Oct. 28, 2008 — Graffiti decorates Westwood Skate Park and Randy Buchanan, general manager of the Westwood Community Services District. Buchman says it is not to be tolerated. Buchanan said he will remove the ramps and rails from the third tennis court where the skate park has been constructed if acts of vandalism continue. The park is a wooden complex that includes a beginner’s half pipe, an intermediate half pipe, a wall ride, two roll-in ramps, two quarter pipes, a manual pad and a fun box.

Westwood Skate Park was closed for three days to send a message, said Buchanan.

His crew spent Monday, Oct. 20, painting the backboard of the skateboard park to cover the graffiti. The vandalism took place Thursday, Oct. 16.

Buchanan said he wasn’t sure if those responsible thought the graffiti was a big deal because they could perceive that it is the way skate parks look. However Westwood Park is for everyone in the community not just skateboarders so graffiti is not acceptable, he added. The graffiti faced the tennis courts and could be seen from Greenwood Street.

Construction on the skate park began after the Fourth of July holiday and was finished in September. While the WCSD had considered building a skateboard park it did not take action until approached at the April WCSD meeting by Lynsey Hinze-Buff, a student at Westwood High. She presented a case for a skateboard park to the board of directors.

According to Hinze-Buff she got the idea to push for a skateboard park from a school essay assignment that addressed the topic: “What would you like to see changed in Westwood?”

Usually by this time of year Westwood Park is deserted but this fall it is still being used because of the skate park, said Buchanan.