Save Channel St Skatepark

I am Brandon Meyers and I'm a volunteer for the San Pedro Skatepark Association. I'm starting this account in hopes to raise money for permits, insurance, maintenance and repair of the Channel St Skatepark.

Channel St Skatepark was built in 2002 as two little bumps in a park and ride under the 110 Fwy. Before volunteers from the SPxSA decided to buid down there it was a region of San Pedro looked at as nothing. Homeless were all that occupied the area, and it was a place for bad people to do bad things. The volunteers had to deal with that for awhile while they were building down there. Those two bumps turned into a bowl and the area that was once looked at as nothing now became a place for kids (like myself) and skateboarding. 

Throughout the years the skatepark gained more and more volunteers, and brought skaters from all around to want to skate and help out down there. It created a community and a family. Every piece of the skatepark is built by someone working for no money, but on their own free will to help any way that they can and to skate afterwards. There are a lot of people that care about this place. 

Recently Cal Trans and POLA started construction on the 110 Fwy right above the skatepark, which then led to the skatepark being closed for 1 year. The SPxSA and every skater that skates down here respected the workers and the rules that were set, which stated that no one was allowed in the park and ride or the skatepark. They told us the park would be unharmed although they did minor damage. They told us we would have our skatepark back in a year and now we recieved an email stating we have to pay for numerous permits, liability insurance, and possibly rental costs for the property to be able to come back to OUR skatepark. In a way i feel we were led away from our home with lies and now that we are gone they are trying to take our home away. The San Pedro Magazine did a report on the skatepark in early 2012 with the headline "From Renegade, To Legit". Now we went from being "legit" to needing permits which I dont think is right.  I really think POLA needs to reconsider their decision to charge us to skate. 

So if you can help out anyway you can, it will be greatly appreciated. This skatepark is there for more than just the skaters that skate there today but for the next generation of skateboarders. This place is our Home , help us save it please. 

                                                                              - SPxSA