In every District I've seen signs posted up at schools prohibiting the activities you mentioned. Mostly they're vandalism and liability issues.

Here is what SPS told me: "In the case of Lafayette, they ordered the signs because the school has experienced a great deal of damage to school property caused by skateboarders. Boarders have removed the plastic retaining walls around chip borders to use as "hurdles," board over the tops of picnic tables, and so on. Older children were coming to the playground before school let out at Lafayette, and endangering others with their boarding activities."

Seems to me there have always been rules against students riding bikes, skateboards, etc. on school grounds (park your bike, put the board in your locker). I wouldn't be surprised if it's always been a safety/liability issue and since the public doesn't read the student handbook, they've decided to post the signs; not so much new, just unenforced?

After many dealings recently with the SSD on playground issues, I bet it is a boilerplate sign that they put everywhere for legal reasons. If someone decided to conduct their own X-Games on a school playground during non-school hours, posting the sign limits the district liability should said daredevils injure themselves. I think the same sign is posted at Gatewood - total CYA move.

sw

It's been a while since I worked for the SSD but I understand that it's public property when school is not in session. I know there were some senior citizens who had to go in and talk to the staff about unlocking the gate so they could walk on the playground recently. I would call the principal and/or call John Stanford center to get the scoop.

I'm checking on question #1. Re #2 - it's been a couple years since Junior Member o'Team was a Lafayette student but I remember it having been closed off during his years there. (There was usually a way to sneak in, though, like the gate on the street to the west, or via the parking lot entrance north of the school off California ...)

A sign was posted this week at Lafayette Elementary school banning bicycles, skateboards, and roller skates/blades from the playground. Has this sign been posted at all Seattle Public Elementary school playgrounds?

At one time I thought that school playgrounds were public space, but Lafayette locks all entry gates to the playground on weekends and during school breaks, not allowing for any stroller or wheelchair access by neighbors. Has there been a higher incidence of vandalism in the Admiral area than in any other West Seattle neighborhood?