Coos Bay Parks Commission to review neighborhood comments as skate park reopening plan advances

Tristan Reeser, a resident of Hughes Bay, asked the City of Coos Bay Parks Commission on May 15 about the status of the closed skate park and said he had not heard any recent updates.

Commission staff told Reeser they had sent a letter to the surrounding neighborhood at the commission’s request and that there is a deadline for written responses. Jennifer Wursing, staff standing in for Greg Hamlet, said the comments will be compiled and "gonna be on the agenda next time to talk about what comments we received and next steps." The commission agreed to review the responses at a work session before deciding on further action.

The commission and public speakers discussed a target of reopening the facility in time for National Go Skateboarding Day on June 21. Tristan Reeser and other volunteers offered to help with repairs; Reeser said the work mainly involves "cutting the uprights" and expected that the repair could be completed in a single day. Commissioner discussion acknowledged the possibility of a special meeting if needed and agreed to place the item on the next work-session agenda for review of neighborhood feedback.

Why it matters: The skate park serves local youth and community members who said they are using the adjacent tennis courts and other spaces while the park remains closed. Commissioners framed the next step as a public-input review rather than a final decision.

Commission direction and next steps: Staff will collect and present neighborhood comments at the commission work session, where commissioners will review the submissions and consider next steps for reopening and any safety work. Volunteer assistance has been offered and staff indicated no immediate material needs were expected for the initial repairs.

Commissioners emphasized that the work session is the next formal step and that any reopening date depends on the outcome of the comment review and any additional safety work identified.