After answering six problem calls at Skypark’s Skate Board Park on Sunday alone, Scotts Valley police are considering surveillance camera installation at the popular youth gathering place.
Approved in 2002, the park has always experienced peaks and valleys of troublesome behavior, according to Lt. John Wilson, of the Scotts Valley Police Department.
“It’s on everybody’s radar,” Wilson said. “People are talking about it and looking for a solution.”
Wilson and Chief Steve Walpole were scheduled to meet on Thursday, Sept. 21 with city Parks and Recreation commissioners to discuss new security options for the skate board park.
“The department tries to take a proactive stance against any crimes, especially recurring crimes to a specific location,” said Walpole.
“The department continues to increase patrols and is seeking community input for possible long-term lasting solutions to crimes within and against the skate park.”
Police investigated 58 complaints at the skate park from Sept.15, 2015 to Sept. 15, 2017, according to Wilson. Officers reported checking on the park 589 times in that same period, he said.
He said there were six arrests, 19 citations for violations of park rules, 35 warnings on disobeying park rules and 25 warnings for using the park after hours.
Facebook was recently set ablaze after two juveniles got into a scuffle at the skate park. One boy was injured by another boy in retaliation for a previous incident involving spraying water, according to the police report.
Both were sent to a diversion program, but feelings on the issue remain shrill.
“Social media can make things bigger than they are,” Wilson said. “Respect (among skaters) is the big thing.”
Most recently, a spate of vandalism has plagued the skate park, causing two 72-hour closures. Metal bars on the fence were broken, new bars were welded in place and the park was reopened.
“It is unfortunate the skate park has been a recurring target of vandalism,” Walpole said.
Responding to the mischief, the Scotts Valley City Council expanded the scope of closure rules for the skate park. Previously, police could only shut the area down for 72 hours after vandalism or graffiti.
The new wording says closure can occur because of “failure to comply with park rules or in order to maintain the public health, safety and welfare.”
Wilson said that while city officials figure out how to stem malicious behavior, skateboarders will still have use of the spot.
“There’s no talk of shutting it down,” he said. “That would be unrealistic.”
