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Designs final for two Oceanside skate parks
By: MARGA KELLOGG - Staff Writer
City aims to have facilities ready by summer | ∞
The final design for a skate park at Melba Bishop Park in Oceanside.
Renderings courtesy of the city of Oceanside
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OCEANSIDE -- Designs are complete for Oceanside's two new skate parks and the concrete will likely be ready for action by this summer, a city official said Monday.
The long-awaited parks -- one at Melba Bishop Park and another at Martin Luther King Jr. Park -- will be between 3,000 square feet to 5,000 square feet, but will feature distinctly different designs, officials said.
At Melba Bishop Park, on North River Road in northeast Oceanside, the skate park will cover a mostly flat area and have a street-style layout with ledges, banks, hips and rails.
At Martin Luther King Jr. Park, in the center of the city, the skate park will have a flow-style design that includes a gently sloping bowl area connected to a deeper bowl for multiple riders.
"We kind of figure that these kids really deserve a good place to skate, rather than the places they're trying to skate," said Jack Anderson, a member of the city's Parks and Recreation Commission, which has been helping to plan the parks.
The new skate parks were approved by the City Council in November 2006 to replace a temporary skate park at Balderamma Park and a similar downtown skating area that the city closed in October 2005 to make way for new development near the Oceanside Municipal Pier.
When the skating area near the pier shut down, skaters lobbied for a new skate park that would still be close to the beach. However, coastal residents vigorously opposed that notion and inland parks were eventually approved by the Parks and Recreation Committee.
In March, the city approved a $147,000 contract with Grindline Inc. of Seattle for the final design, engineering and landscaping architecture services for the new skate parks. Each facility is estimated to cost $350,000 to design, inspect and build, a city report states.
Nathan Mertz, parks development manager for the city, said the goal is to have a contractor secured by April and to have the skate parks open this summer. He said the city is planning to prequalify contractors who bid on the projects, to make sure they have the skills necessary skills for the work.
Miki Vuckovich, the executive director of the Tony Hawk Foundation, said Monday that skate parks are "very specialized facilities" so it's important to hire a contractor who has experience in skate park construction. The Hawk foundation works with cities around the country to build public skate parks.
Vuckovich pointed to examples such as Carlsbad, which has struggled with space constraints for its skate park, and Coronado, which had to rebuild its skate park after he said all the cement slid down into a big pile.
Still, Vuckovich said, the demand for such parks is huge.
"All recreation officials understand there's a great need for this kind of facility," he said. "They see the kids out in the streets. They're generally not in youth sports, but they are engaging in this athletic endeavor. It's a way to engage the kids."
A report from the city's Public Works Department states that the Martin Luther King Jr. and Melba Bishop parks will be built using $500,000 that is already in a special city account set aside for skate parks and an additional $414,000 that was set aside in the city's budget for the current fiscal year.
In addition to the Melba Bishop and Martin Luther King Jr. parks, a third park is planned for a vacant property at Foussat and Alex roads, near the city's municipal airport. Officials say that site could accommodate a 10,000-square-foot to 15,000-square-foot skate park.
The city already has small skate areas at John Landes and Libby Lake parks and plans to build a large facility on a portion of the 465-acre, city-owned El Corazon property in central Oceanside within the next 15 years.
-- Contact staff writer Marga Kellogg at (760) 901-4067 or mkellogg@nctimes.com
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osider wrote on Dec 11, 2007 1:07 AM:nice thought but is the city going to have a police officer on site at all times to keep the GOOD kids safe from the gang bangers when they take it over? its not safe anymore to go to libby lake skate park because of the gangs and these will be just the same!
Randy wrote on Dec 11, 2007 3:19 AM:It is shameful that coastal residents lobbied both new skate parks away from the coast. The two new skate parks are located on the east side only a few miles apart! It would have made more sense to have one on the west side and one on the east side.
What the heck? wrote on Dec 11, 2007 5:55 AM:Will someone please tell me why on earth this city needs THREE skate parks? And who is paying to maintain them? You and me, that's who. I realize this is an outlet for youth, but many of this ilk spend their time destroying facilities and bring others with them to do the same. What a shame we can't kick it up a notch and have more upscale activities in Oceanside.
