By Jacqueline DeMarco
On Monday Oct. 20 local teens and community members attended the San Juan Capistrano Parks, Recreation and Senior Services Commission meeting to voice support for the building of a skatepark in San Juan Capistrano.
The commission voted unanimously to support the proposal. The commission also voted to form a “working group” for the issue, made up of members of Great Opportunities—a San Juan-based group that helps underprivileged children—members of their city’s Youth Advisory Board, interested members of the community and two members of the commission’s own members, Jenny Friess and Gerald Muir. The working group was tasked with sharing the desire, need and support for the building of a skatepark.
Possible locations in San Juan have yet to be identified.
A movement to build a skatepark in Dana Point was launched in March when members of a newly-formed community group, Skatepark of Dana Point, brought the idea to City Council.
In July, council directed staff to prepare a feasibility report including possible locations within the city. In September, after a public hearing on the issue—citing a lack of available/appropriate space on city property—council directed staff to explore possible non-city-owned sites and reach out to the alternate jurisdictions.
The suggested locations included San Juan Capistrano, Doheny State Park, the Capistrano Unified School District bus barn area and the South Coast Water District’s 30 acres.
The working group will begin gathering ideas for possible locations and securing financial support for the skatepark.
The discussion is set to resume at a November meeting of the parks and recreation commission.
