I think it goes without saying it should be supervised. Kids here in town don't have enough places to go as it is, closing it down isn't the answer. I hope the parents of those mini-thugs will be held accountable where it hurts most...in the pocketbook. And I hope we don't hear anything about the perpetrators as "victims" themselves. 

I don't think it should be closed down. I wonder how much security cameras would cost. It seems like it would be cheaper than hiring a person there to supervise in the long run.

well considering that how long has this park been open? and how many instances have there been attacks? yes it stinks that a couple hoodlums will do this but it doesn't give it the right to be shut down for the other thousands of kids that visit this park to not have a place to go. Ive known some skaters in the pass and in fact i used to skate when i was young, but taking away a place to hang out with your friends shouldn't be the answer, tehachapi was notorious at that in the 90's. the pool hall, the arcade to name a few. but we can either supervise it or just send the occasional police by. the negative is always overshadowing the positive.

Yaso, sounds good, having it 'patrolled?' Although, those concerned, might not go for such a simple solution.

I think it should be supervised as parents won't teach their kids how to behave nowdays.  Security cameras would not work as you would need someone to watch the tapes all the time.  I took the kids there once when it first opened and my kids got a less than welcome reception.  I think if I had not been there they would have been roughed up.  Any community area that attracts kids needs supervision--this is why we need a Boys and Girls Club. 

Gee, I wonder how much all the local developers donated to help all the kids they attracted to live here.  Oh wait--the Tehachapi City Council let them build without requiring playgrounds or community centers.  So much for city planning!  Let's spend $1,000,000 on a fire station that can't be used....think of the community center that could have built!

It's not just the cost of a full-time employee that deters parks and rec from monitoring the skate park, it's the cost of increased liability they're avoiding. Posting rules and safety disclaimers gets them off the hook for upgraded legal requirements. Supervision is basically admitting liability.    

http://www.tehachapinews.co...

i remember not having a place to skate so we hopped the fence at golden hills school and shredded there, or in front of old town market. I'm glad they have a place now but even if it was closed down people with just go to random places an we will see another blog on why do hoodlums hang out in front of Denny's with them thar boards with silly wheels attached to them. its always been a reoccurring issue, and it changes with each generation.

sushi--supervising the skate parke does not admit liability.  The area attracts kids, some who ride, others that don't, and any area where alot of kids hang out need supervision.  This incident didn't involve the actual skaters/bikers but what went on near the skatepark.  kids + no supervision = trouble 

That's probably what happened to our friend Trouble!

I agree with Yasobich.  I spent many a days at the pool hall when it was there. The owner himself taught me how to play pool  and my older sisters friends worked there. It was great at first, but then it became a hang out. Kids started breaking into the arcade games and robbing the owner. Cars in the back parking lot were getting broken into and things were being stolen, and this was back in Tehachapi's mild days.

 Kids are always going to want a place to "meet up" with friends and parents are always going to look for an easy way to "drop off" their kids. I worked at the Whiting Center for several years. That place was a safe haven for many kids. The school bus would come directly to the center and drop off kids and those kids would be there everyday until their parents got off work. We also had our regulars on the weekends. We were in essence a babysitting service. Now can you imagine something like that here in town? It would be insane! Parents look at places like that as free daycare and babysitting.

Sushisoo- Exactly!

I know first hand what its like to be picked on. The child that was attacked was attacked because he was different then the two bullies that attacked him. It is my understanding that the two bullies where two black kids that lived in the section 8 housing across the street from the park. I am concerned that with more section 8 housing on the horizon that more of this type of violence will be the norm. Section 8 housing and crime go hand in hand.  If I had children I would not let them play at the skate park unattended.

wow that opens up a new can of beans there :)

Yep Rainbowman, bigger problems are to come to Teh when sec 8 arrives...the City Council will probably not require them to put in a playground or hangout area for the teens.

I don't want to be a snob but this is one of the reasons we bought in BVS.  Not that there is not problems there but it seems to be a milder group of kids.  And the Whiting Center has supervision (babysitting) but my kids don't go there much.

Mom, I'm sorry to contradict you but with reference to the skate park, supervision does = additional liability:

Under the California Health and Safety Code, Senate Bill 994, specifically addresses the issue of liability for public skateboard parks, noting that signage posting helmet rules and noting the absence of supervision releases municipalities from liability. Especially when combined with local ordinances adopting the same requirements and also declaring the approved activities hazardous. SB 994 also requires local public agencies to maintain a record of all known or reported injuries incurred by skateboarders in a public skateboard park or facility.
 

They don't need to directly supervise the skate park, just the area around and outside of it!

My first reaction is to have the 2 boys tried and convicted as adults but what would that do but to teach them how to be better criminals. Supervision is good but you cant watch them 24/7 and kids will still find ways to seek out and pick on other kids if they are inclined to think that way. I don't know if they attacked the 13 year old because he was mentally disabled or it was just a kid who happened to be alone, no matter the reason, I think the kids need to be held accountable for the pain they caused that young man. Since we are dealing with minors the laws can get tricky but maybe they should have to do community service at a burn ward or work with disabled people for a period of time, maybe then they would learn a lesson on tolerance for others and think before they hurt someone again.

I don't know all the answers but this story really bothered me, I couldn't ever imagine my son doing something like that to another kid. I came home and told my son about the story and what he thought about it and hes reaction was angry like mine and he thinks those boys are jerks.