The Scotts Valley Skate Park will be closed for three days after nearly a dozen graffiti markings were found in the park on Monday morning.
Colored tags bearing the markings “AMF,” “STAB” and “AMF SPLIT” were spread on pavement and metal coping throughout the park after vandals apparently left the marks on Sunday night.
The park will be closed for 72 hours and re-open on Thursday, June 18.
Police do not believe the tags are gang related.
“I haven’t seen these before,” Sgt. Mike Dean said.
Police documented the graffiti and city public works posted signs and padlocked the gate.
Crews will abate the graffiti as soon as possible.
Scotts Valley’s municipal code calls for a three day closure when significant graffiti is found in the park.
“It’s a shame for the little kids because this is the first week school’s out,” Dean said.
A group of about eight young skaters were bumped out of the park on Monday morning including Tristan Hickenbottom of Santa Cruz and his friend Mike Powers from Scotts Valley.
“I think it’s kinda lame,” Hickenbottom said. “I skate at Derby (skatepark in Santa Cruz) and it’s like one big tag. Tagging is not the biggest deal on Earth. That’s part of skateboarding culture – tags and stickers.”
However, Hickenbottom said he understands that the city wants to keep the park clean for all the young kids coming to skate from the middle school.
“As many things are, one person’s actions affect everyone else,” he said.
Read the full story in the June 19 Press-Banner.
