> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Skaters say new park is in the dark - URL: https://www.smdp.com/skaters-say-new-park-is-in-the-dark/ - Published: 2005-11-16T16:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T08:10:26.000Z - Author: Ryan Hyatt - Tags: Community, Santa Monica, #archive-import *Skaters: Cove needs to lighten up* MEMORIAL PARK — Santa Monicans say they are stoked about the city’s new skatepark, if only they could use it more. Some residents are frustrated because the Cove skatepark — which cost more than $550,000 to design and build — is only open for two hours on weekdays. Due to the skatepark’s popularity, users say they often have to wait in a long line only to be told they must leave once they’re inside. “I’d say the pro is that we have a skatepark in Santa Monica, but the con is definitely the hours,” said Bart Saric, a 30-year Santa Monica resident and skating film-maker. “The hours don’t cater to anybody — neither the school kids, nor the adults who are just getting out from work to use it.” The Cove skatepark opened at Memorial Park in June. It’s located near the corner of 14th Street and Olympic Boulevard and offers both skating and biking. In July, the skatepark was open every day of the month from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. This time was broken into three sessions, with 15-minute breaks in between each during which the park was closed. Now that school is in session, the hours have changed. The skatepark is currently open from about 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. on weekdays, with longer hours on weekends. Because the skatepark lacks lighting, users can only bike or skate until the sun goes down. Meanwhile, other Santa Monica parks have well-lit softball, basketball and tennis courts, many of which are open until well after dark, parkgoers said. “They let baseball players be baseball players until 10 o’clock at night, why not let skaters be skaters?” Saric said. “If Santa Monica wants to keep the young out of trouble, what better way than to turn the lights on and let them skate until later?” City Hall officials say they understand the skaters’ frustrations, but there’s nothing they can do until the City Council steps in. Kathy LePrevost, community programs manager, said City Hall has budgeted to staff the skatepark on a limited basis that won’t allow for extended hours. Until there’s staffing available to extend the hours, City Hall won’t be adding any lighting, she said. “The skatepark’s budget is issued through the council,” LePrevost said. “We will be able to add lighting if the money comes, but we don’t want to put in lights without having money to (increase staffing).” LePrevost said the Cove has the capacity to handle 66 occupants at a time. When the park is open, there is one staff member and one park ranger on hand to operate it. Skaters have to be 6 or older to use the park. They also must register with the city, obtain an identification card, sign a waiver and pay for a membership or day pass. A day pass for resident youths age 18 and younger costs $3\. Adults pay $5 per day. Also available are quarterly passes, which are good for three months and cost $20 for resident youths and $35 for adults. The facility was designed and built by Wally Hollyday and California Skateparks for $550,000\. The group is known for the skating facilities it has produced in Fontana and Lakewood, Calif., and Nashville, Tenn. Designers said the Cove is the result of an extensive skatepark survey and included input from skaters and bikers of all ages. Saric said there are hundreds of skateparks in California, many of which have lighting, don’t charge and, aside from requiring helmets and padding, have few restrictions on use. Saric said if a hall of fame for skating were ever erected, there would be several representatives from Santa Monica, since many residents in the ’70s and ’80s did much to contribute to the blossoming sport. However, Saric said that with the limited hours of operation and fees for use currently in place at the Cove, skaters coming to the park won’t get the impression that Santa Monica is a city that respects the sport. “If you restrict the skatepark’s use, you’re not going to get the type of people that would normally come here and make it an institution,” Saric said. “They’re going to go somewhere else.” City Councilman Ken Genser said he has not heard complaints from residents regarding their limited access to the skatepark. However, he said if the demand is appropriate, he would explore the option of providing more funding for extended hours. “No one has contacted me about it, but if the park is well used and popular, I’d be willing to look into it and see what it would take to make (extended hours) happen,” Genser said. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/111605-01_01.jpg) (Photo: Fabian Lewkowicz/Daily Press) *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 16, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/111605.pdf?ref=smdp.com)