A FORUM FOR COMMUNITY ISSUES : Gripe

A few months ago, while cruising my vintage 44-inch skater (skateboard) down the Newport Balboa boardwalk, I stopped at the Newport Pier Courtyard. It was newly remodeled, with planters enclosed by benches.

Everything was fresh and clean--or so it seemed. As I sat drinking my customary lemonade, I saw black scuff marks on the end of the new bench where I sat. By a cruel twist of fate, the city planners had designed a courtyard ideally suited for modern trick skateboarding.

It was instantly sessioned (practiced on) by the skate-starved locals, who unfortunately didn’t think about the consequences of their actions. As a result of these few careless moments, a sign is now posted prohibiting skateboarding in the courtyard.

When I take a cruise on the strand, to avoid a ticket I have to carry my skateboard while tourists take their first whack at Rollerblades through a sea of cars, pedestrians, strollers and bikes.

I’m angry at the skaters who damaged the benches and planters. I’m also angry at a city and county which boast a huge skateboard industry for not supplying a skateboard park as it supplies countless other public athletic facilities.