City Council decides not to move forward with Skate Park project for now

PACIFIC GROVE, Calif. (KION-TV)-  UPDATE ON MARCH 21, 2024 AT 5:15 PM- On Tuesday night, the Pacific Grove City Council has decided not to move forward with a skate park at the City Hall Employee parking lot.

Council said they could not support the skate board because of how expensive it would be to built. The estimated budget is $132,000.

There were lots of children who addressed the council making emotional pleas to finally have their own skatepark.

City Council said the one potential problem with the parking lot location would be displacing city employee parking and ADA spaces.

Some people surveyed in Pacific Grove hope pilot skatepark plan becomes permanent

UPDATE ON NOV. 17, 2023 - Talks continue in Pacific Grove about a pilot​ skate park program and how it would work.

Pacific Groves city council is discussing a pilot skate park that could run for 6 to 9 months with temporary skate ramps.

"The first step is for staff to come back with a plan or a description of what this pilot would entail," said Bill Peake, the Mayor of Pacific Grove.

Logan Yeager grew up in Pacific Grove and has been skating since he was 12 years old. After hearing about the proposed skate park, he wishes the idea was around when he was younger.

"For young teenagers, it's not much here. It's kind of bare, except for Caledonia Park, and it just has a flat basketball court, which is kind of sad for skaters. When I was in high school, I didn't really have much to do after school. And I wish they had one nearby in the park," said Yeager.

As for a permanent skate park, KION went around town asking people if there should be one in Pacific Grove. 8 out of the 10 people who answered said yes.

"We need to provide for the upcoming generation, not just the oh, the older people," said Susan Brew who lives in Pacific Grove.

The people who voted against it said off camera they think skate parks bring in dangerous crowds.

The city's efforts at a temporary skate park are a part of a broader discussion about a permanent one in the near future.

The location of the pilot skate park program is being determined. A study is being done to see if the city will put it in the parking lot behind the Youth Center or at the Corporation Yard on Sunset Avenue.

The cost for the pilot skatepark would be roughly around $10,000 according to the city.

City of Pacific Grove discusses plans for temporary skate park

PACIFIC GROVE, Calif. (KION-TV)-  UPDATE ON NOV. 16, 2023 AT 4:14 PM- The skatepark saga in Pacific Grove will see another day.

During Wednesday night's council meeting, The Pacific Grove City Council found a potential spot for a skate park on 17th Street next to the Recreation Center.

However, the location was only approved as a pilot program. City Council will be scheduled to meet again to discuss how much it will cost if the skate park was placed next to the Youth Center.

City Council will also decide how to notify neighbors plus determine the hours that the park will remain open for.

City Council directs staff to find new locations for a skate park

UPDATE ON APRIL 6, 2023 AT 10:46 AM- In a marathon debate, the Pacific Grove City Council made their decision on a proposed skatepark.

In a 5-2 vote, the City Council has put the project on hold as they have directed staff to research other possible locations within the city that would not impact residential areas.

The council heard 80 speakers during public comment that were in favor or against the skate park.

Most of the speakers were in favor of having a skate park in town as long as it does not get rid of any green spaces.

The recreation board originally had two locations in mind for the skate park which was a Pacific Grove Unified School District site at Forest Lodge Road. The other site was the David Avenue Community High School Field.

Pacific Grove City Council to discuss the future of proposed skate park

UPDATE ON APRIL 5, 2023 AT 1:02 PM- The Pacific Grove City Council could decide the fate of a proposed skate park during Tuesday's council meeting.

The project has been talked about for well over a year now. The Pacific Grove Recreation Board has narrowed down two locations on where the skate park could be build at.

The first location will be a Pacific Grove Unified School District site at Forest Lodge Road. The secondary site will be at the David Avenue Community High School Field.

If there is a consensus within the council to continue with the project, they will discuss a final location at a future council meeting. However, if the council cannot come to a consensus then the project will be put in jeopardy.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. You can either go in person to the meeting at City Hall or participate via Zoom which is here.

George Washington Park will not be home to Pacific Grove skate park project

UPDATE Feb. 23 2023, at 10:32 p.m- After nearly 3 hours of discussion and public comment, the Pacific Grove Recreation Board voted to remove George Washington Park as a potential location from their list of places the skate park could be built.

It seemed like that park was a top contender... but many community members voiced their opposition during the meeting, both in-person and virtually. Some cited environmental concerns, while others worried about noise and traffic.

The Board was considering two other potential locations: one on Forest Lodge Rd. behind Pacific Grove High School and one at David Avenue Charter School.

The Board decided to recommend those two sites to City Council as places the skate park might be built.

City Council will decide whether to move forward with the recommendation or choose another location.

UPDATE Oct. 11, 2022, at 10:58 a.m.- The City of Pacific Grove has approved $158,000 to help build a 10,000-square-foot skate park within city limits. With George Washington Park being the top choice for the site.

The money will be used to publish a community survey, complete assessments for potential sites, analyze feasibility, and draft a preliminary design for a proposed Skatepark, said the city.

The city made a web page to keep up with developments, and you can sign up to get updates on the project here.

There they lay out the steps needed for planning the proposed slate park, such as identifying a location, making a survey, finding a skatepark designer, final the design, securing funding and figuring out the permit and environmental review process.

ORIGINAL STORY

Pacific Grove City leaders are considering adding a skate park in the city.

The Pacific Grove Recreation Board discussed the next steps at its Thursday night meeting. The city is thinking of two possible sites. The first is at Washington Park, which is the preferred area.

The Pacific Grove Skate Park Project also met with neighbors near Washington Park to discuss their concerns. 

Emily Haselbauer with the Pacific Grove Park Project told KION that her two sons are avid skateboarders. Haselbauer's family moves around a lot because they are in the military, and her sons have come to rely on the skatepark in the neighborhoods they've lived in.

"It's a place for our kids to make friends and connect with other people and just really have a great time," said Haselbauer. "We feel like that's really lacking in Pacific Grove." 

But neighbors, like David Lugo, who have lived in the neighborhood for years, have concerns.

"I'm against it because of the increased noise, increased traffic, and it might have a possible effect on property value," said Lugo.

Haselbauer said construction of newer skate parks is different these days when it comes to noise. 

Lugo's home is across from the proposed site. While he is not against a skate park in the city, he believes it should be somewhere else. 

The second site the city is considering is on a lot behind Pacific Grove High School on Forest Lodge Road. But that site is on the Pacific Grove School District's property. For the city to use that location, the city would have to agree with the district. 

Some neighbors feel like the skate park is moving too fast. But city leaders said there's still more to be done before the project can break ground.

"We still have multiple things that we have to do before we even get remotely close to finalizing the site," said Daniel Gho, the city's Public Works Director and Deputy City Manager. "One of those things is doing an environmental impact report."

The city will reach out to the community about the proposed park site for its next steps.

The Pacific Grove City Council approved $158,000 of ARPA funding to help pay for the project.