Skaters like Nathan Parra say they often head to other cities’ skateboarding facilities in order to find a suitable challenge.
“I go out of town all the time,” Parra said last week from the Daniel Yetter Memorial Skate Park on Memorial Drive. “It’s not a couple people. Everyone goes out of town.”
Parra was skating with some of those other regulars Tuesday and they took some time to share their thoughts on the city’s plans to expand skate park, located at Veterans Memorial Park in Hollister.
Hollister council members in March unanimously approved spending $78,000 on an expansion next to the current skate park that will include amenities for skaters and bike riders to co-exist, with hopes of fewer space conflicts.
Council members’ decision came after many supporters spoke to officials in favor of new obstacles for BMX-style bikes at Veterans Memorial Park on Memorial Drive in light of space issues and the steadily growing popularity of the facility, which is commonly packed during summer months along with afterschool hours and weekends. There have been safety problems with mixed uses at the skate park, which opened in 1998, while local users have argued they have to leave town to meet their needs.
The upgrade at Veterans Memorial Park will primarily feature portable obstacles. Much of the cost – $50,000 – is set to go toward resurfacing of the current basketball courts, according to parks officials. Parra doesn’t expect to have any conflicts over space once the new part of the facility opens, which has an unclear time frame at this point.
“Us skaters and us bikers like the same thing,” Parra said. “Literally, we like the same thing.”
Viewpoints like Parra’s will be valuable as city officials work on the expansion project, which was up for discussion at this week’s parks and recreation commission meeting.
As for obstacles themselves, the skaters say they appreciate the additions. They did have a preference for concrete fixtures over portable ones, though. Trystan Adams was there skating Tuesday, too, and said there is a certain “feel” to the concrete that beats other settings.
“You know it’s going to stay there,” Adams said. “It’s not portable.”
Cameron Barney was another skater at the park Tuesday afternoon who had another idea as officials weigh the plans.
“I want to make everything clear – it’s not a playground,” Barney said, referring to small children using the facility.
Added Joshua Chappell, while seated on a bike, said he has had minor contact with small children just recently.
“I hit two kids, literally, this month,” he said.
