Police and skateboarders may not always be allies, but they may actually be in agreement about keeping vandals out of Hanford's lone skate park.

To fight ongoing vandalism, Hanford Police Chief Carlos Mestas has announced a plan to install a security camera at the graffiti-infested facility on a trial basis.

And local skaters' reaction on Friday: Why not?

"That will be a good idea," said Steve Pust, a 30-year-old skater, as younger nearby skaters agreed.

"If we could catch somebody doing it, it wouldn't happen," Pust said, pointing to the wall and ramps covered with graffiti. "There's a couple of people outside of our clique who ruin it for the rest of us."

Last week, Mestas, along with acting city recreation director Mickey Stoddard, updated the city council on the state of the skate park.

It's been five months since the police began locking down the park after dark.

Shoes hanging from the utility wires, graffiti, a phone booth without a phone, trash along the wall, a broken lamp pole were among the problems Mestas discussed while showing photos capturing the condition of the park.

"It looks like a ghetto," Mestas said.

With such issues persisting, Mestas now wants a bullet-proof, motion-triggered security camera at the park.

"We'll try it on a trial basis for 30 days," Mestas said. "If it works well, we'll come back with a recommendation."

Mestas also suggested retrofitting the fence with curved back edges to deter further trespassing. City Manager Alan Christensen said he would look into the budget and see if it is feasible.

Since it was first built in the mid 1990s, it's been a struggle for the city to keep the skate park clean and free of graffiti.

Back in January police called an emergency community meeting and told skaters that unless the situation improved, the park might get closed.

Problems do persist, but good things are happening at the park, says the acting recreation director.

A handful of skaters, as well as local skate shop owners, have since stepped forward to clean up the park, Stoddard said.

He said he met with five skaters last week to discuss what needs to be done to keep the skate park clean, and said he was encouraged by the young adults' commitment.

For example, a group of skaters were planning to have a cleaning day on Saturday.

"We talked about taking ownership," Stoddard said. "They want to make sure that younger skaters can skate safely ... I really think we're starting to move in a more positive direction. I want to continue to make sure that they have a voice as well and they are being heard."

Meanwhile, the youth and Stoddard are also talking about ways to prevent graffiti by starting a mural project on the wall as an outlet for expression.

On Friday, youth at the park suggested they wanted to see more trash cans, a grass-covered area and a bleacher as it once existed.

"I'm not proud of how it looks right now," said Joseph Chavez, a 15-year-old Hanford High School student. "But it's all we have, and it could be better."

But then, older skaters like Pust would remind Chavez and like-minded youth that they won't be able to enjoy the skate park as they want - let alone getting all that they asked for - until they start taking their responsibilities.

"It needs to stay open. There isn't a whole lot in this town. If it isn't here, there's nothing for us to do," Pust said. "Everybody needs to do their part to keep it open. It's also our responsibility."

(The reporter can be reached at 582-0471, ext. 3059.)

(May 21, 2007)