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Complaints of vandalism and rude behavior will bring limited hours, rules and adult supervision to Dade City's skate park.
By CHASE SQUIRES, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 15, 2003
DADE CITY -- City commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved measures aimed at handling complaints of bad behavior at the new city skateboard park downtown.
Commissioners accepted recommendations from the Recreation Advisory Board, limiting hours at the skate park adjacent to City Hall, requiring better adherence to the rules and asking for adult volunteers to monitor the park.
City Attorney Bill Brewton, a private attorney with an office next to the skateboard park, said skaters have vandalized his property, been aggressive toward an employee, endangered his clients and walked on his car.
"Most of these kids, I find, are well-behaved," Brewton said. "But as always, you're going to have some of them who abuse the privilege."
Commissioners agreed to limit hours at the park from 2 to 6 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. The hours can be extended as summer approaches, with more hours of daylight.
Commissioners authorized Laura Beagles, assistant to the city manager, to reach out to Pasco-Hernando Community College, Saint Leo University and parents in search of volunteers who can oversee the park. She also said rules will be posted, with an eye toward enforcing the helmet requirement for skaters.
Commissioner Hutch Brock said the city should go further. He said the city should require skaters to carry laminated identification cards indicating they promise to obey the rules. The cards would be required for admission to the park.
Mayor Scott Black said new restrictions could be added later, but the first order is to find volunteers to supervise.
He also said the city engaged in heavy lobbying at the County Commission level Tuesday in hopes that the city wouldn't lose out on county financial support to help build a larger, permanent skateboard park. Earlier in the day, county commissioners voted to allow county staff to start negotiations with Zephyrhills in that city's bid to build a skateboard park.
County officials are committed to helping build only one park in east Pasco.
Black urged skaters to obey the rules at the temporary park.
"Having a skateboard park is a privilege," he said as a warning to skaters. "We can't abuse the privilege."
-- Chase Squires covers news about Dade City. He can be reached at (352) 521-5757, ext. 27 or toll-free 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6108, then 27. His e-mail address is squires@sptimes.com .