Joe in Vista wrote on Dec 11, 2007 6:46 AM:This will attract thugs eventually and no respectable skaters will want to go there. The solution is simple.... Quit filling in drainage ditches with road reflectors and let the kids skate in them, a cheap solution without thugs.
Wow $914,000 for skate parks? wrote on Dec 11, 2007 6:54 AM:Really now, just how pressing a need in Oceanside. Do we have priorities for parks facilities because it does not look like we hav priorities for anything else.
Oceansider wrote on Dec 11, 2007 7:03 AM:Mark skate-park opening day as the day that beautiful MLK Park starts a rapid descent and becomes yet another locus of graffiti and vandalism.
To what the Heck wrote on Dec 11, 2007 7:14 AM:What the heck are you talking about? This city has so many kids that could benefit from these skate parks! I dont want them skating in front of my house all day, and I am sure you dont want them in front of yours...doing kickflips and grinding on the curbs!! Oceanside needs these parks and more of them! WAY TO GO OCEANSIDE! This is for the kids, there will always be ignorant people in the world that want to talk bad about whatever it is the city is trying to accomplish...Build them and they will skate there and we can watch them all in one place and keep our eyes on them...keep them from being bored and breaking into my house!
to osider wrote on Dec 11, 2007 7:18 AM:I live at libby lake...so do my kids...we skate there EVERY day after school...I have NEVER seen anything resembling gang activity...EVER...stop watching cable in seclusion...Libby lake is not a gang territory any more...that stopped a few years ago when they built the condo's..Libby Lake has changed due to citizens like myself making a presence and getting to know OPD very well...Stop being afraid and do something positive for once. Go skate Libby Lake and see for yourself...dont be scared...they wont hurt you
Tori wrote on Dec 11, 2007 7:36 AM:Thank you for this amazing opportunity for the skaters of Oceanside to prove that they are responsible enough to maintain and appreciate the gift they have been given by the city. Right skaters???
Sorry "what the heck?"..... wrote on Dec 11, 2007 7:53 AM:....that there wasnt enough room for your polo field. Maybe a nice game of croquet and maybe some tea afterwards. As Mumzy and Buffy if they would like to particpate too. Get a clue. One of the reasons skateboarding is popular here in SoCal is because it started here. Go back to your scrabble.
Biff wrote on Dec 11, 2007 7:58 AM:Sorry "What the heck?", I too wanted the polo field but O'side settled on that barbaric Skateboard park. How's about we have a smashing game of croquet? I could ask Mumzy and Buffy if they would like to make a foursome. Maybe tea afterwards? Get a clue. A big reason skateboarding is big here is because it started here. Go back to your scrabble.
Scott wrote on Dec 11, 2007 8:57 AM:Good job Oceanside. Take care of it skateboarders. prove all of the nay sayers wrong.
To Tori wrote on Dec 11, 2007 8:57 AM:Unfortunately, it's not the skaters that will go in and mess it up. We'll be able to thank the scum sucking taggers for that one.
Stacey wrote on Dec 11, 2007 8:59 AM:TO: To Osider @7:18 ... If you haven't seen any gang or thug type activity in that area then you simply haven't looked. I've been there many times with my son while he skated. Pepper Spray was a must and he was never allowed to stay after dark. Now we just don't go because it got to be too much to try to have fun skating while having to watch your back at the same time.
Gene wrote on Dec 11, 2007 9:03 AM:I think it's a good thing. Gang Bangers don't hang out at skate parks... Come on. Vandalism and repair is very low against concrete... What's wrong with giving a large group of kids a place to go...
Good for the Kids! wrote on Dec 11, 2007 9:35 AM:To all who think gang bangers hang out at the skate park...you're wrong...I've watched kids skating at all the skate parks around N. County and the only gang bangers around were on a skateboard trying to learn some tricks. It's not cool to stand around the park anymore.. that's so 15 years ago.I think it's great to build more skateparks...hopefully all the gangsters who once hung out at the park, (due to lack of family support)will get on a board and prove how tuff they really are after they do a face plant into the cement. But Yea! I'm all for the new parks! It's an excellent idea. KIDS, HAVE FUN!!!!
