Neighbors Complain About Imperial Beach Skate Park

Imperial Beach's skate park, open since November 2010, is causing problems for neighborhood residents.

The Imperialbeachpatch.com website recently reported that city manager "Gary Brown said several problems have emerged at the Recreation Center since the skate park opened, such as littering, illegal activities, noise, and users of the park not wearing protective gear and not adhering to the sunrise-to-sunset hours. Another point of contention is the use of bicycles and scooters."

City of IB recreation program coordinator Jim Coates says that he is in frequent contact with the neighbors and has an agreement with sponsors of local-band shows held at the skate park to make sure all the noise and activity is over by 10 p.m.

Coates is proud of the park's music program that allows training for kids in sound and video production. Local bands can barter to play the monthly five-dollar-admission shows in exchange for use of the park's professional recording studio and soundproofed practice facility. Coates says that not every kid is "into sports."

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