Community meeting set to discuss skate park's future

San Bernardino officials will meet with community members at 6 p.m. today at Speicher Park to discuss the future of Eastside Skate Park, which closed six weeks ago due to repeated vandalism.

Since the popular park’s sudden shuttering, city officials have met with local skateboarders to solicit input on what can be done to improve the place.

This week, park concept features were revealed, with skaters providing feedback on what they liked.

Those who frequented the 7th Ward skate park suggested removing all fencing around it.

Overall, the response was positive, city spokesman Jeff Kraus said.

Eastside Skate Park was locked without advance notice in March.

City workers then removed the wooden ramps and other features to which vandals had been setting fire.

About $650,000 in city funds have been dedicated to renovating the 7th Ward space. Kraus called the project “a high priority” for the Parks and Recreation Department.

Eastside Skate Park cost about $800,000 to build and opened in July 2010 to much fanfare.

Speicher Park is at 1535 Arden Ave. in San Bernardino.