Skateboarders ask for cover for park

They’re not skating on thin ice, but it is dangerous using the Strawberry Hill skatepark this time of year.

That’s why a number of skateboarders are working with the Bainbridge Island Park District to put a cover over it.

At a recent district meeting, Megan Cooney Curtis presented a slide show on the topic.

She said COVID-19 restrictions have made skateboarding on the island more popular than ever because it’s an activity that still is allowed. While other things were shut down, her kids didn’t know what to do so “they picked it up.”

“A lot of other people did as well,” she said during the Zoom meeting, adding since it’s now an Olympic sport that may have added to its popularity.

She said on a recent evening at 6 p.m. there were still 19 people skateboarding, ranging in age from 5 to 50.

“It’s one of the best in the entire state,” she said of the skateboard park.

However, this time of year, it’s dangerous, she added. It rains 150 days a year, and when that happens it’s slick. She’s seen people with blowers and brooms trying to make it less so.

Curtis said if the district covered the facility that would cost less than building an indoor venue. Also, skateboarders have expressed an interest in fundraising to help pay for it. And, she knows parents who are willing to volunteer to work on such a project.

She said such a facility would benefit the entire community. “When they’re at the park, they’re not getting into trouble,” she said.

Parks staff and board members seemed interested in helping to make such a facility happen.

Dan Hamlin, Parks Services division director, said he heard from two high schoolers who were interested in the same thing. He tasked them with finding out what type of cover would work best and what the cost would be.

Parks executive director Terry Lande said he knows of another group that is looking for a barn to turn into an indoor skate park.

“We need to get them all going in the same direction,” he said of the different skateboard interests.

Board member Tom Swolgaard mentioned that with a covering there could be more use at night, which would mean the desire for lights. And there would be rules for their use because of neighbors.

Board member Jay Kinney said there may be a bigger need. He mentioned the desire for covered facilities for tennis and pickleball.

“What about a fieldhouse?” he asked, adding when he coached he was always looking for a dry place in the spring. “There are very few places where there’s a roof.”

On another topic, Hamlin talked about an effort to get an easement to build a trail off Vincent Road.

After checking the terrain, Kirk Robinson said he hopes the easement would be flexible rather than a straight line.

“Let it weave a little bit,” he said of the easement and trail. He said there are some hills and some big trees so the trail would be more user-friendly that way.

If the trail was allowed to go off the easement in certain places, it could be changed later if needed. But in the meantime the trail would be more accessible.

“It’s a pretty special spot on the island,” Robinson said.

In other parks news:

*State Sen. Christine Rolfes asked the district if it would support legislation for a 1/10th of 1% sales tax to support parks.

“COVID has destroyed the county parks department,” Lande said of Kitsap. He added that Poulsbo has been hit hard with a reduction in sales taxes, also due to the coronavirus.

He said Bainbridge has not been hurt as badly because it is a district, and not dependent on the city.

If state legislation passes, Lande said the county or individual cities could combine to try to take advantage of the tax measure. However, it would take a vote of the people in that taxing district to approve it. The area where the money is collected would receive those funds.

“This isn’t a panacea for the park district,” he said.

Lande said even if the district voiced support now to Rolfes, “There are many opt out points.”

Board member Ken DeWitt said he would favor such a measure if Bainbridge gets the money it raises, but, “We would have a hard time on the island if it would benefit just Poulsbo.”

*Also, Hamlin said an agreement is being worked on with the city that would allow the district to build and maintain trails on city property. The city would design and permit them first.