Posted on: Monday, April 29, 2002
Mililani skate park draws trespassers after closing time
By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Central O'ahu Writer
MILILANI — The city's new skate park in Mililani has become a hot attraction for skateboarders. The problem is some of them are coming by at the wrong time of day.
The 10,000-square-foot facility at Mililani District Park, which opened in February, has already been vandalized late at night. And nearby residents have complained of noise from midnight to three in the morning.
Wahiawa police said trespassers are reportedly scaling the chain-link fencing to access the facility while it's closed from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Beer cans have been found there and at nearby Hokuahiahi Street.
Mililani Neighborhood Board members at last week's meeting expressed not only concern over the noise and vandalism but of safety and liability issues if an accident occurs at the site after hours. Liability concerns have already been raised over O'ahu's skate parks, with City Councilman Romy Cachola urging the city to hold off on building any more because of the risk of being sued over injuries.
Police Sgt. Joseph Dowson of the Wahiawa station told the Mililani Neighborhood Board that patrolling officers may confiscate skateboards from any trespassers who get caught to discourage loitering after hours.
"If we do that, the parents would have to go to court to get the skateboards back," said Dowson, who said several citations have already been issued to adults violating the park closure. "It's a popular skate park; we've got people from all over the island coming here to ride."
Craig Mayeda, city parks department administrator for parks maintenance and recreation services, said the Mililani facility designed for non-beginning skateboarders may be drawing riders out to the area. Mayeda added that someone recently cut the lock to the gate entrance to get in.
The neighborhood board asked Mayeda whether on-site monitors could be assigned during the day, but he responded that the department doesn't have the money to pay them. At the same time, police acknowledge the skate park has kept more skateboarders off the streets and out of shopping center parking lots.
"There's also been less graffiti at certain places around the community since (it) opened," said police Lt. John Matassa.
Sixteen-year-old Justin Amorin, who skated at the park for the first time last week, understood the liability issue and hopes the late-night trespassers don't ruin it for everyone else.
"If somebody gets hurt at night, I hope it doesn't mean they'll shut the place down," Amorin said.
