Let me get this right. "We do everything we can to encourage kids to wear the protective gear" and "we do not have city employees at the park enforcing the rules" per Gail Ortiz.

Seems to me that doing everything to encourage kids to wear protective gear would mean you have a city Parks person there to enforce the requirements under law, not simply ignore the issue because you get a legal pass.

I would think it would be required everyone have a helmet, elbow and knee pads, not just minors. You lead by example, and if the adults are not doing it, how can you expect a 12 year old to? I think the City should have a Parks and Rec Staff or Volunteer there, and if you enter, you must have the items on. Why age limit it in a place where the minors are the majority?

I think what they mean is that because it is the law that all persons under 18 wear a helmet when out of their yard on wheels (scooter, bike, skate board)that they did not feel the need to stand someone at the gate reminding everyone what is already state (county?) law. It would be like standing some on on the corner of Valencia and McBean to remind all drivers a red light means they have to stop.

I do lead by example, and always wear my helmet when my kids and ride our bikes somewhere. Even it means I have helmet hair when we arrive. I would say at least 70% of the families we see out on the paseos and bike trails adults are not wearing helmets and 20% of the time kids are not either. Or if they are the kids helmet straps are so loose they are flapping against their chest. That's not going to protect anyone if they crash.

Right now on facebook one of the most popular pictures being shared is one of a kid flying high in the air after launching on his Big Wheel from a high ramp. The caption reading something to the effect of "The 1970's no helmets, no pads, just fun." People seem to hold a grudge against laws designed to protect them and their families. Especially if it is different than what they had in their childhood.

I think it's going to take parents being saddled with huge fines when their kids aren't wearing protective gear before I stop seeing great numbers of kids out with no helmets on the bike trails.

I hope this kid in the article is going to be okay I'd like to see an update from the paper when they can get the info.

The article last weekend reported that the boy was airlifted to a 'local hospital.' This one says ground ambulance. What am I missing?

http://www.the-signal.com/section/36/article/58540/

How did any of us ever survive childhood without helmuts and knee pads?

“The rule is that anything with wheels anywhere outside your backyard, you need to wear a helmet if you’re a minor,” said Botton.

So even if a minor is driving a car or riding in one they have to wear a helmet? How embarrassing, good thing i'm already 18!

The skate park needs supervision. It has become a scene of drinking/ smoking (all while skating or riding!) and I'm surprised a more severe accident hasn't occurred before this. The # of riders without protective gear is astounding. True, there are some there who are prepared and ride safely, but the numbers I see who are definitely under 18yrs old- not a place I even take my 11yr old to most hours.

I am guessing someone from our illustrious city council (NOT!) had a knee jerk reaction to this, and fearing liability made some phone calls to the Sheriff's station captain requesting deputies spend several weeks there enforcing the rules. Just my guess of course, but in any case I think it's a huge waste of time and money for deputy sheriff's to be policing kids for helmets at a skate park. Shouldn't this be the parent's responsibility?

I wonder IF the city has an employee at the skate park to monitor activity, will the city then be held liable for accidents? Is this one of the reasons why the city has not had someone there to make sure all the laws are followed?

This is a "City" sponsored event. The city should accept responsibility for enforcing the rules, or accept liability for any actions that could happen. Public pools have lifeguards who enforce the rules. Any dangerous actions in the pool would lead to that individual being removed from the pool. In the skatepark case, any individual not following the rules should be removed. It is curious that the Signal pictures show, kids under 18 ignoring the rules. This is after the "CITY" stress the safety issue.

Before "awsome-town" shuts down the park. Realize that the city cannot take responsibilty and should assume parenting duties. Why should the city be liable? Should they feed and bath your kids too? If you want your child to be safe at the park, THEN STAY AND WATCH THEM! The park is not a baby sitter!
This is the same reason why there is nothing for teens to do in our valley, lawsuits, blaming the city for something parents should enforce.
Not to mention California was without public skate parks for years because of lawsuits filed by irresponsible parents and lawyers.

Saturday and Sunday mornings, from 8-10, only kids 12 and under can use the skatepark, and helmet and pads are required. During those times, the person in the office strictly enforces the helmet and pads rule and walks the skatepark to enforce the rules. Unfortunately, at 10:00, the office is closed and we leave because it just gets too crazy.

