Port Townsend skate park needs to follow the rules | Letter to the editor

Posted

City, county, and Washington State Parks close at dusk/sunset. The only exception that I see is Memorial Field, which is illuminated for sporting events attended by a few hundred or more folks and two or more “teams” of players; a community event. 

I am a fan of the skate park; I live next door to it. 

I helped build the original plywood ramps with Bobby McGarraugh, with tools and electricity from my shop in Point Hudson. 

I observe cooperation, education, and sharing among the mixed ages of the skaters. Old teaching young, all giving space to each other. Exercise, balance, education, and communication; all useful skills to encourage. 

Good things happen when mixed ages play together. This will not happen at night, where the demographic will be quite different. Skaters like music, often loud. Skaters YELL, often obscenities. Skaters make sounds like fingernails on a blackboard. Skateboards themselves are not quiet. 

The park landed where it did due to the NIMBY syndrome; no one wanted it near their house. So the last most important downtown parking was killed for the park. 

When the park was built, within the Shoreline Management Zone (within 200 feet of the shoreline) conditions were established by its location. Outside lighting is prohibited. Landscaping to mitigate noise was to be established (this never happened). 

My own building must conform to these same regulations. 

Shoreline Management was established over a number of years of study and consideration of existing and future conditions. The city slipped the park into a place where it probably did not belong. 

This park, like all the others, must live within the rules. 

Bruce Tipton
PORT TOWNSEND