Skaters unhappy with reopened skate park, new rules and hours

MICHELLE KNIGHT/Acorn Newspapers EASY RIDER—Cory Mays, 27, catches some air June 11 at the grand reopening of Camarillo's only skate park. The Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District reopened the skate park after shutting it down for about a month to give it a thorough cleaning and make a few alterations. Mays was one of only three skaters at the park who didn't mind the new rule requiring a helmet and padded gear. The renovated skate park at Pleasant Valley Park on Temple Avenue in Camarillo reopened on a sunny afternoon last week to chilly reviews.

"I hate it with a deep burning passion," said Kyle Anderson, 20, as he and several others stood outside the wroughtiron fence encircling the skate park, unhappy with the new restrictions.

"We have nowhere to go now," said 15-year-old Dillion Decker.

The Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District unveiled the renovated skate park and new rules at a grand reopening on June 11. During the month the skate park was closed, the district added more concrete to the flat area surrounding the bowl, removed curbs and gave the 11-year-old skate park a thorough cleaning.

District officials said the new rules—three pages long—are necessary to replace an outlaw mentality that had developed at the skate park with a more familyfriendly atmosphere.

The skate park has been plagued with fights and graffiti of swastikas and profanities for the past several years. Someone at the park struck a park patrol employee earlier this year, said Lanny Binney, recreation supervisor.

Skaters admit the skate park has had its share of problems but feel that requiring them to wear a helmet and padded gear and minors to have parental permission is unnecessary.

"The freedom at Camarillo skate park is ruined," said Mike Fitzgereld, 14, as he and others watched three helmeted skaters attempt the curves and ramps of the park.

"I think it's awesome," 27year-old Cory Mays said before taking on the quarter pipe inside the skate park.

Mays said he's not bothered by the new rules or paying $20 for an annual pass.

"It's only money," he said.

Other skaters, however, balked at paying to use a skate park that used to be free. An alternative to the annual pass is a $5 daily pass.

Andrew Deslaurier, 17, said it isn't worth it.

"It's a good park and we all love it, but there are more parks in the area we can go to" that don't charge, he said.

Binney said the fees will pay for the cost of the machine that makes the passes and offset the expense of having an attendant at the park seven days a week. Requiring a pass doesn't make money for the district but is meant to hold skate park users accountable for their behavior, he said.

Board director Mark Malloy said money isn't the real issue: The youths are upset that they no longer control the skate park.

Skaters also railed against the Fly Box, a small blue ramp with a grinding bar that stands in the skate park as a memorial to Andrew Singler, the 18yearold Camarillo resident stabbed to death at a party last summer. They said the tribute is inadequate for Singler, someone who loved the skate park and frequented it every day for years.

Binney said skaters chose the memorial when the district met with them earlier this year.

Others complained about the schedules for skaters under 12, for those 18 and older, and for BMX riders. Chad Bermudez, 18, said he's angry the district separated skaters and bikers, most of whom are longtime friends who've peacefully enjoyed the skate park together.

Bermudez said the rules and time restrictions will drive away young people, and the city is likely to see more underage drinking, drug use and crime as a result.

But Bermudez also indicated he might be willing to compromise by wearing a helmet if the district allowed bikers and skaters to use the park simultaneously.

Binney said it's unlikely the rules will change.

"We're trying to make a safe skate park, and the majority of people who come here will obey the rules," he said. "I think parents that bring their kids here want the rules enforced."