Unbelievable. If you want your kid to wear a helmet, then why don't YOU stand there and make sure they wear it? Short of that, a civilian employee "rule enforcer" would be MUCH better than sending the cops.

@ SCV4ALL - sorry, but it's my pet peeve when people say there's nothing for kids to do. I've heard kids that live across the street from the beach in Malibu say there's nothing to do, kids in the mountains say it, they say it no matter where they live. What exactly is it you want them to do that they can't here? They have great paseos to ride bikes and skate on, beautiful trails in Placerita and Towsley to hike on, movies to go to, books to read and parks to play in. I grew up here and I actually did all the things I just mentioned, and we didn't even have a mall here back then! This constant need to overstimulate kids with toys, video games, etc. instead of them learning to entertain themselves in a positive fashion is ridiculous.

@ chefgirl358 - were in in band or choir? Books, hiking - kids are a bit more adventurous these days. They dont go cow tipping either.
Its people like you, who wish our kids would read a book or ride a bike on the paseos, who then say "I dont know why my child turned to drugs"
The BMX track was nice (closed), and about the only things worth while are too expensive on a daily basis- paintball, ice skating, ect.

The true point is that life is dangerous. Swimming, biking, hiking, skating etc can all lead to injury or death. The problem is that too many people and too many lawyers want to make someone else accountable for their accidents and mistakes. People don't need laws or supervision to protect them from themselves. How long will it be before each of us need a government agency to carry out our lives for us. If you are that worried about minors, make the parents responsible, not the local, state or federal government. Freedom means that you are not only free to do what you want, but also to take responsibility for whatever benefit or misfortune may occur.

No I wasn't some great wholesome kid, nor did I paint mayself as such and your snide comments about cow tipping, band and choir are unnecessary to say the least. The point is, kids shouldn't need constant stimulation to keep from getting into trouble and here's a newsflash, plenty of kids that are active in all of the things you listed...USE DRUGS! You seem conflicted by saying there's nothing for the kids to do, then saying you just can't afford some of those things. If you think many of the kids at that skate park aren't on drugs, you're nuts, I know for a fact that some of them are.

It is unfortunate that this happened, but I do think that we have become an almost hysterically safety obsessed society. Can't let the kids outside to play by themselves or walk to school unattended! They might get kidnapped! Sure, stranger abductions have been declining for years, but who cares about the facts? Don't even think about leaving your sleeping toddler in the car at the curb while you run something up to your neighbor's door 20 feet away! You could end up with DCFS at your door. Let your 10 year old and 8 year old walk to the park a block away to play? ARE YOU NUTS?! They need you there to monitor their every move! Let kids have fun at the skate park without constant supervision and helicopter safety policing? They might refuse to wear cumbersome safety equipment and get a booboo!

It's ridiculous. By 7 years old, I walked to my best friend's house 2 blocks away, walked to school 4 blocks away, went sledding (without an adult or a helmet), skating (no pads/helmet), biking (no helmet), and by 12 was skateboarding without a helmet as well. Sure, I got some bumps and bruises, busted my jaw (In two places = Winning!) and broke my nose during all of my adventures, but damn did I have fun!! I survived and I learned independence and perseverance, too. Thanks, Mom and Dad for letting me be a kid and not protecting me to death!

Kids need things more adventuous than hiking Towsley or Placerita, and the only things worth while cost $$?

Have to say I disagree. My two are younger than 12, and while we enjoy some of the pay to play places around town, and I don't want to dismiss those places. My kids in no way prefer indoor ice skating or glow in the dark mini golf to a bike ride, practising hoops at the park or learning something new a Placerita Canyon nature center. All of which are free, they cost me nothing but my time.

@ 3DMOM - You are so right! I probably never would've worn any of that protective gear as a kid that kids are supposed to wear now, we didn't have to back then. Nowadays, kids have so little freedom compared to what I had 25 years ago. You could get your driver's license without crazy restrictions, get in a fist fight at school without being expelled for bullying or whatever, etc. etc. I know all these regulations make everything "safer" but I think much of it hinders kids from life lessons. We over-regulate everything nowadays.

