With separate approvals from the Hollister council and county board this week, an expansion is moving ahead for the skate park facility at Veterans Memorial Park.
Council members Monday approved revised lease language with the county – which owns the land – and supervisors followed suit Tuesday by approving the change on their end as well. That means the skate park can move forward on an expansion into the current basketball court area, with the city committing $78,000 toward the project.
The project came in response to suggestions from skate park users, particularly BMX riders, complaining about needing more space at the popular Memorial Drive attraction. There have been space issues, along with space conflicts among skateboarders and freestyle bike riders, for more than a decade at the facility.
Hollister council members in March approved spending $78,000 on obstacles and other amenities for a new BMX facility next to the current skate park on Memorial Drive. It came after BMX riders and other supporters made pleas to the parks and recreation commission and then council members for the addition.
The most current plans merely call for an expansion to the entire skate park facility into the basketball courts at the larger park. Language in the revised contract bicycles in just one section in which it says riders of varying types of “skate activity” – including freestyle bicycles – are permitted there.
Tuesday’s approval by county supervisors was the last major hurdle for the expansion before it can move forward.
Although supervisors offered a unanimous approval, individual board members did have some problems related to an expansion at Veterans Memorial Park.
Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz questioned why there hadn’t been consideration of a skate park on the west side, such as at Brigantino Park. That prompted a county management analyst, Sara Fontanos, to indicate the expansion was a short-term solution, while parks advocates are continuing to work on a long-term solution that could include another skate park.
“Is that skateboard park at vet’s park so impacted, or there’s just so little bit of money available that we can’t have a skateboard park on the west side of Hollister and the central?” De La Cruz said.
Supervisor Anthony Botelho also wanted to see more of an emphasis on the west side of Hollister. Supervisor Jerry Muenzer called Veterans Memorial Park “over-utilized” already. And Supervisor Robert Rivas mentioned a lack of lighting at the park.
Supervisor Margie Barrios was fully behind the project, calling it a “great thing to do.”
Hollister Councilman Ray Friend showed up to the board meeting to reemphasize city officials’ thinking behind the expansion. He said many skate park users get so advanced that they need to find better facilities for practice purposes.
“This was the quickest way to get an advanced park for these kids to use,” Friend said.
