LETTER OF THE WEEK

Initially it was projected that a skate board facility at Lions Park

in Costa Mesa would cost in the neighborhood of $250,000. Now that

facility has been approved by the City Council and relocated to a

city-owned, 20,000-square-foot lot at the corner of Charle and Hamilton,

and the cost has jumped to more than $600,000. This is just for

improvements without lighting and does not include the approximately

$300,000 value of the lot itself. In addition, the city has suddenly and

justifiably become concerned about parking and is making inquiries into

purchasing adjacent property for a parking area, which could cost another

$300,000 with an additional $200,000 perhaps needed for construction of

an improved parking lot. Add this up and you get a staggering total cost

of $1.4 million for a small skate board facility that everyone admits is

the right idea in the wrong place.

What is another option? Here’s one with four parts.

1. Move the facility back to Lions Park and locate it in the infield

of the existing baseball field where there are already restrooms,

lighting, parking and spectator bleachers. Cost: $200,000 (this location

also offers multiple uses for parents wanting to wait for children who

are skateboarding).

2. Convert the balance of the baseball field and the rest of the much

reduced Lions Park to a landscaped area with walkways and trees that

better serves the local residents and is more complimentary to the new

city facilities in the park. Cost: $200,000.

3. Relocate the existing baseball field at Lions Park to TeWinkle Park

or a school location where it is better suited and will get more use.

Cost: $200,000.

4. Plant grass and trees at the corner of Charle and Hamilton. Cost:

$50,000.

Total cost for this option $650,000 (or $300,000 if the lot is sold).

Many other options are available for providing skateboard facilities

in Costa Mesa that will cost much less than $1.4 million.

The problem isn’t skateboarders, the public or the city staff. The

problem is a City Council so desperate to make everybody happy that they

can’t make the intelligent, well-thought, hard decisions that result in

doing what is best for the total community.

ROBERT GRAHAM

Costa Mesa