Sheriff Closes Skate Park

DAYTON - Recent van- dalism at the Dayton city skate park was the final tip- ping point for the Columbia County Sheriff's Office after at least three reports of van- dalism, theft and inappropriate behavior in the park recently. The sheriff's office closed the park with a padlock, pending a city council meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 10 at City Hall.

It has been almost three years since the park opened after fundraising efforts by a group of 4-H students who call themselves the Colum- bia County Curb Stompers brought in $37,000 to remodel the old tennis courts into a skate park, according to a Blue Mountain News story from December 2009. The story also says the Curb Stompers helped design the park. The group worked with representatives of American Ramp company to come up with the final design.

In that time, the original students who started the park and made the park rules have been slowly replaced by new students who disagree with the original rules set by the Curb Stompers, Mayor Craig George said.

George said the park is closed temporarily for skateboarding, but locals who want to play tennis or pickle ball can pick up a key to the lock from city hall during regular business hours, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

"We have a list of about six or eight complaints," George said. "It will come up at the (Sept. 10) city council meeting."

Dian McClurg, the Co- lumbia County Sheriff's Office public information officer, said the office has received at least three reports of vandalism at the skate park as well as several reports of juvenile problems including cell phone theft and inappropriate behavior in the park. Graffiti on the skate park bench was too inappropriate to print.

McClurg said that how the city wants to handle the park in the future is up to the council, but the office has been advised that the park will remain closed for now. Citizens are advised to call the office to report any suspi- cious activity in the skate park or the city park.

George added that if any- one wants to make comments about the park, they can come to the meeting to make their case.

"Somebody has taken it upon themselves to damage city property," George said. "Some kids are unhappy, but they can come and tell us (at the council meeting)."

George also added that the language locals have over- heard coming from the park is atrocious.

The city of Dayton's 2012 draft budget shows the city paying $85,950 total for the city parks in 2012. The total includes salaries and wag- es, benefits, supplies, other services and charges and capital outlay, which is down from 2011's annual cost of $89,025.

Curb Stompers adviser Leslie Sweetwood said she is unhappy with the situation in the park.

"It was supposed to be a gathering place for the kids," Sweetwood said. "It's frustrating that it didn't pan out the way it was supposed it."

Sweetwood also said the sheriff's office was support- ive, but she thought it would have been nice if they could have spent more time at the park to get an idea of what was going on.

Dayton High School junior Michael Milan said he loves going down to the park and he hopes the city and the sheriff's office can come up with a solution to keep the park from being closed per- manently.

"I just really hope it doesn't get closed," Milan said. "I'd have to wait long periods of time to get down to Walla Walla to go skate."