The Skatepark Committee will meet at the Orcas Island School Library on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 5 p.m.
The committee was formed to address outstanding maintenance, financial, legal and safety issues at the Orcas Island Skate Park within Buck Park on Mt. Baker Road.
At a meeting called by the Orcas Island School District (OISD) and the Orcas Island Prevention Partnership (OIPP) last November, a crowd packed the library to discuss the issues with members of the school board, OIPP the Skate Park Foundation, PTSA, the Funhouse, Camp Orkila staff as well as skaters, students and parents.
Parent Debbie Shaw stepped forward to chair a committee to seek positive solutions for “a community asset” created in partnership with the school district and the Skate Board Foundation, which hold funds for maintenance of the park at a rate of $5,000 per year.
Options such as user maintenance, user fees, and skatepark rental for use by off-island skaters and competitors were discussed. Warren Miller, one of the original founders of the skatepark reminded the group that the park had been built for the free use by Orcas Islands, saying, “It’s all about freedom, there’s no score here — in a skateboard park every kid wins.”
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