Editor,
After reading the letter from Liza Stewart, “No Reason to Match Every Other Town’s Amenities,” I immediately jumped on the computer to write back because her argument was so off point.
I grew up here and have traveled around the country to more than 25 different skate parks in various cities and at each and every one of them I can tell you there is a positive vibe throughout the park that brings together like minded individuals that all want to participate in a healthy physical activity.
Some of the negative stereotypes mentioned:
- (“Another place for out of town teens to smoke and drink”) Teenage smoking and drinking is a problem that our whole community shares and certainly isn’t exclusive to skateboarders. The skate park will be a popular attraction for skaters of all ages, and will be interesting to non-skaters as well especially if designed the right way, which will include an artsy vibe from our local artists.
- (“We don’t have room to be like other communities.”) Yes, that’s because Laguna is not like other communities, and the park would be a small attractive concrete park placed in a low-key area. My suggestions (in the canyon or in the back of Aliso Canyon parking lot to take some of the parking away from all the out of town visitors that come to Aliso Beach.)
- (“It will bring more people to Laguna to try the new skate park.”) Actually, yes skaters would come to try it, but over time it would become part of the community for our residents and the out of town skaters would stick to their much bigger parks. Since we would only have room for a small park that could even be built on top of an old tennis court like at Lang or Bluebird where the courts are rarely used. Check www.skatepark.org
- (“A park is not going to stop the downhill skaters.”) No, it won’t stop downhill skaters from wanting to skate down our steep hills, nothing ever will. Just like our steep mountain bike trails and the many other amenities that our town has to offer naturally. Thus making Laguna unique and not ever trying to be like every other community in the area as suggested.
Keith Perry, Laguna Beach