Minuteman wrote on Dec 11, 2007 9:40 AM:Wait for the first child ... to break his neck and sue the City for $100 million. Then the skate-park might not look like such a good idea. For those of us who have been around a while, you may recall the reason skate-parks disappeared in the 80's was due to un-insurability after a few lawsuits. If the city of Oceanside had to insure these parks up front, they would have canceled the projects a long time ago. They will just end up paying for the insurance exponentially with tax payer dollars as soon as some dumb kid breaks his neck. Remember you heard it hear first!
Remington 870 wrote on Dec 11, 2007 10:27 AM:Gangbangers will not be tolerated at the MLK skate park. The residents of Rancho Del Oro will form a citizens' volunteer patrol if Oceanside PD isn't up to the taks of maintaining order.
Sitting subway station. wrote on Dec 11, 2007 10:38 AM:Look at the mess in Vista. Skateboarding is not a crime, but when a lot of them act like criminals what else are we to do?
THE ONE wrote on Dec 12, 2007 8:10 AM:Surfing & Skateboarding has always been a main stay in Southern California culture.That is information for all you folks that sold your homes back east in Cleveland Kentucky or where ever your from and relocated to Oceanside.So get use to it. LOCALS ONLY!
Richard wrote on Dec 16, 2007 10:49 AM:To all those worried about a little skatepark maybe you should get out from behide your tv got outside and look at real world issues. Its not skaters you need to worry about and its not people with spray paint cans. Its way bigger then that. I mean look theres a war going on and your worried about a skatepark. OMG!!! get a life!!! Maybe some of you non-skate types and dont like the thoughts of a park near or around you should give skating a try. You might like it and while your at the skatepark maybe youll get your life back you lost by being so up tight and boring!!!!!!!!!!
mason wrote on Jan 8, 2008 8:44 PM:thank you for giving all the kids a chance to finally have a place where they can skate and it means alot to me to you dont know how much this park is going to mean to all the skaters there and that all who live in oceanside we saw the layouts aand wow they look fun already i cant wait till they open
darmstead wrote on Apr 22, 2008 8:34 PM:i like the idea i just dont want my neighborhood being close to it i live 5 minutes away and want to kno is it a bike park to?
Tech- wrote on May 15, 2008 9:17 AM:Man how about some opptimism around here? you people are so darn negative. ive been skating for almost 7 years, i graduated high school, i go to college, and i have a decent job. all the skaters i know including my father(a police officer) are good people who just want decent facilites to skate in. so way to go o-side ill defintely be there opening day
well wrote on May 25, 2008 9:19 PM:i dont understand how when i found out a long time ago that they were gonna build 3 parks and now its only two. The third one was the best and biggest. I wish oside would put more money into to stuff for the citizens and less on things that take money away from us.
hmmm wrote on Jul 6, 2008 11:14 PM:skateparks dont really have to be maintained if u knew anything so you wont have to pay... so good! go build another skatepark for us. skaters all have a right to be mean and pissed about the city tearing down our parks already.
Cameron wrote on Jul 27, 2008 8:47 PM:Now oceanside just needs to become bike friendly and stop discriminating...let the bikes in.
Jonathan wrote on Sep 5, 2008 11:16 PM:Can't wait for these new skate parks. It's about time, I still miss Oceanside park. I hope these parks are good, and the trani isn't too huge. I myself am not used to vert. As for all the negativity, put yourselves in our shoes. The city tore down our best park for a resort parking lot or something, which took them forever to even do anything with(for a long time it was a storage lot for supplies before they even did anything with it). What we are left with are John Landes and Libby park. These are just small cement lots with a few metal ramps strewn on them. They are alright but can get very old. And as for the negative vibe towards skaters or that they all are bad...
I graduated from High School and have a 4.0 in community college(3 semesters). I have never done any drugs, legal or illegal, and have never tagged. Many of the skaters I see at the park are older like me and work or go to college and are just trying to have fun. Skateboarding is very fun, and I commend Oceanside for finally building some new parks and hope they are built speedily.
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