Debate over Skate Park in Santa Cruz
Dear Vicki and NOLO-ers:
The decision to locate the skate park at Mike Fox Park is driven by
several considerations.
First and foremost, our community needs a permanent facility for our
young people and others who skate. NOLO is aware of this need from its
earlier work to create the in-line skating facility or street hockey
court at Mike Fox Park. The need for such facilities for our young
people is greater than ever.
Having been part of several wide-ranging explorations of possible sites,
I know how few possibilities there are in the City. As for Mike Fox
Park, proximity to downtown is a real plus. Visibility from the street
for security purposes is essential. Access to the park from the levee by
skaters on bike, foot or skate boards, as an alternative to surface
streets, is a positive as well. The fact that the city owns the land is
a requirement, as no funds exist to purchase additional land, even if
additional vacant land were identified.
The driving force behind the timing is of course the Monterey Bay
National Marine Sanctuary’s decision to locate its new visitor center at
the Fun Spot in Santa Cruz, thereby dislocating the temporary skate
park. The MBNMS Visitor Center will be a tremendous boost for eco
tourism and the overall financial health of the city.
The choice of Mike Fox Park to locate the skate park, while preserving
the street hockey facility, is sound.
I hope that NOLO-ers will support the proposed permanent relocation of
the skate park to Mike Fox Park and location of the Visitor Center in
Santa Cruz as two positive and forward looking achievements for our City.
Beginning next Tuesday, as a result of Governor Schwarzenegger’s
decision to rescind the Vehicle License Fee, the City of Santa Cruz will
immediately begin receiving ~$200,000 less PER MONTH from the State of
California than currently budgeted. This $2+ million dollar annual loss
of revenue to the City will be added to the projected budget shortfall
of $2 million for this fiscal year.
The possibility of additional maintenance or police services is very
remote at best.
The prospect of “leveraging” the skate park decision in order to demand
other or additional services from the City seems to me at best poorly
timed and in many ways narrowly self-interested.
I hope members and supporters of NOLO will turn out to support the
choice of Mike Fox Park for relocation of the skate park as both in the
short and long-term interests of the young people in our community and
the City as a whole, including residents of the Lower Ocean Street
neighborhood.
Scott Kennedy
457 8003
On Thursday, December 4, 2003, at 09:38 AM, Vicki Winters wrote:
>
> Hi NOLO-ers:
>
> I am forwarding this email from one of the supporters of the skate park
> at Mike Fox park. The city has been trying to find a permanent site for
> the skatepark for a long time. By accepting the skate park, what can we
> leverage from the city? More police patrols? Trash receptacles,
> maintenance and clean-up in areas outside the skate park (ie Jesse
> Street Marsh) That is, more services NOW, not in the far-off day when
> the Marsh project is completed. What do you think?
>
> -Vicki
>
> ————————————————-
> Forwarded message:
>
> Hi Vicki - Dena Robertson from Parks & Rec gave me your e-mail as
> contact for the Jesse Street neighborhood group. We have begun a task
> force to address any issues having a skatepark in the neighborhood of
> Mike Fox Park may have. My website is serving as the hub for now. I’d
> like to add people from your group who are interested in the problem
> solving committee. In the meantime, if there are neighbor supporters
> for the skatepark, it would be critical to have them show up at the
> City Council meeting Tuesday the 9th at 3pm. I understand some of the
> supporters of the park were at Monday’s meeting from Jesse Street and
> spoke favorably. My park webpage is:
> http://realskate.com/santacruzpark.htm listing the committee so far.
>
> Looking forward to meeting you and working with the neighborhood. I
> live on Surfside up by the circle streets.
> Thanks,
> Clarkie
> 425-1166
>
