Skateboarders Get Free Reign In Parks

Rolling though Watsonville parkis is no longer illegal for skateboarders and roller skaters.

For the next year, skaters will get access to all of Watsonville's parks—not just the Skate Park at . The change, approved by the Watsonville City Council on Tuesday, is an effort to encourage positive physical activity among youth while reducing police workload.

“The truth is that youth are skateboarding in our parks every day all the time now," City Manager Carlos Palacios said. "Tonight is really just acknowledging what the reality is."

But it wasn't an easy change.

Objections ran the gamut from safety of young children and the elderly to the lack of interesting features for skaters to challenge themselves in traditional parks.

“I don’t like us giving them free reign and saying ‘go’ … people are going to hurt people," Council Member Nancy Bilicich said.

Watsonville resident and the longtime Franich Park user Mohammad Khalid was also worried.

“My major concern is my safety," he said. “…I really cannot see anything that would be that sensible" about the change.

On the flip side, Daniel Riviera, a 29-year-old Watsonville resident who has been skateboarding for 19 years, told the council it's a non-issue because there are no big hills in the other parks. He doesn’t think kids will be going too fast and hurting others.

“There’s nothing to skateboard besides Ramsay Park," Riviera said. "There’s no importance to the issue because there’s nothing to skate there."

The city council decided to —once a $30 ticket—for a one-year trial.

"We’ve got to provide the space," said Mayor Eduardo Montesino, who has children who ride skateboards "It's a positive thing."

Council Member Emilio Martinez shared his perspective later on his blog, the Watsonville Fishing Report. Read it here.

A bigger vision also emerged: to build a new skate park or enhance the Ramsay Park facilities. Parks and Community Services Director Ana Espinoza said her department is seeking grants to cover those costs.

In other council news:

• The council voted to keep its meetings at 6:30 p.m. Closed session will be at 5:30 p.m. and the sometimes-used 4 or 4:30 p.m. meetings will be eliminated. The proposal to start meetings earlier was not well-received by the community and was rejected. 
• The Neighborhood Services target area will shift to downtown Watsonville in 2013 to try to reduce crime, build neighborhood camaraderie and deter gang participation.