City to Add Security Cameras, Higher Fence to Skate Park

Additional security features will be added to better police the Menifee skate park. Menifee 24/7 photo: Doug Spoon

The City of Menifee will spend $175,000 on security enhancements for the skate park at Audie Murphy Ranch Sports Park to address ongoing public safety and behavioral issues in and around the park.

The project was approved by the Menifee City Council on Wednesday, Aug. 19 as part of a five-year parks capital improvement plan. Total cost of the improvement project over five years is estimated at $30.25 million. The City Council approved additional expenditures of $712,800 to supplement current budgeted funds in the Community Services Department budget.

It is no secret that the skate park has been the subject of some concern since its opening in May of 2014. Menifee 24/7 has received several complaints of rules violations at the park, which does not have adult supervision -- including youths using bikes in the skate bowl and skating without helmets. Neighbors living in the area have complained of loud noise and signs of alcohol and drug use around the park and on surrounding streets.

City officials have acknowledged the concerns. The staff report presented to council members on Wednesday read, in part, "Public reception and use of the skate park at Audie Murphy Ranch Sports Park has been overwhelming. User traffic is heavy use on weekdays and weekends. Due to its popularity during its first year of operation, monitoring the activity at the skate park has become a larger challenge, particularly after hours. Many residents have complained about loud noise and illegal activities in the park after hours."

To address the issue, the park improvement plan includes the following security enhancements for the skate park, due to be installed and in use by March 2016:

-- A timer gate control that would lock out visitors after the closing time of 9 p.m.

-- Closed loop IP based video surveillance

-- Perimeter fence extensions

-- Motion sensored security lights with a loud speaker activated upon intrusion

According to Robert Lennox, community services director, an iron fence up to 8 feet tall with "shepherd hook" peaks is being considered for the fence extension. The staff report also states that "staff is researching ideas for supervising the park with employees or a contract operator if possible," but Lennox said he hopes the approved security features will be sufficient to address the problem.

"We feel it's better to use a measured approach," he said. "As soon as you say the park is personally supervised, you get into different liability issues."

Lennox said a state code provides protection to cities regarding liability when a skate park is provided with rules posted or with security cameras for supervision. As soon as an on-site supervisor is stationed there, the city takes on more liability and thus more potential cost, he said.

Lack of parking in the area has also become a problem. There is limited parking along the curb on Newport Road and the parking lot for the sports park is located at the back of the park, far from the skate park. Skate park users often park on side streets behind the park and walk in through side entrances.

Do you believe these security features will solve the problems at the Menifee skate park? Cast your vote in Menifee 24/7 Reader Poll 40 here.

Then return as often as you like to view updated results here.