Fillmore’s new $1.1 million skateboard park is the centerpiece a 22-acre multi purpose Community Park, a vision presented by City officials eight years ago. The skate park, in Phase I of the 22,000 total square foot Community Park, is located at C and River Streets. It has attracted record crowds from as far away as Santa Barbara and San Diego along with local skaters of all ages and experience levels since its unofficial opening on December 22, 2008.

Reviews on the skateboard park have been very favorable! The superiority of the state of the art facility is credited in part to 15 year-old Christian Conaway, multi-medalist street- luge racer including, 1st place in the North American Championships and 6th place in the World Championships in 2008, and his association with skateboarding legend Jeff Tatum. Tatum’s consulting and design expertise together with Scott Price of Community Works Design Group, and builders, California Skateparks, led to scrapping original plans for a wooden structure, and creation of the concrete facility. Councilman Steve Conaway, former Mayor of Fillmore, was an aggressive proponent of the project. Although father and son are both skateboarders, the senior Conaway who “long boards” for recreation only admits, “my greatest trick is to not fall. Sometimes I succeed.”

Nevertheless, though safety, equipment and use rules are visibly posted, some concerns have been expressed over the lack of safety equipment use such as helmets, knee and elbow pads. To date, one minor accident is officially noted. Skateboarding is a hazardous sport and State and local laws and ordinances protect the City legally. The City Council addressed this issue at Tuesday’s meeting by voting to adopt a City Council Ordinance and amend the Municipal Code thereby strengthening regulations as to the use of the City Skateboard Park, and requiring all users to wear helmets, elbow pads and knee pads.

Additionally, concerns have surfaced over youngsters’ safety crossing SR 126 even at existing intersection stoplights and approved crosswalks at C, B and A Streets and Central Avenue, and the newly installed stoplight on Hwy. 23 and River Street. The City has requested Edison install a streetlight at the corner of C Street and SR 126 for increased visibility and Conaway would like to see stoplight walk-timers adjusted for increased crossing time.

The skate park, is only part of the planned amenities. When completed, the new Community Park, originally estimated to cost $9.3 million, will feature four tennis courts, four basketball courts, baseball and football fields, bike paths, two public restrooms, parking and a concession stand. Fields are designed with recycled water storage detention and subsurface irrigation. Phase I, costing $4.3 million and still under construction is fully paid for. However, completion of Phase II, with current projected costs of $5.3 million could be delayed beyond its August target date. City and RWP funds, previously received grants of $3 million, Cabrillo Farm Workers Housing Development monies, and impact fees (fees accessed on every newly constructed residence in the City), have gone a long way toward paying for the Community Park. Nevertheless, a declining economy, decreased home starts and sales, and the unresolved issue of Sales Tax Revenue Sharing have taken their toll. City Manager, Tom Ristau says that projected completion costs, higher or lower, are dependant on the bidding environment at the time.

Annual maintenance costs of $10,000-$15,000 are projected for Phase I. Annual maintenance costs of $15,000-$20,000 are projected for both phases combined when completed. The City has an agreement with Griffin Industries, for $1.3 million, to be paid by the builder of “The Bridges” in increments of $40,000 per year, offsetting maintenance costs. In the event of default, Ristau, says the City’s Reserves would be the most obvious source of funds to cover the deficit.

In the meantime, the skateboard park is attracting out of town visitors who ultimately spend time and money in our town, and rave about Fillmore’s new, “sick” Skateboard Park. An Ad Hoc committee was appointed at Tuesday’s City Council meeting to plan festivities for the Skate Park’s formal Grand Opening on March 21. Most importantly, though our community has taken an exciting step forward for our youths, who in these changing times desperately need places to “drop in” and interact in positive ways, parental common sense and user safety must prevail.