Coquina Key embraces skate park, preserving it

St. Petersburg's only park dedicated to people on wheels will stay in business for at least a year.

By DENIS THERIAULT

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 2, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- Dressed for a couple tilts on a half-pipe, neighborhood teens and skateboarders from across the city filled Coquina Key Clubhouse on Tuesday night. They came in scratched helmets and with scabbed knees to state their case for the St. Petersburg Skatepark.

"It's the only place we've got," Larry Sheppard said.

The park's savior also was there. Lawyer George Rahdert, father of four skating boys, bailed out the park when it was confronted with underwhelming turnout and spiraling costs and turned it into a neighborhood venture. Now he was asking Coquina Key residents to let the skate park stay in their back yard.

The neighborhood association answered unanimously to keep the city's only skate park around -- for another year at least.

Nestled next to two tennis courts in Coquina Key Park, the park opened in February 1999 as a place where kids from across the city could skate legally. (St. Petersburg police rigidly enforce the city's laws that forbid skateboarding and in-line skating on most city streets and sidewalks.)

Almost immediately, the park lost money. Inclement weather limited attendance. Original owner and developer Joe McKeag, who owned and operated other skate parks in Florida, skipped out on the project. McKeag could not be reached for comment on this story.

Rahdert "inherited" fiscal and managerial responsibility for the park. A $3 fee helps cover some of the park's operating costs, but Rahdert says he finds himself pouring in a lot of his own money.

"I stepped up to make sure the park was still supervised and maintained," said Rahdert, who represents the St. Petersburg Times on First Amendment issues. "This is a labor of love for me."

But Rahdert said his dollars alone couldn't keep the park running, so he turned to the community for help. Some parents help keep an eye on the kids, while others make sure equipment is in working order.

That grass roots support manifested itself in the neighborhood vote, but at the meeting Rahdert couldn't help himself from defending the park's viability.

He cited crime statistics that he hoped would calm some residents' fears, and he outlined how the park is supervised and kept safe. He also reminded residents of the positive impact he felt the park could have on a young person's life.

"We set out to give kids good, wholesome, energetic fun," Rahdert said. "It's been a wonderful learning experience."

"It's the best thing in the world," said Betty Irwin, a 23-year resident of the island. "Especially for the young people."

St. Petersburg Skatepark

ADDRESS: Coquina Key Park, 3595 Locust St. SE.

HOURS: 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; 6 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

COST: $3 but prorated for late arrivals.

DIRECTIONS: Take Sixth Street S to 39th Avenue S. Go east across the bridge to Coquina Key. Turn left on Neptune Drive and after about three blocks, turn left on Wahoo Drive. Follow Wahoo into the park.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.