HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-06-19; Parks & Recreation Commission; 606-7; Skateparks in Northwest QuadrantPARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION - AGENDA BILL
AB#
MTG. DATE:
606-7
6/19/06
STAFR|STEYAERT
TITLE:
SKATEPARKS IN NORTHWEST QUADRANT
INFO
[X] ACTION
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Receive an update on skateboarding opportunities in the northern area of the City and direct staff
accordingly.
BACKGROUND:
On May 3, 2005, a group of citizens addressed the City Council and presented a petition to request a
skateboarding facility in the northern portion of Carlsbad. The group was referred to the Recreation
Director for further discussion. On June 20, 2005, the Parks and Recreation Commission directed
staff to research and prepare a report for skateboarding opportunities in northern Carlsbad. The
priority of other park projects already underway (e.g. Pine Ave. Park, Aviara Park, Hidden Canyon
Park, the Golf Course, various trails projects, etc) has precluded staff from undertaking preparation of
a report.
At the March, 2006 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting, an update was requested on
skateboarding opportunities in Carlsbad. Therefore, this agenda bill is intended to bring forward basic
information and to allow for further discussion on this topic.
ITEM EXPLANATION:
Currently, the City operates a 10,000 square foot skate facility at the Safety Center. A second 10,000
square foot park is planned at future Alga Norte Park which is expected to come on-line around late
summer of 2008.
Some of the Commission have expressed interest in exploring additional skate board facilities. Should
the Commission decide to pursue exploration of the options for this, several issues should be taken
into consideration:
Pros / Opportunities
Skateboarding continues to retain it's popularity for a variety of age groups. Additionally,
skateboarding in non-designated areas of existing parks is an on-going problem due to the damage of
benches, walls, stairs, etc. Providing a new facility might diminish this problem.
Depending on the location (e.g. an existing site) and type of facility (e.g. modular components, either
temporary or permanent), the cost of the skate park could be minimized.
Cons / Considerations
Currently, there is not enough funding projected either in the Public Facilities Fees or Park-in-Lieu
accounts to pay for the parks listed in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). As a result, two parks,
Lake Cannon Park and Hosp Grove/Buena Vista, were removed last year and listed as "un-funded".
Even after their removal, this years proposed CIP (Fiscal Year '06-'07) shows a shortfall of
approximately $ 8-11 million dollars at build-out.
AB#606-7
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Depending on the location (e.g. the need to acquire a site) and type of facility (e.g. the cost of a
permanent in-ground skate facility), the expense of the skate park could be substantial.
Therefore, should the Commission decide to recommend a new project for the CIP, several options will
need to be considered:
1. Removal of additional park projects currently listed in the CIP.
2. Use of General Fund money (which may or not require a vote of the people depending on
the estimated cost).
3. Alternative sources of money (e.g. private funds).
Compatibility with other adjacent uses will need to be considered. If the Commission recalls, the
original Pine Ave. Park had a small skate park as one of the elements, but it was eliminated due to
citizen and Council concerns related to the adjacency of the Senior Center. In additional, adjacency
concerns will need to be addressed if the skate park were located on a non-park property.
Safety Center
The question of expanding the current Safety Center skate park has been a topic of discussion among
some of the Commissioners. This site is currently being considered for the Public Works Center.
Therefore, the uncertainty of how this site will be developed makes consideration of expansion of the
Safety Center skate park not a viable option at this time.
Further discussions on this issue by the Commission is requested, including topics of park project
priorities, need for such a facility, staffing availability, and funding concepts.
EXHIBITS:
1. None