Skateboarders in one California city sent a clear message to their local government after it attempted to block their recreational activities amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Skaters in the city of San Clemente were undaunted by the extreme measures taken to keep them out of a local park designed for skateboarding. Days after the city literally dumped 37 tons of sand on a local skatepark, skaters came armed with tools to dig out and were soon back to using the space again.
(Source: KUSI-TV)
San Clemente officials decided to turn the skate park into a sandbox after “no trespassing” signs were allegedly being ignored, according to KUSI-TV. Despite parks in California being shut down since April 1 amid coronavirus lockdowns and restrictions, the park was still being frequented by people.
The city determined it would amp up efforts to enforce the social distancing rules with the extreme move which had recently been used in other cities, such as Venice where the city filed in a skate park and got the attention of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.
Clearly, the greatest public- heath threat imaginable…a kid on a skateboard. Young people, remember, this is what Big-government statist Democrats do—they take away your freedom. https://t.co/VBCmnZRvfC
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) April 19, 2020
The city flexed its muscle and brought in 37 tons of sand to dump on the park, naturally at taxpayers’ expense. The aggressive move only ended up creating a new attraction for dirt bike riders and also upset a nonprofit coalition of local families.
The San Clemente Skatepark Coalition had raised $50,000 to light the park and was not notified about the sand dump, according to KCAL-TV.
“We have a pretty far reach with the skate community, we would have been happy to spread the message,” the nonprofit’s president, Stephanie Aguilar, said. “But there was no warning or anything.”
City officials claimed there was no cost for dumping the sand and clearing it would also have been cost-free, according to KUSI-TV.
Motocross videographer Connor Ericsson thought the move was “a big joke.”
“These kids are cooped up inside their houses,” he told KUSI’s Kacey McKinnon, noting they need to get out and “have some fun.” He explained how the dirt bike riders helped the skaters get back to some “social shredding” by clearing out the sand. Ericsson posted an Instagram post Sunday showing the efforts.
“Took advantage of all the sand the city dumped into the San Clemente skatepark then helped some local skaters dig it all out so they could do some social shredding,” read the caption.
Armed with shovels and buckets, determined skaters actually cleared away the sand and the skate park became usable once again.
“LOOOL checkmate government dweebs … Turning skatepark into a dirt bike track now,” one Twitter user who re-posted the video commented.
“We’ve been coming here for fifteen years and now the city officials have taken the one thing we love to do, away,” Steve Haring, a San Clemente native, told KUSI before the sand was cleared. “This is our home and this is where we exercise. We’re able to social distance while also seeing our friends.”
Hundreds of protesters had gathered Sunday in downtown San Clemente to protest ongoing stay-at-home orders due to the COVID-19 crisis. Holding American flags and signs declaring “No Liberty, No Life, Re-open California,” the demonstrators – mostly without masks – joined the rally to protest the government’s shutdown of the state.
Meanwhile, Twitter users cheered on the resourcefulness of the San Clemente skateboarders.
21st century version of the Boston Tea Party!
— Janeil Glazier (@janeilg) April 20, 2020
My heart broke when I saw them fill it in, that was too effin far. Good for them, I’m super proud they did this.
— 𝕁𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕖𝕝𝕪𝕟 💋👠❣️ (@ItsJesselyn) April 20, 2020
They are hero’s as far as this goes .
— Fred (@WestripFred) April 20, 2020
Awesome!!! Well done you guys. If I lived nearby, i’d be out there helping out. 👍👍
— Trevor 🇺🇸 (@SoCal4Trump) April 20, 2020
It’s the fact social distancing can happen and be enforced at these places without nonsense like dumping sand …
— Ben Greutman (@BGreuty) April 20, 2020
Kids learning about government over-reach and not liking it. 👍🏻 🇺🇸
— AusTexican (@AusTexican) April 20, 2020
I’m glad they’re making lemonade. It was dirty to put sand there.
— Paula Dene Burkhart (@pauladene71) April 20, 2020
If they opened the polls today, the same people doing the shoveling would go vote for the Democrats and wonder why the skate park was filled in again when they came back.
— Earl (@Earl22200256) April 21, 2020
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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