completed as early as this fall.
Officials said the proposed park reflects Santa Monica’s deep skateboard-ing roots.
“Thirty years ago skateboarding was popularized when skateboarders, in an area between Santa Monica and Venice historically known to skateboarders as ‘Dog Town,’ demonstrated their aggressive skating skills in pools, stairs, streets and on sidewalks,” reads a memo by city staffers to the City Council.
“The final design consists of in-ground concrete bowls and structures that will provide a flowing and challenging experience for skaters and bikers at all levels of expertise,” the memo continues. “The skate area is enclosed with decorative fencing and there will be a single point of entry for security and control. The storm-water runoff resulting from the impervious concrete surfaces will be reduced by the installation of new drywells that will percolate storm-water runoff into the groundwater basin.”
Also on tonight’s agenda is a three-year contract with a transportation company to provide Dial-A-Ride services, which consists of free transportation for disabled people and anyone over 60 years old throughout Santa Monica, seven days a week. Officials estimate that the contract will cost $1,603,008.
Another $358,207 is expected to be spent on roadwork being done on Fourth Street between Pico Boulevard and the southern city limit. Crews recently began construction on the curbs, sidewalks, medians and roadways on Fourth Street. They expect to complete the project this fall.
City Hall staffers have recommended spending another $451,691 on a three-year contract to provide Big Blue Bus advertisement posting services. They’ve also suggested $451,691 be spent on nine new gasoline-powered police cruisers and another $127,809 be spent on a tool and equipment truck.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 27, 2004. Read the original PDF.