"Skateboarders won the approval of $23,000 to improve the skateboard area at Rengstorff Park"

Money to burn.

I would not call that money to burn! If the site is not well taken care of, someone will really get hurt. If the injury is due to neglect, imagine the lawsuit.

Plus, skateboarding is a legitimate use. The site is very well used in a mature way - there is not vandalism, fights, etc happening there. Let's keep it working well, so they don't need to ride elsewhere in the city - downtown, Steven's creek trail, etc.

I live in the Rengstorff Park neighborhood and am always happy to see the skateboarders in the park. It is a much better use of their energy and, yes, skills than most other things they could be doing. There are often a mix of ages and sizes and everyone gets along well. If $23K is all it will take to make it a safer and more up-to-date venue then that should be considered chump change.

And skateboarders comprise what percent of the population of taxpayers?

I'd like an ice-skating park built. Or maybe a place I could do steeple chase events on my horse.

I'd like a Rife & Pistol Range - somewhat more improved than the police range that used to exist in Shoreline Park. Nothing fancy just so you can maintain your skill set.

I think fees should be charged to use the skateboard park just as fees are applied to use the city pools and golf course. Out of towners could pay double. We could use the revenue stream to pay for city pensions.

I'd like a rifle and pistol range too. would be fun to improve the skill set.

I can think of a lot worse ways to spend city money than giving the kids of Mountain View something constructive to do. All city activities for kids should be free. Skateboarding, golf, pools, tennis, teen center, performances, etc. We've cut so much out of their school activities, we should at least provide something worthwhile to do in their free time. It'll certainly pay dividends in the long run.

Skateboarders comprise very little percentage of taxpaying populations, because the majority are kids. All the old people should respect/encourage skateboarding as a legitimate activity/sport/lifestyle. It keeps kids off drugs, out of gangs, and off of video games. This sliver of transplant corporate money should be used to subsidize skateparks' overall safety & maintenance. It's the least the 'taxpayers' can do for turning all flat land into a concrete waste.

I'm not against supporting kids activities. While I do agree all activities should be free for kids AND their supervising parents, I just think the City Council should set out a list of priorities for projects that benefit the most taxpayers, or alternatively youth, with an eye toward improving, not distracting, their potential for success in life.

The claim that if kids don't have skateboard parks, they'll turn to drugs and gangs is pretty ridiculous. If that's indeed the case, then a skateboard park is probably the last thing they need. And most are probably already on video games bought by their parents anyway.

How about the city staff and fund a state-of-the-art computer and science lab for these and other community kids? That would go a lot further in securing a bright and happy future for skateboarding-prone kids. Gee, that idea took all of 20 seconds to think up.

I'm not against supporting kids activities. While I do agree all activities should be free for kids AND their supervising parents, I just think the City Council should set out a list of priorities for projects that benefit the most taxpayers, or alternatively youth, with an eye toward improving, not distracting, their potential for success in life.

The claim that if kids don't have skateboard parks, they'll turn to drugs and gangs is pretty ridiculous. If that's indeed the case, then a skateboard park is probably the last thing they need. And most are probably already on video games bought by their parents anyway.

How about the city staff and fund a state-of-the-art computer and science lab for these and other community kids? That would go a lot further in securing a bright and happy future for skateboarding-prone kids. Gee, that idea took all of 20 seconds to think up.

What's all the stress about? The city just got millions from Google and HCP, ending all our desperate budget issues. Since the city is now rolling in the dough, let's spread some to every corner.
Sorry about the gun range, though...not politically viable. Maybe a nice statue of our wise and glorious leaders instead?