Bayou Vista skate park hours changed

BAYOU VISTA, La. -- The Bayou Vista skate park began closing at 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday this week in response to incidents of fighting and bullying the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s office is investigating.

The park did not experience any problems over the weekend, said Stan Robison, chairman for St. Mary Parish Recreation District 3.

The park will be open for normal hours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, closing at 10 p.m.

The park opens at 7 a.m. daily and on weekends.

Due to the parade route that goes by the park, Robison had already hired security before the incidents occurred, to be at the park Saturday.

Robison has talked with a group of skaters and bikers who have agreed to “self-police” the park, he said.

Last week, videos of suspected bullying and fighting at the skate park were posted online and the sheriff’s office began investigating the incidents. The sheriff’s office had already been investigating previous incidents of bullying and fighting before the videos surfaced.

The park closed early Thursday in response to the videos, and the sheriff’s office increased its presence around the park on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The park is monitored by live video cameras that capture all areas of the park.