New skate spot location may shift to Woodbury Park

By Jim Tortolano/Garden Grove Journal

Plans for a second “skate spot” in Garden Grove are undergoing a kickturn, mainly because some neighbors aren’t very stoked.

Translated into non-skater lingo, the skateboarding facility originally planned for Westhaven Park (south of Chapman Avenue, on West Street) will be moved to another location, probably Woodbury Park, because of objections by people living near the former area.

“We had a lot of complaints from people who live near Westhaven,” said Kimberly Huy, Garden Grove’s community services director. “They were concerned about possible graffiti and noise, but mainly noise.”

Alternate sites under consideration are Pioneer Park (jointly operated with the Garden Grove Unified School District) on Chapman Avenue, east of Harbor Boulevard and Woodbury, located inside a residential tract west of Newhope Street and north of Westminster Avenue.

Although both spots are under consideration, Woodbury seems the likeliest candidate. “The school district isn’t too enthusiastic about putting a skate spot in Pioneer Park, and there are already a lot of skaters in the Woodbury Park area,” said Huy.

A neighborhood meeting near Woodbury is forthcoming, but Huy notes that the popular first skate spot in Garden Grove Park has been largely problem-free. “There’s been no graffiti, no injuries and many people have said it’s been a great addition to the park,” said Huy. In fact, an expansion of that skate spot is a third possibility although city leaders would rather have two separate skate spots.

The move from Westhaven to Woodbury shouldn’t change plans for construction, says Huy; the 1,310-square foot facility will fit in either location. A decision on just where the “spot” will be is expected by the end of summer.