Letters: On a Cayucos Skate Park

Show some respect

B uilding a skateboard park adjacent to the Cayucos Morro Bay District Cemetery is a terribly poor decision. I find it rather arrogant, disrespectful and culturally insensitive. Would the county pursue the same project next to a Native American burial ground? I would hope not. However, it feels justified when it comes to this project to infringe on other people’s culture.

Former Supervisor Shirley Bianchi said, “What we’re telling our kids in Cayucos is that dead people are more important than they are. And I don’t think that’s a really good message to send.” No, she has it all wrong! What we are saying is that there are things in life that must be respected. There are boundaries, mores, which civilized society does not cross. I would hope that we would not build a skateboard park at Arlington National Cemetery or a water park at the entrance of the USS Arizona.

Some say this is “smart growth.” I don’t agree. The county could expand Hardy Park in Cayucos and place this project there. This would be a more appropriate place for a skateboard park.

The supporters and the county should admit this is not an appropriate location and find an alternate site. Now is the time to stop spending resources on this location.

Tom Cannon

Cayucos

It’s a rest stop

Here’s my view of the proposed skateboard park next to the Cayucos cemetery; This will be fantastic. Restrooms, water, picnic tables, 40 parking places—how wonderful it will be a few months after completion.

There will be hundreds of cars stopping at the new and only Highway 1 rest stop. Sure, use the water, the toilets — it all goes to Morro Bay so who cares.

There won’t be anyone to enforce the overnighters but that’s OK, because it’s good for business. Kids won’t use the park because they want to be where the action is (by the pier). The sheriff will get tired of answering calls to the place.

It’s not a park folks, it’s a rest stop for every car traveling north. Get the picture? The impact on utilities is astronomical. But the parks department has the money so, valid or not, it will be done. We’ve got this money and we’ve got to spend it. Saving it for an emergency would be unheard of.

Stan A. Grinager

Cayucos

A very stupid program

This pork-barrel spending for a skate park in front of the Cayucos cemetery really ticks me off. There’s already a skate park in Cayucos and Morro Bay.

Taxpayers, in basically a retirement community, should embrace a roller rink at $1.4 million? Why? Am I missing something in responsible spending? What would this roller skating rink give back to Cayucos? And at $70,000 in maintenance per year, do the majority of taxpayers want this?

Shirley Bianchi has already set this project up for failure. If it does or doesn’t get built, what assurances are given that vandalism would be paid for by the users. There’s a taxpayer mantra: “User pays!”

Will admission be charged or is this a pass on taxpayer money? If the park is vandalized, who pays? What’s the expected usage and by how many? Could Morro Bay or Cayucos schools or after-school programs use the money? What is the “life expectancy” of the park? If a funeral is expected, who will keep the park closed until the grievers have all left? If a sudden rise in vandalism occurs, who pays? Lumber, water, landscaping, etc., who pays?

A very stupid and not well thought out program using taxpayer monies!

Pete Hammerich

Morro Bay

Skateboarders are key

Regarding “Skateboarding (near graves) is not a crime” (April 20); Excellent, excellent piece by Bob Cuddy. Two very relevant points were made that should really close the discussion on whether a skateboarding park near the cemetery is workable. I for one now fully support the park in that location.

One, the noise from a busy Highway 1 can be just as or more disturbing.

Two, the park will shut down for funerals/burials. When visiting the cemetery to remember a loved one, remembrances can be meaningful as life goes on around us.

In return, skateboarders should be on the lookout for people visiting the cemetery. Keep the language clean when you see visitors within earshot. Be respectful of why they are there. Visitors are there because of the past; you are there because of the future. Make it work.

Brian Miller

San Luis Obispo

Remoteness is trouble

Bob Cuddy’s column (April 20) about the skateboard park in Cayucos did not mention what I feel is a very good reason not to build it there.

It is out of the view of the public, tucked back in a remote area of town. What’s to stop the kids from drinking alcohol and using drugs there?

At least the Los Osos skate park is in a park and visible from Los Osos Valley Road, a very busy roadway.

Julie Sanders

Cayucos