Skaters rally to save ML park
MEDICAL LAKE – The skate park at the corner of Barker and Hallett has been a headache for city employees and neighbors.
City employees have been out cleaning up cans, cigarette butts and other garbage every morning. Vandals once set fire to one of the ramps. The police have been out on numerous times to chase away skaters who have hopped the fence after hours. There have also been problems with graffiti.
The problems got to be such a headache for the city, officials shut the park down for a couple of weeks.
Because of that action, someone passed around a flier calling for action from the skaters. Employees at City Hall came in one day and found one taped to the front door.
“OK, so here is the deal,” the flier read. “If we want the skate park back open, we have to clean it up.” No one at City Hall is certain who put up the fliers and organized the cleanup, but they were happy with the results.
The flier advertised a “Skate Park Cleaning Rally,” that met on the morning of May 10. “If the City Council sees that we are making an attempt to do our part then we will be able to get it open,” the flyer explained.
“I think it’s a result of us closing it down for a week, two weeks,” said Doug Ross, the city administrator for Medical Lake.
The skate park opened in the fall of 2003 as a result of a city ordinance passed that prohibits skateboarding or bicycle riding on any sidewalk in the central business district of the city.
The city purchased equipment that had been used once for a competition in Port Townsend, Wash., and the park was designed by SkateWave, a skate park designing company.
“I think it’s a good skate park,” Ross said. He said that skaters can get from one side to the other without having to put a foot down. There are ramps and the area is fenced.
The rules of the park are clearly stated at the entrance. It’s open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Alcohol, drugs, tobacco and glass containers are prohibited, as are “profanity, loud music, bad behavior or recklessness.”
Ross said he didn’t feel that they were punishing any one group in particular, but since city resources are being used to maintain the upkeep and the safety of the park, the city felt like it needed to take action.
“All of us need to stop worrying about how the City Council and public hate the skaters and park,” the flier said. “Let’s focus on getting back what we want and taking ownership.”
Since the cleaning rally, the park has been kept clean, according to Ross. He said he is “guardedly optimistic” that it will continue, but if it doesn’t, there is good reason to believe it will be shut down and the equipment sold. For the skaters, that doesn’t leave them many more options around Medical Lake to skate.
“Ultimately, it’s a mayor and council decision,” Ross said.