A mother’s campaign to build a skateboard park at the recreation center in La Jolla was voted down by Parks and Recreation, Inc. board members April 28. Some of the board members cried foul, however, calling the vote inappropriate because no project was actually presented to the board to vote upon. Marnie Gavit, the mother who has campaigned for the skateboard park, had not yet formulated specific plans about the exact location or design of the proposed skate park. Board member Mary Coakley said the board should wait until it had more information and received a proposal before voting on a skate park. “I’m not pro or con for the skate park at the recreation center, but we don’t have enough information to make a decision at this point,” said Coakley, who abstained from voting on the issue. Parks and Recreation, Inc. provides recommendations specifically on the recreation center to the city. Council president Chip Rome said most of the board members who voted against locating a skate park at the recreation center have been on the board for a few years as opposed to proponents of the skate park who joined the board in recent months. He said the public had four months to provide input and that everyone had the opportunity to voice their opinions. Rome personally believes the recreation center is not the appropriate location for a skate park; although, as president, he did not vote on the matter. “While a skate park might be a good idea in La Jolla, at a historical, mixed-use facility across from churches, a preschool, museums, a women’s club and residences, it’s just a poor choice,” Rome said. Board member Michele Addington said she agreed with public comments that the recreation center was not the appropriate place for the skate park. Board member Melinda Merryweather disagreed with Rome. She believes the Parks and Recreation council needs to broaden its vision of the recreation center. “They don’t get it,” Merryweather said. “They think it’s all about little kids and older people. They’re not willing to give up any of the recreation center to what the recreation of the day is. And the recreation of the day is — guess what — skateboarding.” Merryweather said she is resigning from the board because she feels the board did not follow due process on the skate park issue. Gavit, a skateboarder herself, believes skateboarders need to be respected, brought into the community fold and not treated as outcasts. “We need to honor our kids’ passions,” Gavit said. “They’re not all the same. We want them to have a safe place off the streets to skateboard.” Board member Dessa Kirk, a proponent of the skate park, said her personal opinion is that the board needs to better follow Robert’s Rules of Order and the Brown Act. “It’s contempt prior to investigation,” Kirk said. “It was a slap in the face because we spent a great amount of our money and our effort and we were cut off at the heels, and that was really, really rude.” Kirk plans to post a podcast of the meeting on the skate park’s Facebook page. Parks and Recreation, Inc. meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 5 p.m. at the recreation center, 615 Prospect St.