The only skate park in the city of Escondido is in danger of closing down and the reason is a familiar one.
Money.
The skate park loses more than $100,000 annually. Now the city is looking for ways to keep it open.
The skate park is part of a terrific recreational complex within Kit Carson Park. It gets plenty of use, but it's costing the city too much money to operate.
The city of Escondido is looking to close a projected $2.9 million city deficit.
The recreation budget is getting a lot of attention, especially those programs that can’t pay for themselves like city pools, pre-school programs and the skate park.
This park is unique and popular because it allows bikers to use the ramps and because patrons pay a fee, activity here is supervised.
Unfortunately, the skate park costs more than $215,000 to operate, but only brought in slightly more than $100,000.
The city is looking for options, like potentially raising costs. But to break even, the $5 fee that skaters pay now would have to more than double.
Recreation department officials say they will be at the park to talk to skaters and their parents to see if they would be willing to pay more. They will report their findings to the city council in late April and the council will then decide the fate of the skate park.
