The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors has scheduled a hearing on May 13th to consider closing the Skate Park until further notice. The Chief Administrative Officer of the County reported that a Southern California company is in negotiations to take over management of both the Placerville and the Cameron Park Skate parks, but timing and reaching an actual agreement is uncertain at this time. The Supervisors, appalled at the last serious incident (see story below), want to avoid another such crime.
"Without the Placerville Police policing the hangers on" that congregate around the park, "we must do something" said Supervisor Sweeney. "If the City of Placerville asked us to close it, we would, but we cannot have another incident happen while we wait for the supervision issue to be resolved."
Editor's comments on Sac Bee story:
Skateboarding is not a crime, but unsupervised children often do commit crimes. I belonged to both the Placerville Rotary that built the skatepark and to the Boys & Girls Club BOD. I also have nephews that do know some of the thugs that were bragging about the beating. This crime was allegedly commited by a group that hangs out at the park, but many of these kids do not even skate. It is simply a place to hang without any adult supervision. It is no surprise that criminals are there.
The problem is that the ownership and responsibility for the park is in the hands of an agency that does not have the money to run it properly. The Rotary built and donated the park to the County, but it is on the Fairgrounds property within the city limits of Placerville. None of the parties has the budget to hire staff to police the park adequately. This has lead to much vandalism, drug dealing, and other crimes. This last crime is just the most egregious in a long string of problems.
The choice today seems to be between making money available to the park or plowing it under. This is a tough choice when the county is forced to cancel valuable health service just because the money is not there. The county is currently in a budget crises with over $8 million of red ink. This is largely do to declines in building and reassessments in the tax-base values of homes. This problem is acerbated by a statewide budget crises that has reduced state monies coming into the county.
The skatepark is a valuable resource to the area's youth as it is a place for exercise, camaraderie, and many other worthy aspects. There are times growing up when skateboarding and these local skateparks provided our youth with a place and outlet for life's everyday challenges. It has definitely kept many busy and out of trouble.
As long as ALL children can play nice without any adult supervision, the park can remain open. The limited probability of this leaves only two solutions, money to police it or close it. Budget choices of health services for the poor, bookmobile, employee lay-offs, or staffing the skatepark face the county today. With money seemingly out of reach, the prospects look dim.
Also see: http://www.rotarysite.com/placerville/archives/projects/joes_skatepark/
Cris Alarcon.
UPDATE:
After an attack on a 17-year-old student volunteer, Placerville police are recommending that officials close the skate park at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds until it can be adequately supervised. Investigators have arrested six juveniles and one adult in connection with the April 4 incident, said Capt. Mike Scott, Placerville Police Department spokesman.
"The investigation is ongoing and we may make more arrests," Scott said.
Travis Krohn was attacked by a group of boys about 6 p.m. near the corner of Armory Drive and Ray Lawyer Drive, not far from the fairgrounds. Krohn's attackers were identified as people who gather at the skate park where Krohn volunteers at the Boys and Girls Club of El Dorado County, on Armory Drive. He also serves as a mentor in the Big Brothers and Big Sisters program.
Krohn was treated at a hospital for his injuries, officials said. He is at home recuperating, they said, but they refused to discuss the extent of his injuries.
He was reportedly riding in a car with a female volunteer. Their car was spat on as they passed a group of about 15 young people. Krohn was swarmed when he got out of the car.
E-mails sent out by his friends after the attack indicate that Krohn was slugged, kicked and hit with skateboards before his attackers tried to throw him off an embankment.
Scott declined to get so specific about the nature of the attack. He said that five boys, age 14 and up, have been arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. One female juvenile also was arrested for being an accessory to a crime.
Placerville police arrested an 18-year-old man, identified by Scott as Donovan Beene, on suspicion of being an accessory to a crime. Beene is not in custody but the others are in juvenile hall, Scott said.
The skate park has been a problem since it was opened, even though police officials agree that it could provide a "fantastic opportunity" for local young people.
"Since its inception, the police department's stance has been that the skate park needs supervision," Scott said.
Without that supervision, problems are expected to continue.
"Burglaries have increased in the area. We have seen harassment of other fairgrounds patrons. We have had other assaults at the skate park," Scott said. "We are recommending that they close the gates until supervision is available."
County officials have stated that they are close to hiring a skate park supervisor. Local police are hearing that the potential hire has fallen through, Scott said.
Duane Wallace, executive director of Boys and Girls Club of El Dorado County describes Krohn as a well-liked volunteer. Wallace heard the sirens and he was on the scene shortly after the 17-year-old was attacked.
"The incident is a symptom of a disease and the disease is unsupervised kids," Wallace said.
He hears from young skateboarders who tell him that they are even afraid to use the park, Wallace said. Many of the troublemakers congregating there cannot even handle a board, Wallace said.
His organization views the county's decision to hire a facility supervisor as "a huge step forward," Wallace said.
"We cannot let them fail at that," Wallace said.
Wallace wants to see service organizations, government agencies and local churches band together to develop even broader solutions.
A call by a reporter to an El Dorado County parks manager was not returned.
... near the fairgrounds and skate park, was the passenger in a vehicle on Armory Drive shortly after 6 p.m. Friday. Placerville Police Capt. Mike Scott said a group of 10 to 15 youths were gathered near the intersection of Armory and Ray Lawyer drives, ... MORE
PLACERVILLE, CA - In what they call a brutal case of teen violence, Placerville police arrested two boys Thursday afternoon. Police say a 17-year-old boy was beaten by at least six kids near Placerville's skate park last Friday.
"The skate park has been an area of concern with the police department and the community for quite some time," said Capt. Mike Scott of the Placerville Police Department.
The boy was the target of what Scott said was an unprovoked attack. The injuries put the boy in the hospital, and he required an emergency root canal. There are four other teens wanted for questioning in the attack. They've been known to spend time at Placerville's skate park.
"Everyone knows there's a group of kids that hang out, and they do things," said skater Jake Oakley, a regular at the park. He says he knows who was likely involved in the incident but didn't want to name them.
"It just sucks that they're going to bring it down on the skate park," said Oakley, talking about a small group of people who cause trouble nearby.
"It shouldn't be done. If they're going to do it, they shouldn't do it
here. They shouldn't do it period, but I just wouldn't want to see it done
here."
The two boys arrested so far have been charged with assault with a deadly
weapon, and battery resulting in great bodily injury. Scott wants the other kids
brought in as quickly as possible.
"We're not going to stop until we've identified each of the suspects and
taken each of them into custody," Scott said.
Placerville police say there needs to be regular supervision of the skate park
to cut down on crime in that area. It is currently an unsupervised park, though
El Dorado County says it will hire someone within a few weeks to look after
things full-time. -- MORE --
