Issaquah resident Kristina Gravette’s son, David, 26, is a professional skateboarder who has already traveled around much of the world competing.

“I’ve had so many skateboarders at my house,” she said. “They’re good kids. They’re like a family. They work hard at the sport — it’s strenuous. I’m a huge believer in getting the kids out there.”

Most of those who attended the first public meeting on where to locate a new skate park were skateboard enthusiasts. Nice kids, many with their parents, shot down the perceived notion that skaters are all a bunch of slackers.

Last year the city of Issaquah approved $350,000 in the 2014 budget to build a new skate park and demolish the old one, which is rarely used for skating, but more for nefarious activities since it’s hidden away from plain sight. The city’s park staff, and an advisory committee identified seven potential sites, all on city-owned property.

All of the sites will accommodate an 8,000 to 10,000 square-foot park, in contrast to the existing park which is 5,600 square-feet. The sites include two in the Issaquah Highlands, at Central Park; one in Gibson Park along Newport Way; Veteran’s Memorial Field behind City Hall and the police/fire stations; a site on the Pickering Farm property; and two in Tibbets Valley Park.

One of the sites in Tibbets was more popular than the other because of its open location across from the Issaquah Transit Center. Comparisons to the skate park in Sammamish, which is well-lit and heavily used given its safe and family-friendly location by Sammamish City Hall and the library, were brought up more than once.

The Highlands locations didn’t go over well. Gravette said it’s too windy which doesn’t help the skaters. Competitive skater, Austin Fischer also wants to see it stay on the valley floor close to a major bus line, since many of the skaters are young and don’t have driver’s licenses. Also, he said, it’s close to food and gas if someone does drive.

“It’s (skating) a physical activity, and the fire station is right there,” Fischer said. “There’s going to be injuries.”

Seth Ivers came to the meeting all the way from Tacoma. He offers skate camps 12 weeks in 12 cities every summer.

“I actually got arrested at this park,” he said of Issaquah’s existing park. He was speaking of his younger days —  he’s an adult now. “You need to bring out the best in these kids, not the worst.”

The locations across from the transit center and Memorial Field seemed to be the most desirable by the 30 or so people at the meeting. Officer Karin Weihe, the IPD’s school resource officer, said the location behind the station was in a hole.

“We’re not going to be standing there,” she said. “And go downtown and try to park. There is nowhere to park.”

Ivers said not that much parking is needed since most parents drop their kids off. Gravette said she used to drop David off at the old skate park, and she also likes Memorial Field because it is close to food and other amenities. She felt the Gibson Park location was a bad idea because of traffic on Newport Way.

There will be another public meeting on the skate Park March 6 at 6 p.m. at Tibbets Creek Manor, 750 17th Ave NW.

This slide shows Issaquah resident, Austin Fischer, 31, practicing his skills at the old skate park.