Landowner tears down popular skatepark in Nipomo

Posted: Apr 25, 2011 11:19 PM by Ariel Wesler
Updated: Apr 26, 2011 8:10 AM

Skateboarders in Nipomo are losing their make shift skate park because the landowner says it's unsafe.

The skatepark used to be the home of the Nipomo recreation center. In 2008, investigators say two teenagers burnt down the center. Since then, skateboarders and BMX bikers have been using the concrete foundation to practice their tricks.

But the landowner says it's too big a liability and with the county's permission, he's tearing it down.

For the past three years, these teens have been riding high at a Nipomo skate park they kind of built themselves.

"The BMXers, the skateboarders, the young people congregate and they actually take it very seriously and for the most part, they're very very talented," said Brent Morrison of Nipomo.

It's nothing fancy, but it's an active part of their lives and now the landowner is demolishing it. He is concerned it's a liability and technically, those ramps are illegal structures. We caught up with the contractor.

"There's pieces of all thread sticking through the slab. It's just not a safe environment," said Michael Bovo, who works for the owner.

Morrison has a 14-year-old son who skates at the park and wants the county or city to come up with some kind of replacement so the teens can pursue their passion.

"There is very little for them to do and this has been a real, wonderful outlet, despite as you can see, it's just a piece of concrete," Morrison said. "We have professionals over here. They've got professional cameras. They take very nice videos. There are some kids with sponsorships."

But with limited resources, building a permanent skatepark will not be an easy task, and will likely take a community effort.

"Everybody's going to have to pitch in because that's just a sign of the times right now," Bovo said.

The contractor said county officials were on the property this morning talking discussing what to do with the land before it is eventually developed.

We tried contacting county supervisor Paul Texeira, who represents that area, but he did not return our call for comment.