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Veteran’s Memorial Park, a County Facility,  has been hosting the park which has been functioning for 16 years and is one of the most utilized parks in the area. The City of Hollister maintains the park. It is the only public skate facility in San Benito County. 

The expansion will utilize the space now taken by some of the existing basketball courts. Parks and Recreation has been discussing this project with participation from skaters from the area. 

The item was voted upon at the Feb 25 Parks and Recreation Committee meeting to recommend the City Council approve the $78,000 improvement.

 Laura Miller, a City Parks and Recreation Commissioner gave a presentation to the Council. She noted that the City Manager suggested that the Park Impact Fees would be an appropriate use for the expansion. She reported that the City of Hollister has $653,000 in Park impact fees which have been collected to be used for Parks and Recreation and that there has been a recommendation that San Benito County contribute $22,000 to give a budget of $100,000 for the project. The area would need to be resurfaced with the creation of the obstacles, restrooms, shade, and spectator areas. 

The Skate Park Volunteer Committee will oversee the Park, mainteneance, fundraising, interact with law enforcement and city maintanence, and research expected expentitures. All graffiti would be removed immediately.  They will organize monthly cleanups, hold quarterly meetings, with both an adult and youth leader to act as commitee chair and co-chair

She said that the current park is overcrowded and busy at all times of days and is too small for the number of users. There are skateboards and bikes in the same area, participants of dIfferent skill levels, no water and shade, need for proper safety and rules signage. 

Resident Marty RIchman spoke in support and said he has observed the overuse of the Memorial Park skate park. He asked the City Council to cross the t’s and dot the i’s about liability. He noted that it would be good to have safety signage in visuals, and in dual languages. 

Jesse Medina, a local skateboarder, noted that he describes Hollister “as a retirement town”. He noted that there were few free things to so. He learned to skateboard and he found immediately that there were limitations to the places you could skate. He noted that there are many talented skaters and bike and scooter riders in the area.

 

Gail Hernandez from Hollister Kids Crew noted that her kids are not skateboarders. She went to the SkatePark to do a Community cleanup and kids joined in. She pointed out that there were about 20 young people at the council meeting who identified themselves as users of the skatepark. She noted that there was concern about drugs, and problems.There is not much for youth to do. She noted that there are local kids who are sponsored to skate and ride. She encouraged the Council to take this seriously. Shehas offered personally to do the cleanup of the park.

 

Victor Gomez noted that when people were smoking and drinking and his brother bought him a skateboard and it helped him stay out of trouble. He said that he was one of the kids out there in the audience when the skate park was first proposed at the City Council. He noted that he was one of the first to skate when the park opened in 1998. He volunteered to be a sponsor.

Councilmember Pauline Valdivia notd that she does not skate, but she is a supporter of the proposal. She said that there is indeed nothing for the youth to do. 

Councilmember Robert Scattini thanked Laura MIller for putting the presentation together. He noted the need for rules and regulations. He said that he has noticed most kids do not use safety equipment and he hopes that the police department enforces the use of safety equipment.

 

Councilmember Raymond Friend noted that he skated when  a skateboard was a 2×4 with skate wheels and went down the steepest hill they could find. He went to watch at the park and note that the kids do a great job of policing themselves and taking care of one another. He noted that he was impressed with the talent.

 

Mayor Velazquez noted that he hoped that the proponents make sure they ask the County for $78,000 to match.  He said that he was in the BMX world racing bikes. He noted that one of his friends became number one in the world making $100,000 plus. He said that’s what is possible. He expressed his excitement for the project.

 

Councilmember Victor Gomez noted that one day the youth in the audience at the Council Meeting may be in his seat making the decisions as he was today.