SKATEBOARD SUBCOMMITTEE
REPORT
BENZ / OAKES
Recommendation
It is recommended by staff that Council:
- Review the subcommittee's recommendation to locate a
skateboard track on the northeast corner of South Park;
and
- Approve a location and direct staff to develop a
feasibility plan for the project.
Background
At the April 8, 1997 meeting, Council approved the concept
of working with the City of Redondo Beach to build a joint
skateboard track at the Redondo Beach Triton Oil site. In
addition, Council appointed a subcommittee to work with the
Commission to identify a site for a track in Hermosa Beach.
The City of Redondo Beach rejected the idea of a track at
the Triton Oil Site, making a local track a more promising
alternative at this time.
The City Council (Benz and Oakes) and Parks and Recreation
Commission (Aronoff) Subcommittees met on August 26, 1997 to
identify a location and conceptual program for the proposed
skateboard track.
Analysis
The subcommittee examined a proposal for a recreation
program featuring portable obstacles and determined that a
permanent site would be more cost effective and favorable to
skateboarders.
The subcommittee identified two potential sites for a
permanent track: (a) the private property located behind the
Community Center (on 11th Place west of USA Gasoline), and (b)
South Park at the northeast corner, adjacent to the parking
lot, hockey rink, and Body Glove building (the grassy area
currently occupied by a volleyball court).
It is clear that the most difficult aspect of this project
has been identifying an appropriate site in the City. The first
site suggested by the Council subcommittee was eliminated from
consideration due to its location (too close to residential),
small size and prospective cost.
The South Park alternative was selected because it is
located in the least residentially sensitive area of the Park
(noise from the track would impact the adjacent industrial area
and to a lesser degree, Loma Drive residents who are perched
above the Hockey Rink). The track would be visible from the
street and parking lot, which is good for supervision and
policing.
The additional intensive use of this park may prove to have
a negative impact on the limited parking but may also encourage
more local use of the track. Furthermore, the proximity of the
track to the Roller Hockey rink may encourage use of the
facility by skateboarders and in-line skaters alike, both who
enjoy obstacles for skating. It is also noteworthy that South
Park is not lighted for night use, making the prospective
skateboard track hours limited to day use.
Wishing to retain some flexibility with the permanent site,
the subcommittee suggested that allowing skateboarders to
design and build their own temporary obstacles within the track
area might be an innovative way to keep the facility vital and
interesting to the skaters. The proposed site is relatively
small (4,550 square feet, which compares to smaller tracks
located in other cities) and could be designed as a basic
skeleton, offering limited obstacles (e.g., stairs and
railings) to "get the track started," leaving the center area
available for a temporary structure(s).
The facility could also be designed to serve a second
function (e.g., a wading pool or people sprinkler area) should
the skateboard track outgrow the site and/or be less successful
than anticipated. To that end, staff has prepared a preliminary
sketch for the purposes of conceptual discussions for the South
Park site (
Attachment A)
.
Once Council approves a location for the track, staff will
return with a more detailed report that will consider: (a)
design, (b) input from the neighborhoods and skateboarders, (c)
safety issues, (d) liability, and (e) costs.
Other alternatives available to Council include:
- Identify an alternative location for the track
- Request additional information.
- Receive and File
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