.
"It's going to happen," he said of the skate park.
-- Contact staff writer Brian Eckhouse at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2626, or beckhouse@californian.com.
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Modern wrote on Oct 15, 2007 9:40 PM:The catch is that you must be born again to use the skate park.
JD wrote on Oct 16, 2007 11:49 AM:A private skate park, regulated by the church? One where they have to power to deny access for any reason, simply because it's on private property? Does anybody see this becoming an issue?
American woman wrote on Oct 16, 2007 4:11 PM:I hope they were able to get good insurance. I don't see a mention of insurance here. Skaters suffer some of the worst injuries seen by sports medicine docs. Lots of elbows, knees, shoulders, backs and heads! Wait until the first "grateful" parent of a seriously injured kid utters the famous words, "Gosh we hate to do this, but we are suing you for millions!" Sorry to be a Gloomy Gus, but guess what? It happens all the time. Oh, and those waivers the skaters sign? They aren't worth the paper they are printed on in a serious lawsuit. Been there, done that. Good luck, though.
matt wrote on Oct 16, 2007 6:45 PM:i hope tax money isnt being spent to build this private skate park and i hope that they build a public skate park for all the "trouble makers" who dont fit into this "Christian" regulated skate park
Mother Of 6 wrote on Oct 17, 2007 10:44 PM:I just want to say this is the best thing for Wildomar kids!!! kids that Skateboard have to skate some where. And Wildomar Kids don't have that! All other Citys have a skate Park. And Wildomar doesn't And these Kids can be hit by a car or even killed by one. because they are skatin where, it is not fit for them to skate. They need this park!! And this will also bring kids more closer to church and not trouble. So, this is a very good thing!!!! Thank you for doing this!!!!!
Sue wrote on Oct 17, 2007 10:51 PM:About time they have one for the Wildmar kids!! The older Kids need some where to go. And They can't skate in front of stater's and Del taco all the time. They are going to get hit. So, thank you so much for helping Wildomar Kids!
JONATHON wrote on Oct 20, 2007 12:05 AM:First - trouble makers via Christian or non is not the point. Anyone, any religion causing any disturbance in a private or public park or disrespecting the law should be removed. Those individuals (far a few between) ruin things for the masses. Second - funding for a public or private park is simply explained in the usage of the "American language" ...thus concluding that private would equal NON-TAX PAYER MONEY. However, I am confident those complaining in regard to this proposal will indeed find themselves at "NO" cost enjoying the benefits of the work being prepared. Third - American Woman....are you serious?????????? Do you think I am not aware of the law? Aware of waiver issues and the likes there of? Do you assume I would put Wildomar Skaters, Cornerstone, my own business in jeporady? I think it is ignorance to assume one would build such a site (skate park) and not addressed such issue between all parties involved - which by the way is not you. If you had such concern would you not have voiced it Monday night in our meeting - oh, you were probably not there....reading up on case law? Lastly, My intentions are such. I want to help young peoples realize their dreams and potentials. This is why I agreed to this project. I discounted my rate....I am a firm believer in good verses evil and have little to no care about skating. I only use this business as an outreach to facilitate a greater need....That need is to provide an environment in which those either skating, watching, or volunteering in and around such environment will be impacted to do something positive with their lives. Personally, I am proud of all those who have realized such a need for this in a time that is rather "self centered" - this is truly giving back.
nick wrote on Oct 21, 2007 7:02 PM:i already skate at the church already and I go to church there too .......whats the problem? This idea is awesome and I cant wait to skate at a new WILDOMAR SKATEPARK!!!!
Martha wrote on Oct 25, 2007 1:54 PM:While I am glad to see that a skate park will be built in the private sector, to satisfy the demand of Wildomar skaters, it was entirely inappropriate for the Wildomar Parks committee to begin plans for one as a public project. The voters of Wildomar only approved, by a very, very narrow margin, the maintenance of the three existing parks...not any expansion of them or any new taxpayer supported sports programs. Members of the Parks committee need to temper their desire to expand on the scope of what voters approved. They were not given carte blanche to do as they please with either our parks or our tax money. The Parks committee also needs to be honest and open with the public about their activities...something that has evidently been sadly lacking with regard to this and other recent projects. I intend to ask directly for assurances that no taxpayer assessment funds have been or will be spent on this or any other new project. This isn’t a question about a skate park being a good or bad thing, but whether the Parks committee is taking it upon themselves to ignore the will of the people, act outside of their charter, and spend our tax dollars on something we didn’t vote on.
pool skater wrote on Oct 25, 2007 10:52 PM:we need deep pools with lots of vert.im sick of driving 1 hour just to skate a good pool.im so sick of these little kiddie skate parks with no pools or vert.i hate street skateing it for little rubber people that dont shave yet.pool an vert are for men.
Sick of skaters demands wrote on Oct 26, 2007 12:17 PM:Just reading the remarks of these skaters should tell everyone they need to spend more time learning English language skills, and less time on the streets or in a skate park. Many of them need a serious lesson on decent civic behavior too. Our streets, sidewalks and local shopping centers are plagued with insolent, rude and inconsiderate teens disrupting traffic, causing businesses headaches, and creating safety hazards for the rest of us. Just ask the Sheriff’s Department how many times they are sidetracked from other essential duties with calls to control or break-up gangs of skaters in our shopping centers. Correcting this antisocial behavior is not going to be accomplished by giving into their demands. Having a skate park, any skate park either public or private, isn’t a right, but a privilege.
zeke wrote on Oct 28, 2007 5:59 PM:is it just for skaters? cuz we ride bikes around here too and that would be lame to give us the boot but let them right in.
Zack wrote on Nov 3, 2007 10:03 PM:to: sick of skaters EXACTLY!!!! Thats why they need a skatepark so they wont be getting into trouble and hey its even better! you wont see the skaters...AND! They will be learning about God at the same time!!
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