Do Newport News residents need a skateboard park?

Many of them say yes. 

At a community meeting tonight, the city will propose installing some ramps and obstacles at two parks as a short-term fix. Officials also will suggest creating a committee to look at whether a more permanent park is needed.

“This all came about because both City staff and members of City Council had been receiving inquiries and comments from citizens requesting that the City build a skateboard park,” explained city spokeswoman Kim Lee.

"It's gotten bigger in the past five years," said Nick Maur, manager of 17th Street Surf Shop. "It just keeps gorowing and growing, getting more recognized as a whole. They're looking to put it in the Olympics soon, too."

Without a skate park close by, many skateboarders ride the asphalt on public streets, behind buildings, in parking lots and parking garages.

"Cops and security come up, and then it's just a hassle," said skateboarder Ben Housley. "We just need a good place where we can go and skate."

Christian Lubertazzi learned the hard way to stay away from parking garages.

"I actually got banned form the CNU campus forever for skating there," he said. "My friend actually went down it and crashed into an elevator, and broke the elevator. My friend was knocked unconscious, so we had to call 911 to come get him. That's how we actually got caught."

City officials are in agreement, and realize skateboarders need a safe place to surf the concrete as soon as possible.

Long range plans call for building two really cool skate parks, but city officials need help from skateboarders and concerned citizens.

About 150 residents attended the first community meeting in November. Officials listened to their comments and also conducted an online survey to get input.

The locations for the temporary ramps and obstacles haven't been determined.

Lee cautions that the skateboard park discussion is in its early stages.

If you're interested, the meeting is at 7:00 p.m. at B.C. Charles Elementary School at 701 Menchville Road.

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