The council agreed that, once the park is ready to reopen following repairs, skateboards and BMX riders will use the facility on alternate days.
The park was shut down earlier this fall due to unsafe conditions, City Administrator Dale Neiman told the council.
Despite city concerns about the budget, repairs are under way, said Neiman.
However, the main issue that remained related to concerns that allowing both BMX bikes and skateboarders to use the park at the same time created liability for the city, said Neiman.
“Basically, our insurance group has told us they don’t want us to allow the facility to be used by both groups at the same time,” Neiman said, because it creates a dangerous situation.
Ronda Mottlow, who worked for the city when the park was constructed in the late 1990s, said the park’s problems are from lack of maintenance, not bikes.
Mottlow serves on a committee to develop and raise funds for the skateboard park repairs. That group started in November following the last council meeting, during which the need to find ways to fund the park's maintenance was a topic.
While the park originally was constructed for skateboards, Mottlow said she believes BMX riders outnumber skaters in usage.
She emphasized the park’s importance to local children and teens. “These guys have nowhere else to ride.”
Mottlow also disputed the notion that the surface is damaged by bikes.
Rather, she said the surface is made for both bikes and skateboards.
Because BMX riding is considered a hazardous activity by state law, it removes liability from the city, she said.
It’s the only skateboard park in the county, said Mottlow, and is a tourist draw because people come from all over the state to ride bikes and boards.
Councilman Chuck Leonard asked Mottlow about how to get the bikers and boarders to wear their safety equipment. She responded that the teens on the committee had made a commitment to self-police themselves if the park is reopened.
Leonard suggested having them ride on alternate days, saying it looks dangerous to have them all riding together.
Mottlow said there have been no claims for injuries thus far. The teens, she said, work together and cooperate. “There’s never been an incident. Not once.”
Some of the facility's issues appear to go back to its original installation, said Neiman.
When city workers took the park apart for repairs they found that some of the blocking underneath was installed incorrectly, causing slippage and resulting in a damaged surface, said Neiman.
“When it was built it wasn’t inspected as well as it should have been by the city,” he said.
Mottlow said other cities put up proper signage warning of the hazards and personal liability. Neiman replied that signage won't protect the city against being sued in this instance.
Mottlow said that the BMX riders feel discriminated against, and she asked the city to find a way to make the park work for everyone. She suggested they research how other cities manage similar questions of usage and liability.
Police Chief Allan McClain received a round of applause from the audience of parents and teens when he threw his support behind the park.
He said he's watched activities at the park, and noted the children and teens that use it are respectful of one another. He said he's seen no trouble there, and added that his only concern was that some park users aren't using their safety equipment.
McClain told the council that these are “the good kids,” and they needed the city's support.
Community asks for park to be reopened
Parents and community members asked the council to find a compromise, citing the park's importance to Clearlake's youth. In a city where there is little organized and constructive activities for children, being able to skate at the park is critical, parents told the council.
Michele Bush, wearing a “BMX Mom” T-shirt, told the council that there is a great need in Clearlake for a place for BMX riders, and suggested the city consider building a skate park.
Bush said BMX is a healthy alternative to other activities for Clearlake's young people, with riders getting high on their sport rather than drugs and alcohol.
“We want healthy kids,” she said. “They’ve made healthy choices up to this point.”
Some local riders are good enough that they'll go pro one day, she added.
Bikes, Bush added, are one of the first outlets of freedom available to children.
Teacher and youth group leader Ken Savin said he's down at the skate park almost every day, and said the teens work together not only to ride safely but to keep the park safe and clean.
He added that he has tried pointing out needed repairs at the park to city staff, who didn't react to his concerns.
Savin suggested the park may need to be larger.
The teens themselves had a voice in 19-year-old Ricky Bush, who sported a “BMX is not a crime” T-shirt and explained to the council that BMX riders like himself don't have a place to practice their sport legally in Clearlake.
“There’s no problem with bikers and skaters using the same park,” said Bush. “We’re all friends and look out for each other.”
He added, “Bikes aren’t going away, even if there are signs saying, ‘No bikes allowed.’”
Bush suggested that for a public facility to discriminate against certain groups could create a civil rights issue. He said the city may be required to build a separate park for bikes.
Bush, who said he has been riding for eight years, agreed that there needs to be signs and safety equipment used at the park, which he asked the city to maintain so it doesn't get closed down again.
During council discussion, Councilmember Joyce Overton said she was proud of the teens and children for coming out on behalf of their park, and showing future leadership potential.
The park has been open for seven years, said Overton, and during that time bike riders and skateboarders have cooperated.
She suggested the city needs to seek out grants to enlarge the park, and agreed that riders have no other place to go.
Overton said that the park needs to be maintained regularly. “I think the way it’s been kept up is an embarrassment.”
She added that she believed the city needed to take the risk and reopen the park to dual usage.
Councilman Curt Giambruno said he continued to be concerned about liability. “I really deeply believe we need two parks, and I believe two parks are attainable.”
He said he believed Mottlow was the person to help track down the grants to build a second park. In the meantime, he said the city will fix the one its got.
After so many years of the park being in operation, Giambruno said it was hard for him to tell the two groups they couldn't continue using the park together. He added that he believed the city needed to do more research on a solution.
Mayor Judy Thein praised the teens for their effort on behalf of the park. “I think you guys are an awesome group of kids.”
She said it was important to see them riding and skating rather than drinking or doing drugs. “I’m not willing to say no to any of you yet until all avenues have been exhausted.”
In order to expedite opening the park, the council asked the BMX riders and skateboarders in the audience if they would be willing to use the park on alternate days until the city can work out a solution to the liability issues.
The answer was a resounding “yes” – a with the overwhelming opinion being that the teens wanted the park open and were willing to compromise.
Neiman said the city is attempting to have the park repaired as soon as possible, although it won't likely be repaired in time for the holidays.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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