Rocklin indoor skatepark closure saddens parents

After two years, the operators of Rocklin's Epic Indoor Skatepark closed their doors last week after an ownership dispute with an investor. Now the skateboard community is hoping they'll find a way to reopen and keep the park from closing for good. "I am really saddened it's closed," said skate parent Helen Taylor. "It is a sad day in the community."For the last few months her family has become accustomed to spending Sundays in the 36,000-square-foot, air-conditioned indoor skatepark off Industrial Boulevard."We would take an ice chest and sandwiches and go for two to four hours and have a great time," Taylor said.Taylor's sons, 9-year-old Ryan and 11-year-old Reese, learned to skateboard with their dad. For $11 the kids could spent two hours, get exercise and enjoy ramps, rails and elaborate apparatuses for boards and rollerblades. With sad faces, the Taylor boys quickly shot off text messages letting their circle of friends know about the closure. Now they will brave the remaining heat at Johnson Springview Park's outdoor skatepark operated by the city of Rocklin. "As a parent, I like going to a safe place," Helen Taylor said. "The skaters respected new skaters who are just learning to skateboard, they help them out. They run after their boards for them."But all was not well behind the scenes where operators Dirk and Danielle Killingsworth complain that putting their all into the business wasn't enough, as they watched their car repossessed and their home slip into foreclosure. "The wonderful kids made us laugh and have made us feel that working here, even at times for no money, was somehow the most important thing we have ever done," said Danielle Killingsworth. Danielle Killingsworth said an investor is now selling the business out from under them. The said investor could not be reached for comment. But Danielle Killingsowrth said pending litigation may get to the bottom off the problem. "We will be closed until further notice," Danielle Killingsworth said. "But we will not go down without a great fight."Danielle Killingsworth said entrepreneurs should always get business commitments in writing."My advice to someone in a similar situation would be to never, no matter how much you know a person, trust they will do what they say they are going to do," Danielle Killingsworth said. Helen Taylor hopes some of the nearly 3,000 enthusiasts, some from as far as the Bay Area, that have visted the park over the years will be able to skate at Epic again. "I hope they try every avenue they could to try, to stay open," she said.Killingworth said she appreciates all the support from families like the Taylors. "We honestly have done all we can do," she said. Jon Brines can be reached at jonathanbrines@yahoo.com.