The Scotts Valley City Council will soon decide if scooters, as pictured above, will be officially allowed in the city's skate park. Lucjan Szewczyk/Press-Banner
Before an impassioned crowd, the Scotts Valley Parks and Recreation Commission agreed unanimously Jan. 19 to recommend that the council change city law that bans scooters from the park. The council will take up the discussion next week.
When the skate park was built in 2004, scooters were much less popular and were not considered as a regular use for the park. That has changed, and people on scooters at times outnumber skaters in the park.
“We have grown as a community, and our needs have changed,” said Wendy Brannen, a longtime member of the commission. “We have to make do with the facilities we have.”
The existing city ordinance outlaws the use of scooters in the park. During the Christmas vacation, the park was crowded with scooter riders and skaters, causing some near accidents. Scotts Valley Police cleared the park of scooter riders several times while enforcing the ordinance. No citations have been issued.
The City Council will have a hearing on the topic Wednesday. Two public hearings are required before the council can change an ordinance.
“Scooter riders and skaters should understand that what happened on (January) 19th is not the final step,” said Recreation Director Conrad Sudduth. “If they care either way, they need to show up again at the City Council meeting.”
Many young skaters and scooter riders spoke at the January parks commission meeting. Some were in favor of allowing scooters in, while others were not.
“It was quite impressive of the kids,” Sudduth said.
One idea raised at the meeting was to set aside certain hours for scooter riders. The problem, according to parks staff, is that if a city staff member supervised the park to enforce such a policy, the city would become liable for injuries, according to state law.
Brannen noted that the parks commission is an advisory board and makes recommendations to the council. It does not have the power to change city laws.
She compared the conflict with when ski parks first allowed snowboarders on the slopes along with downhill skiers and when yoga was introduced during Jazzercise’s heyday.
“It’s all about usage and how to accommodate them,” Brannen said. “To say multiuse isn’t possible as far as etiquette goes is narrow-minded.”
Councilman Jim Reed has stated that he is in favor of allowing scooters in the park. He asked that the item be placed before the council.
The Highlands Park skate park in Ben Lomond, which is run by Santa Cruz County Parks and Recreation, is already open to scooter riders.
"Hey let's all go down to the multi-use park and go skateboarding" nah, just doesn't sound right.
Bull, scooters are nothing new, I still have my kids razor scooters from 10 years about. Only back then they never would have thought about blocking the skaters way. Now they have no qualms about it. They finally realized you can go in the skatepark and no one will do anything about it.
“It’s all about usage and how to accommodate them,” Brannen said. “To say multiuse isn’t possible as far as etiquette goes is narrow-minded.”
The golf course only has one use, is that narrow minded? I guess we should open it up to hikers but I guess they have other plans for that, like high density housing.
The skatepark project started way back in the 90s or so. Back when Scotts Valley was actually a pretty cool little town. But then right as we were
about to break ground some guy named Jim Reed showed up at one of the city council meeting demanding we stop the skatepark project ranting anraving
that it would be terrible for SV. And he even got two of the city council members to side with him. It barely passed with a 3-2 vote. The council
members who voted for the skatepark were Cliff Barret, Cheryl Ainsworth and Stephanie Aguilar who was very instrumental in bringing the skatepark
about. the two who voted against it were...you guessed it, Randy Johnson and Paul Marigonda. Now Jim Reed and Randy johnson are on the city council
and I don't have much hope for the rest except Sthephanie. The skaters don't have a snowball's chance in hell. 4-1 is about the best they can hope
for. This is the end of skateboarding in Scotts Valley.
Not the smae at all, they share a huge mountain, this is small, just 3 bowls and a small street course. Hardly the same as a mountain.
It's supposed to have one purpose, that's not being narrow minded. Since it's mu;ti-use when the dog park goes away you can have dogs running thru there chasing balls and stuff.