@ momtwice - I second what you said. I felt that the other poster was implying that those activities (hiking, biking on paseos, reading a book, etc) were for nerds or that kids who engage in those activities end up bored or on drugs...if that's what was meant by the comments that were posted, I disagree vehemently. If anyone were to hike the 5 mile loop at Towsley I think they'd be amazed at the range of ages and types of people they would see, a little bit of everything I think. I don't think kids find that stuff too tame if they are encouraged to do them from a young age and learn to appreciate nature and outdoor activities. Kids emulate what they see so if the parents aren't into that stuff, it's unreasonable to hope the kids will be on their own.

Exactly chefgirl358. I love art museums, I have this list of free museum days taped to the wall next to my kitchen calendar and we go, often. ( http://www.getty.edu/visit/la_museum_free_days.pdf ) I know so many people that don't get it my kids like going with me to art museums. But it's one of their favorite things to do! My 8 year old can pick apart the detail in an impressionist painting like no body's business. If that makes him a geek, so be it. The adults I know that don't enjoy museums come from families that hardly ever went when they were kids.

Last week the city hosted a Culture Night for families at the Newhall community center. I wasn't all that entertained but my kids? I had to drag them out of there so I could make a meeting I had later that night. I mean after being there for 90 minutes they were literally crying and whining that they wanted to see more dances from other countries and could we please stay longer?

I've heard the phrase before that only boring people get bored. Well I think we must be a very interesting family. Because no "I'm bored" complaints have ever been heard in this house. From the kids or the adults.

Again I hope we hear and update about this 12 year old boy who was hurt. Hope he's healing quickly.

@ momtwice - YAY! I have the same free museum list, they're all free this coming weekend... www.museumsla.org! My family had very little extra money when I was growing up but I never felt left out and in fact was much more culturally enriched than most of my friends who had better financial means than I. I love that stuff you mentioned and my mom used to take me to the Getty when I was a kid, the library weekly (because I devoured all my books), arboretums, the beach, and helping my folks prepare dinner, etc. My online name (chefgirl) was an accidental passion that was born after helping my parents cook for years and years, and my aunts and uncles are all great cooks because they helped my grandma and great grandma to cook and farm. Life is what you make of it, and while I don't mean to sound like some Pollyanna type, the cliche rings true. You can choose to be bored or to make your own fun. Also, as a kid I complained ONCE that I was bored...omg, I can still hear my dad's voice..."I'll give you something to do...I wish I could be bored but I don't have time, I have to work, etc. etc." lol.

Dont over regulate the skatepark, it's unnecessary. If you want to regulate helmets and pads for minors, then fine, that makes sense. But forcing adults to wear these things simply to set an example is absurd. Personally I wear pads and a helmet when it is necessary. Say skating the big bowl. But most of the time I spend at the park I skate the foot and a half tall quarter pipe, where it is literally impossible to actually use a helmet of pads to protect you, because it is safer to skate that than it is walking down the sidewalk. Dont unnecessarily over regulate the park, you will do nothing but cause turmoil and maybe even resentment for the city and the enforcers of the rules.

I sure hope SCV4ALL isnt a parent. What kind of an adult would criticize someone and their comment and refer to them as being in the band or choir. Is the band and choir not good enough for you. SCV4ALL keep up the good work of spreading the message to bully those in band or choir or any other activity you feel isnt cool enough.

Wow, SCV4ALL seems to be on some kind of trip about choir and band. What, not going to include ROTC? That would round out the whole "nerd" triquetra. I got news, at least the kids in those groups are doing something to enrich themselves and explore their talents. Who knows? It may even give them something to be passionate about to develop a sense of direction and purpose. There are plenty of things to do in this valley. Unfortunately, today's teens seem to prefer electronic forms of over-stimulative entertainment, probably because their over-protective helicopter parents popped them in front of the boob tube rather than taking them hiking and teaching them to appreciate the simpler things.

It really is a good idea for the police to patrol there more often. I'm a mom who takes many kids there to have fun, WITH HELMUTS, BUT I see and SMELL the kids doing marijuana in the bathrooms all the time!!! That's not my job to patrol this, but to keep my son safe. I am to the point that I'm not sure if I should return there, actually. There is nothing wrong with enforcing rules. That's life, get over it!!