Deal for Temporary Skate Park Nearly Done, Official Says

 Director Bob Stallings told Malibu Patch Tuesday that he was hopeful an agreement could be finalized with property owner Richard Ackerman "in the next few days" to place a temporary skate park at . 

Ackerman owns the 24-acre Crummer site, which is located next to Bluffs Park. The city has been negotiating with his representative, Robert Gold, to use a portion of the property for parking to offset the spaces that would be lost at Bluffs Park with the placement of a skate park.

Stallings said the latest version of the agreement was being reviewed by Gold and Ackerman's attorneys. If an agreement is reached, the skate park could be in place within 30 to 45 days later, Stallings said.

The materials from Papa Jack's Skate Park, , would be used for the new facility. They are being stored near . The costs for the move and facility set up are expected to be covered by the city (up to $10,000) and Steve Soboroff ($25,000), owner of the property at the corner of Civic Center Way and Cross Creek Road where Papa Jack's was located.

The city had rented the Papa Jack’s site for several years from Soboroff and previous property owners for $1 per year. Soboroff closed the skate park because he did not want it to interfere with the environmental review for the Whole Foods proposed for the land.

Bluffs Park could be the site of a permanent skate park. Several well-attended skate park committee meetings have taken place recently to discuss this issue. The co-chairs of the committee are members Pamela Conley Ulich and Jefferson "Zuma Jay" Wagner. There are other properties also being considered for a permanent site, including the parking lot.

Stallings, Wagner, Conley Ulich and others say the city could use $1 million set aside for the enhancement of the Michael Landon Center at Bluffs Park to build a permanent skate park. A group of activists led by La Costa resident Chris Hanson has been raising money for the effort as well. at Duke's took in approximately $5,000, Hanson said. Donations are also being collected at the new website www.malibuskatepark.com.

The skate park issue is not on the agenda for Monday's City Council meeting, but activists are expected to address the council during public comment to give advice on immediate steps they would like to see taken to get the process moving.