By IRENE MANAHAN Special to the Daily Press
MID-CITY The grinding and shredding continues even after the sun sets at the Cove Skatepark, which staged a celebration over the weekend to mark the installation of lights.
For many skaters, the illumination was a long time coming. The Cove, located on Olympic Boulevard at 14th Street, was often criticized by skaters following its much ballyhooed 2005 opening. Taking safety into consideration, the park would regularly close around dusk. Depending on the season, the park’s gates could have been locked as early as 5 p.m.
Since the lights were switched on, the Cove has routinely hosted a flurry of activity until 10 p.m.
On Saturday, a ceremony marked the park’s official late night hours, but the first night sessions really kicked off on Friday, April 13, according to Rick Boisdeau, park staff.
“Everyone was really happy about the lights. We’ve all been waiting,” Boisdeau said.
Skaters at the park all seem to agree the lights are a great thing.
“It’s about time,” said professional skateboarder Eric Tuma, 34.“The installation of these lights was long overdue.”
A cake, games, raffles and skating were all part of the weekend celebration.
“The ceremony was pretty fun,” said 14-year-old skater Jason Landau, who took home a new skateboard from winning the raffle. “This gives me something to do at night, and now I can skate without little kids being here.”
The new lights and hours also allow skaters to make better use of their time.
“It’s become especially convenient for older skaters who come after work. Instead of rushing to get to the park before it closes, they can come at their leisure,” said Boisdeau.
Tuma, who is sponsored by Santa Monica Airlines and DVS Shoe Co., agrees that the late hours best suit working adults.
“It’s convenient for people who work during the day,”said Tuma, who skates at a park at least a few days a week. “Probably half of the members here are adults, so since the park opened, we’ve needed these lights to do our thing.”
The two-year wait was due primarily to locating the finances. The lights were paid for by the city, and once the budget allowed for their installation, the city planted them within months.
“I heard that private investors wanted to install lights before the park even opened,” said Tuma, who suspects the city was trying to see if the park was worth the money before they invested in the lights.
But over the years, the park has far exceeded expectations, especially in terms of its high enrollment and popularity among Santa Monica skaters.
“I understand why that was an issue, and now I’m just waiting for a water fountain and sound system,” said a smiling Tuma.
The park’s new hours are from noon to 10 p.m. on the weekdays and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
New bike-only sessions are also affected. Now bikers can enjoy the park on Thursdays from 3:20 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6:20 p.m.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 8, 2007. Read the original PDF.