Crowley gets ready to ollie

Planning Commission approves skate park permit.

With almost no opposition to the project from the public or politicians, the Mono County Planning Commission approved a permit to get a skate park rolling in Crowley.

The park has become the number one priority for the Community Service Area (CSA) #1. CSAs are independent local governments used to provide services in unincorporated areas of the county.

The CSA considers the skate park important because, in a place where fishing, hiking and horseback riding opportunities abound, there is less for kids to do.

John Connolly, one of the project’s applicants and a member of CSA #1, told The Sheet that the park will cost about $400,000 and an additional $200,000 in improvements mandated by the County. These improvements include Americans with Disabilities Act compliance restrooms and sidewalks, the addition of a road, and moving the bus stop.

The proposed 10,000 square-foot park would have something for everybody, from beginners to pros. It will be located in the center of the town, next to the Crowley Lake Community Center and Community Gardens.

The adjacent space had been approved for a new library but there is not funding available to get that project off the ground, according to Mono County Planning Department Associate Planner Courtney Weiche.

The expansion of Crowley from a bedroom community to a neighborhood started in 1997 when the County approved a use permit for a Community Center, library and basketball courts. The CSA approved the funding for a center in 2002 and it was built soon after. Nearly a decade later in 2011, the CSA and Mono County Supervisors approved the addition of a community garden located near the Community Center.

In 2012, the CSA conducted a survey in Crowley for input and hatched a Ten Year Plan to identify and prioritize projects in the area. The Supervisors asked for further public input in 2013.

A new library was on the top of the community’s wish list, but there aren’t enough financial and staffing resources to stuff the library in Crowley’s stocking. The library isn’t completely off the table, but it has been put aside for now. There is still sufficient space next to the Community Center for a library. Connolly said he supports a library and wants to see one go up.

The other projects listed included improvements to the Crowley ballfield, solar panels on the community center, and more equipment for the kids to play at the playground. These projects have since been completed, leaving the skate park as the last and now top priority on the list. The CSA officially made the skate park a priority at its October 27 meeting.

The park will, conceptually, be similar to the Volcom Brothers park in Mammoth, but will be accessible to all ages and abilities. The park will include a continuous motion pump track, below-grade mini ramps and bowls, and above grade features like hips, quarter pipes, volcanoes, pyramids and tombstones. The park will be constructed of concrete and steel, utilizing local materials when and where available.

Design plans for the park have not yet begun officially, Connolly explained. He said ideas have been tossed around, but the community wanted to wait for the Planning Commission’s approval before spending money.

The park will not interfere with local wetlands or riparian areas. The park will require the addition of 18 parking spots and ADA parking and a looped paved road.

Connolly was instrumental in the building of the Shady Rest Skate Park. He said the park in Crowley will be popular with locals. The park is located on one of the few flat spots in the Crowley community, so kids aren’t fighting gravity.

Connolly said he offered four skating workshops and camps this past summer, attracting about 115 participants. He called the Crowley park a great opportunity for kids.

A fundraiser for the park, a Winter Bazaar, will run from 9 a.m.- 3p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 19 at the Crowley Community Center. There will be stocking stuffers and other holiday gifts available. For more information, contact Isabel Connolly at 760.935.4089.