CLEARLAKE, Calif. – City officials on Friday temporarily closed the Clearlake skatepark, which is in need of repairs.
At the Clearlake City Council's Thursday meeting, City Manager Joan Phillipe informed council members of the plans to close the park the following morning because of unsafe conditions and concerns about liability.
During the council's midyear budget review Thursday night, council members voted unanimously to allocate up to $10,000 to repair the park, located in Austin Park and known officially as the Andy Johnson Memorial BMX/Skatepark.
The park has been closed for repairs a number of times over the last several years. Donors – including the Redbud Health Care District – and the city have provided thousands of dollars for past repairs.
“It's busted up,” City Public Works Director Doug Herren told the council Thursday of the park's current condition.
Herren attributed the damage primarily to the BMX bikes that use the park, explaining that the park isn't designed for the bikes and that such damage is going to be an ongoing issue.
He said he would need to purchase the materials to repair the park as he didn't have them on hand.
Herren estimated that if the materials were ordered immediately he could have the repairs completed within four weeks.
The council members also agreed that they want the skatepark placed on a future agenda for further discussion.
Councilwoman Joyce Overton first raised the issue, noting that a lot of money has been spent on the park and that a discussion of its future needed to take place.
Phillipe suggested allocating funds for the repairs – and giving staff a range up to $10,000 – along with preparing for long-range planning and starting an ad hoc committee.
In response to concerns from Councilman Russ Perdock that the young people who use the park don't appear to be as engaged in taking care of it as as been the case previously, Councilman Bruno Sabatier volunteered to rally the youth to become more involved.
Sabatier moved to approve the midyear budget review with up to $10,000 included for the skate park repairs, which the council approved unanimously.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Clearlake skatepark closed temporarily; city council allocates money for repairs
- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On