Friday, Jun. 20, 2008

Letter: Skaters deserve a safe park

I am writing this letter in response to the skate park issue that was published last week.

I have a 13-year-old and an 11-year-old who both frequent the skate park a lot. I have to agree whole-heartedly with what the other mother expressed as her experiences. I have also encountered a lot of bad language, disrespectful behavior and even vandalism of city property.

There are also a lot of really great skater-kids as well though that deserve to have a safe place to skate and use the park facilities.

My husband was at the skate park about a month ago and approached some older teens who were moving park benches into the concrete area and vandalizing the garbage cans. He told them to stop and when they didn't, he did call the police. He and my son waited for about a half an hour and no one showed up so they left.

I don't mean this as a rebuke for the police department because I know you are severely understaffed and overwhelmed with many crime issues but I am asking if the police department and parents/citizens could make more of an effort to make their presence known, especially in the late afternoon. I believe this would make the people who are doing questionable things at the park, to leave before it starts because they are uncomfortable.

Like I said, there are so many neat skater kids who really need someone to stand in the gap for them to help keep them safe and making good choices. As a mom and a citizen, I am willing to stand against the overtaking of our parks. Please join me.

Jenny Chapman

Los Baños

Jenny Chapman Los Baños