At a neighborhood meeting held a couple of weeks ago, the consensus was quite clear. The residents don't want a skatepark in their neighborhood, the tennis players don't want to lose access to three of their six courts and the skateboarders wouldn't use the facility even if the town decided to go through with the plan.

Unfortunately, a few town officials were labeled the "bad guys" by even suggesting that such a proposal be discussed. Since when is it so bad to offer a suggestion, then open it up for public discussion? Since when it is so bad to listen to all sides in an issue, then make an informed decision? Since when is it so bad to try to do something to accommodate teenagers?

Because of the backlash, town officials have decided to drop the proposal—no big surprise. But to their credit, they are not dropping the concept of a skatepark for Los Gatos teens. While the Blossom Hill Park tennis courts may not be the best location for such a facility, that doesn't mean it's time to give up. Quite the contrary. Los Gatos teens deserve a skatepark as much as tennis players deserve courts and Little Leaguers deserve a baseball diamond.

So what's the next step? That seems simple enough—find another site. But that might not be as easy as it sounds. An ad hoc subcommittee has already scoured the town in search of a location for a skatepark, identified more than 20 possible sites, narrowed it down to three finalists and selected the tennis courts at Blossom Hill as the best choice. Now it's back to square one.

The town has returned to an original plan to work out a deal with the county to construct a permanent facility in Vasona Park. That plan, however, could take years to reach fruition. The time has come for the town to designate a place for a permanent facility and get it constructed.

So the subcommittee needs to head back to the drawing board, get input from the young people interested in using the park and come up with a new plan—soon. This has been going on far too long.


Don't forget to register

The campaign signs are planted on every street corner, the candidates are speaking out on the issues and voters are sizing up the field in order to make an informed decision on Election Day.

Don't be left out—be sure to register in time to vote in the Nov. 5 election.

Election Day is drawing near, but closer yet is the voter registration deadline. For those who have not yet registered for the 2002 election, the last day to apply is Oct. 21.

There are many ways to register. Forms are available at many public sites, as well as at the Registrar of Voters website at www.sccvote.org/Register.htm.

It's important to register, but it's even more important to make good use of that voting privilege by participating in the upcoming election.

Be registered, be informed and be a voter on Nov. 5.