Their pleas to the St. Helena City Council to reconsider building a skatepark at Crane Park seem to have fallen on deaf ears, but the St. Helena Tree Committee is still concerned that the project threatens too many trees and takes up too much park space.

Committee members agreed this month that they should continue their campaign, but they’re modifying their approach. Whereas before they took their concerns to the council, now they’re going straight to the board of St. Helena Skatepark, Inc., the nonprofit that’s preparing a site plan for the skatepark.

“We need to coordinate,” said tree committee member Susan Smith. “We need to offer help rather than be in an oppositional situation.”

If they can’t convince skatepark planners to build the park elsewhere, committee members said they at least want to ensure that the skatepark’s design saves as many trees as possible.

Skatepark boardmember Cindy Smith said last week the two groups are planning to meet. Any trees that are removed will be replaced two to one, and skatepark boardmembers will welcome the tree committee’s input on where the new trees should be planted, Smith said.

Skatepark designers have already revised their plans to save a few trees that were previously slated for removal, Smith added.

Skatepark supporters set their sights on Crane Park after encountering unexpected costs at their first choice, Wappo Park. In May, the council gave skatepark planners the go-ahead to draw up plans to build the facility in the grassy area of Crane Park just beyond the baseball diamond’s outfield wall.

A month later, tree committee members asked the council to explore other possible locations for the skatepark that would have less impact on trees.

They told the council the project would benefit the few at the expense of the many by endangering several liquid ambars, cedars and pines, and by eliminating an open space that’s enjoyed by all ages.

However, no councilmembers asked that the issue be placed on a future agenda, and St. Helena Skatepark, Inc. is continuing to draw up a detailed site plan for the Crane Park site.

Skatepark planners made no formal response to the tree committee’s concerns.

But the tree committee is still troubled by the project, even more so after learning last week that the skatepark will have a six-foot fence around it.

A couple tree committee members were disappointed by the lack of sympathy they encountered from the council.

“We’re a city committee and the city council isn’t even listening to us? They’re just saying, ‘Full speed ahead?’” said committee member Susan McWilliams. “What’s the point of it all?”s