Several skaters have hit the streets to answer the call of Banning's Skate Park Task Force.

After some task force members this week said the effort to build a skate park will end unless more skaters get involved, several skaters distributed fliers to rally support for a fund-raising event next week.

Skateboarders have gone to the community center in the past few days to ask for more fliers to give out, said Chris Millen, the city's community services manager.

Some fliers handed out downtown on Thursday were not made by the city. They offer "all the pizza you can eat" in exchange for $10 donations, Millen said.

The event will offer free pizza, donated by Johnny Russo's Italian Kitchen, for donations of $10 or more, he said.

"I hesitate to offer `all you can eat pizza' when we don't know how many people will be there," Millen said.

Though the independently made fliers offer a bit more than organizers intend, the skaters' involvement is a good sign, Millen said.

"I'm glad they're excited about it. I'm glad they're out there trying to make it work," he said.

When no skaters showed up at the task force's past two meetings, members of the panel asked whether the effort should continue. The city formed the task force after skaters converged on City Council meetings last year to ask that a park be built.

The proposed site for the park is at George Street and San Gorgonio Avenue. The city has pledged $20,000 toward the design of the park. Construction of the park is expected to cost about $200,000.

Task force members said they will judge whether to continue the project based on the turnout at the Put Your $$ Where Your Mouth Is pizza fund-raising event, to be held at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Banning Community Center.

All funds will go toward the park's construction.

For more information on the event and the task force, call (909) 922-3243.

Published 4/8/2000