ARD approves creation of community art wall at Auburn Skate Park

The Auburn Recreation and Parks District (ARD) Board of Directors voted Nov. 30 to create an artistic community wall at the Auburn Skate Park. Kahl Muscott, administrator for ARD, said volunteers - Samantha Hill with Gold Country Collective, Agusta Studabaker and Kat Eich - have been helping with general clean-up and graffiti removal at the skate park, and suggested creating a wall where kids can add artwork and poetry. "It could be painted. It could be Sharpies; it could be done with anything," Muscott told the board. According to the staff report, the art area will also include associated benches. Guidelines and rules for the wall will include offensive material, at ARD's determination, will be removed, and the wall and benches may be painted over occasionally to provide a fresh canvas. Director Scott Holbrook noted concern over the free-for-all approach of the wall and it becoming "another target for taggers." "I would be all for working with the art commission to have murals painted on this area; dedicate this to the art commission to have … kids to do an organized project," he said, noting his support for the murals done at Regional Park. Director Sue Ingle supported the idea of having mural art at the skate park. "I really like this idea because I think that it could encourage more tagging, or it could discourage it - we don't really know at this point, but I think actually there's going to be a certain pride of people that put their stuff up, that were tagging, are going to be maybe a little more protective about what is going up," Ingle said. Muscott confirmed skate park volunteers will also oversee the wall and keep cans of paint available to cover any material deemed offensive. The board received one public comment noting that while the free-expression approach could increase the possibility of graffiti, there's no guarantee it will. The board approved the creation of a community wall in a 4-0 vote. Holbrook abstained from the vote. According to Muscott, ARD is working on the sign that will be posted for the community wall, with the goal of it being posted by the end of the month.