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2006 Summer Home Page
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by Mark van de Kamp

Holly and Terry Delaney with some of the regular users of Solvang's year-old skatepark. "It was a civics lesson in how to get things done," says Holly about the seven-year group effort involved in getting the skatepark built. More than 2,000 skaters have signed the skatepark use-waiver to date.

Fifteen-year-old Jared Taber pushed off on his skateboard, eyes wide and intense, quickly dipped from sight into the large concrete bowl, nimbly worked the curves and reappeared with a wide smile, ready to go again. He's done this hundreds of times at the Solvang Skateboard Park, which in June turns one year old.

"It changed everything for me," said the athletic 15-year-old Solvang boy, who after constant practicing describes himself as an intermediate/advanced skater. "There used to be nowhere to skate. I'm there all the time."

Dozens of kids gather daily at the immensely popular skatepark in Hans Christian Andersen Park. More than 2,000 skaters have signed the required waiver and release of liability forms and countless others have used it, too.

"I don't know how we as a community ever got along without it. I can't think of any other place in the Valley where kids have such a place to hang out. I'm 100 percent for it," said Ben Sprague, 28, of Buellton.

"This is one of the most creative parks around," 38-year-old Glen Dittmar said. For its size it has more hips (corners) and valleys than most. I'm still able to be creative and figure out different lines. Like anything else, it only gets stale if you let it. This place is a great park. It has good energy."

To be sure, these guys are excited and also relieved that there is a skatepark. There's nowhere else in the Valley to skate legally. A June 1993 Solvang City ordinance prohibited any type of skating on streets or sidewalks in the downtown area.

The next year, Sheriff's deputies seized in-line skates from 11 teens defying the ban. But demand to skate kept growing. The City's recreation department briefly sponsored a "Skate the Lot" program for in-line skating in a city parking lot on Alisal Road and more than 300 people registered and participated.

Although that 1993-94 program was short-lived, the spark had been struck. Still, raising support and funds to build the skatepark taught many young people about perseverance and democracy.

"It was a civics lesson in how to get things done," said Holly Delaney, owner of Solvang's Backdoor BoardShop. She spearheaded the campaign and today is thrilled that Valley youth embrace the skatepark.

"It took seven years, 14 City Council meetings, and we went through two City Managers, three City Engineers and various Council members," she said.

Glen Dittmar

"The big thing in my life is God. I really believe we should 'love the Lord and love your neighbor," so I took that and worked for the kids who came through my store. I brought enthusiasm." Her persistence raised $400,000 and the spirits of many aspiring skaters.

However, the campaign dismayed residents who told the City Council that the skatepark might generate excessive noise, crime, graffiti, affect property values, disturb wildlife, and pose liability risks. Some contended that the park should have been located elsewhere, perhaps at the Alamo Pintado Triangle where Sunny Fields Park was built.

Supporters, including Elks Youth Recreation-which contributed $100,000, believed the skatepark would appeal to lots of kids, especially at-risk and "latch-key" individuals. It has.

"It's really all about good, clean fun, and it's a meeting ground," said Sprague, a youth minister who usually closes the skatepark Thursday evenings.

"We've met a lot of students there and it sparks an interest in our group (Valley Christian Fellowship). Some of them join us Sunday nights.

"Every year we do a Tahoe snowboarding trip and talk with students about their decisions socially, spiritually and what kind of life they're going to live," he said. "And a huge part of the youth ministry is learning what the kids are doing, so I go there and learn how to skate. I've got butt pads, kneepads, elbow pads and they laugh, but I'm doing it."

Is this fun, or what?

The skatepark is "a huge success," said Kristen Thomsen, Solvang Parks & Recreation Director. "It really was a tremendous group effort on behalf of Holly, the SYV Youth Sports Foundation and Elks Youth Recreation. The skating community really came out in support, expressed a need and helped make it happen."

The City entered into a lease agreement with the Santa Ynez Valley Sports Foundation, which is responsible for construction and now operations and maintenance.

Delaney, her husband Terry, and volunteers co-ordinate opening and closing the skatepark. The biggest problem is skaters who do not wear the required safety helmets and gear. Some have received three consecutive tickets and have been permanently banned. Deputies visit, sometimes issuing warnings, sometimes tickets.

"There are always going to be kids who stretch the rules," Sprague said. "I think all the kids are pretty grateful. Some of these kids who are stereotypical skaters are just so happy and glad to have a place to skate. Even as they have broken wrists or arms they have an avenue to do what they love."

Taber acknowledges he received one $385 ticket for failure to wear his helmet - the charge was dropped. "It's easier to wear one," he said.

There have been broken arms, fractured wrists, many scrapes and cuts - like any other contact sport. Trash and graffiti are comparable to other City facilities, Thomsen said, and volunteers sweep up litter daily.

Last summer, the City's recreation department held four weeks of skate camp to teach the basics and safety prior to the skatepark's opening. The City plans a repeat camp this summer.

Skating is expensive. A board, helmet and pads can run $200, and most skaters wear out sneakers in a hurry. Some skaters, Taber said, shoot videos of each other in hopes of landing shoe sponsors or turning pro. Others wear iPods and headsets.

Socially, it's got everything. Kids meet, watch the better skaters, are intimidated or mimic them, and parents teach their youngsters basic moves.

Dittmar, at 38, is one of the older skaters, and his three decades of skating prove he's got advanced moves that many youngsters aspire to make their own. He savors the park's "energy" and says everyone feels welcome.

"I grew up in the Valley, and when I was these kids' age I had to arrange with someone older to get driven to L.A. where we paid to go into skateparks," he said.

Pat Rathburn of Santa Barbara, 19, made the two-bowl combination look easy on his fifth visit, in early May. Explaining that he "comes here for the large bowls," he brought along a pal, 21-year-old Peter Haglund from Costa Rica, who deemed the park "impressive."

There's no doubt the park has changed people's lives Taber said. "I really respect what Holly did," the freshman said."I've seen people here from all over the valley, from Lompoc and Santa Barbara. Kids skate here down the bike path from Santa Ynez. Here you see little kids to guys in their 40s skating like little kids again."