City Will Look Into Different Locations for Skate Park

Most of the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council members were in favor of a skate park on the Peninsula at Tuesday night’s meeting. But where exactly this park will be located is still uncertain.

Original plans explored the possibility of building a skate park at Lower Hesse Park. All in favor of “widening the net,” council members voted to direct city staff to re-negotiate with Mia Lehrer & Associates and expand the site analysis to more public and private properties in the area.

The Council used a past search for additional softball field locations as a model, in which they boarded a bus to look at various potential sites before making a decision.

“I don’t want to pre-judge where the park should be,” Mayor Tom Long said.  “I hope we can find a good location that doesn’t pose problems for neighbors.”

Of the nearly 20 residents who spoke at the meeting, some of those living near Lower Hesse Park expressed concern about noise levels and other disruptions in their neighborhoods.

Proponents cited the family-friendly nature of skate parks and the benefits of expanding recreational activities for kids. They urged the Council to balance some resident’s privacy issues with the interests of the community at large.

Instead of choosing one location and then having to start the process over again should it not work out, multiple locations should be considered, Councilman Brian Campbell said.

“I think we all agree … this is a needed venue,” he said. “But where’s the right place for it?”