Mad about skaters
Some residents complain about noise, after-hours use, language, alcohol and drugs at the WL skatepark
Vern Uyetake
William Relyea, president of the Parker Crest Neighborhood Association, represents the views of the neighborhood, which he says objects to current management of the skatepark.
The incessant battle between local residents and skateboarders is back in city hall.
At its Aug. 14 meeting, the West Linn City Council was presented with a petition of more than 130 signatures of people who object to the way the skatepark in Tanner Creek Park is being managed.
Complaints ranged from excessive noise to drugs, to bullying, to curfew violations and unsafe skating on city streets.
Local resident Wally Shelton says for those in the immediate neighborhood it’s often difficult to sleep.
“There are people in the park at all hours, day and night,” he told the council. “The hours are supposed to be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Rarely are those hours enforced. I’ve seen people in the park as late as two or three o’clock in the morning.
“And four weeks ago on Sunday morning, I had four people from an upper neighborhood come skateboarding down at 5 o’clock in the morning — on a Sunday morning.”
But not all residents are against having the park in their neighborhood. One adult who lives in the neighborhood, who did not want to give her name, said the skatepark offers the community more than just the occasional screamed cuss-word from a fallen skater or the noise of rolling wheels.
“Well, they get exercise,” she said. “They could be doing a lot worse things.”
The woman and her two boys come to the park often, and she said it is a great place for kids.
“The environment is pretty healthy,” she said, “I mean if they weren’t here, they might be doing something not so healthy.”
Brian Pierce said he was a West Linn resident in 2001 when the plan for Tanner Creek Park was approved, and he anticipated problems.
“As part of the approval,” he told the council, “it was made clear that the park was to be designed for the enjoyment of West Linn children. Hours would be maintained, adequate parking provided and appropriate noise barriers constructed.
“Fast forward five years, and all of my concerns have turned out to be warranted — all because the city didn’t do what it said it would do.”
Adult skateboarders are often using the park, many from other cities, according to Shelton.
“If you go down there and do an age study,” he said, “they’re 20, 30, 40 and some 50-year-old people skateboarding. They’re not the children of West Linn that the original agreement was signed for.”
A middle-aged skateboarder from Happy Valley, who declined to identify himself, spoke of the skatepark as a safe place while he watched his kids do skateboard tricks Tuesday.
“I see the park rangers come out here daily, so it stays pretty safe,” he said. “They have a sign that says not to smoke or drink … I do see some adults drinking beer, but not often.”
A skater who overheard the conversation objected to the idea that skaters drink at the park.
“You come here to skate, not drink,” he said. “Drinking and skating don’t mix; it’s toxic.”
But there are more than just a few West Linn residents upset over the state of affairs at the skatepark.
William Relyea, president of the Parker Crest Neighborhood Association, brought to the council the petition with 130 signatures as well as a letter from a homeowners association in the Rosemont Summit Neighborhood Association.
Relyea reminded councilors that the skatepark was designed to be a world-class competitive arena, but the planning commission had intended it for West Linn residents.
Theresa Elder told the council that the skatepark has a negative impact on her family life and the neighborhood’s. She cited drug use and drinking as prevalent, and said she is nervous walking her 5-year-old daughter from her home to Tanner Creek Park.
“When we walk by there, there’s the smell of marijuana and who knows what’s going on in the bathrooms,” she said. “There’s drinking at all hours of the day and night. We can hear them. We hear the skating going on at two and three o’clock in the morning, especially on the weekends and in the summer.
“The swearing is horrible. (The skatepark) is being used by grown men. This isn’t a park that’s being used by small children.”
Shelton says he has turned to the police for enforcement, but hasn’t had much success.
“The police feel that it’s not their responsibility to enforce the rules of that park,” Shelton said, “so my question is: Who is responsible?”
But police officers say they can enforce the rules, but they are not laws so there is little enforcement possible.
“The lion’s share of complaints that we get,” said Sgt. Neil Hennelly, “is violating park hours. But there’s no municipal code for that offense. When we find them in the park, we just make them leave.”
Hennelly says he has fielded complaints about the people using the park who are not West Linn residents.
“According to (the complaining resident), the out-of-towners look ‘rough-and-ready.’ They’re not wearing khakis and polos,” Hennelly said, “they’re skaters. It’s a world-class park, and a great place for people to skate.”
According to Hennelly, police can’t enforce residency or manners.
“We can’t set age limits,” he said, “and we can’t dictate who can use the park based on Zip Codes. That idea is unconstitutional and unconscionable.”
But Pierce challenged the council to take action to preserve domestic tranquility.
“Our loosely-formed group that we are calling the Friends of Tanner Creek Park want action,” Pierce said.
The call was for a taskforce to institute changes, including perhaps a vigilante group whose members would patrol the park to keep out the undesirables.
That idea was refuted by one of the skaters.
“Oregon is the Mecca as far as skateparks are concerned,” he said. “And if they think this park is bad, they should check out Burnside.”
The council decided to hold a future worksession to hear ideas and explore options.
Staff reporter Andrew Miner contributed to this article.