"Skateboarding is not crazy" was painted on the boy's well used skateboard as over 100 people crowded into the Delridge Community Center last week to talk about the 30 proposed sites around the city where youth could practice the relatively new sport.

No one opposed the idea of skateboard parks the city is proposing to build in West Seattle and elsewhere, but some wanted locations a bit farther from their homes.

Several residents of the area around the soon to be lidded Myrtle Reservoir were interested in moving the proposed large site across the street to High Point "where other teenagers are congregated," but no one outright opposed the "district" sized facility, roughly the size of two tennis courts.

Skateboarding is a "growing phenomena" for those who prefer non-team sports and is a "good sport to watch," said one person at the hearing. There are only two facilities in Seattle now, a new large one near the Ballard Library and one at Seattle Center that is due to be demolished and rebuilt at a new location because of the construction of an office building for the Gates Foundation.

The closest full-sized facility to West Seattle is at Burien Park, 4th Avenue South and South 146th.

The nine possible sites in West Seattle range in size from a bit of sidewalk or other place where skateboarding is not allowed now to the giant "district" facilities suggested for West Seattle Stadium, Westcrest Park at the Myrtle Reservoir-High Point area.

Candice Edwards, who lives near the Myrtle Reservoir, said the open space around the reservoir should be planted with trees and left for contemplative park uses. The property is owned by Seattle Public Utilities and will remain it its ownership, but could be "co-used" by the city parks department for skateboard use, said one person.

A few hinted at concern for noise and use by teenagers who could be up to no good, but several cited other such parks that had become popular viewing by older people in the area, amused and impressed with the acrobatics of the boarders.

One person noted that skateboard parks can be integrated into larger parks to make various uses open to the whole family with some area for picnicking, relaxing, sunbathing and for games and activities.

Some of the skateboarders said they hoped the parks can be reached by public transit, and the organizers of the event said every one of the proposed 30 sites city-wide were on transit routes so that mom and dad would not have to drive youngsters to them.

The various facilities are up for review now, but there is no money set aside to construct any of them, nor has the Seattle Parks Board of City Council approved any facilities. That is months away and it will be at least 2007 before anything is approved. Many hearings will be held on individual locations selected later, the audience was told.

There was a gathering area for those interested in the West Seattle sites, and a large number of people asked a facilitator to write down their comments.

- "High Point over Myrtle."

- "High Point already has infrastructure, Myrtle does not."

- "Smaller than regional at Myrtle"

- "Go with good lights."

- "North Admiral, Hiawatha, Alki, West Seattle Stadium - lots of young skaters."

- "Hiawatha neighborhood supports well integrated skatedot, spots."

- "Roxhill - younger skaters need beginner/intermediate/street."

- "Skatespots don't have potential for mixed age (use)"

Finally a note that there are an estimated 1,700 skate boarders in West Seattle.

Jack Mayne may be reached at 932.0300 or jmayne@robinsonnews.com