The City Council heard an update on the long-anticipated skate park which is planned to go in at Coyote Park. Sheila Canzian, director of the parks and recreation commission presented the council with ideas for the park and asked for suggestions at the study session last night.
Canzian said some of the commission's main concerns are to provide parking and put a fence around the facility. "We want to make sure people don't have to access the main entrance to the park to get into the skate park," Canzian said. "But if they come in through the park they can use the skate park as well."
The councilmembers and Canzian agreed that the major downside to the location of the park is that there is no access by public transportation. But the advantages seem to weigh out this short-coming. "It is away from houses, businesses and contained in a regional park," Canzian said.
Councilmember Paul Gumbinger was very concerned about the lack of public transportation. "It's important to have public transportation, otherwise we'll have kids skating over the overpass," Gumbinger said. "We have to get people there, maybe with a shuttle from Samtrans, to get them over the freeway so they don't use the overpass, this could be very dangerous."
Councilmember Claire Mack had other concerns. "I'm hoping we don't have to use our own money entirely. I think we should call and get sponsors from skate companies," Mack said. "I hope we can go fast and get money from other people."
Councilmember Sue Lempert agreed. "I don't think we have to take pride in ownership," she said.
"We could make it a county project - if it would make it easier and faster. I'm open to a partnership with other cities."
Canzian said she spoke with members of the Burlingame and Foster City governments and they could possibly contribute to construction costs and facility costs.
The commission estimates that the park will be built in a year, but it is unsure how much the park will cost. "We know we have to provide parking, but if we put a restroom on site this will drive the cost up," Canzian said. This park will replace the temporary one on 42 Ave. and El Camino Real, which is scheduled to close at the end of December.
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