At a recent Mission Beach Town Council meeting, resident Kevin Payne voiced serious concerns regarding the safety of Belmont Park’s historic Giant Dipper Roller Coaster, claiming it poses risks to the public.
Payne, a water-damage technician residing near the amusement park, made various allegations about purported violations at the park, suggesting the city has been negligent in addressing them.
He claims to have created a website detailing these alleged infractions, which he asserts are being ignored by city officials.
However, Steve Thomas, the president and general manager of Belmont Park, countered Payne’s assertions, emphasizing the park’s commitment to safety and maintenance.
“We have a dedicated maintenance team working on it non-stop re-profiling the track, replacing its support structure, and making sure it is within engineering tolerances because it gets lots of wear and tear throughout the year,” Thomas stated, referring to the century-old wooden roller coaster.
He also noted that third-party inspectors evaluate the rides for safety issues annually, ensuring compliance with safety standards.
In addition to his worries about the roller coaster, Payne criticized Belmont Park’s lease, declaring it explicitly prohibits concerts.
He argued, “This isn’t just about another concert. It’s about corporate profit and greed overriding public access, public safety, and basic decency.”
He urged the council to address these concerns publicly to prevent potential worsening of the situation.
Excerpts from Payne’s website include claims about rushed repairs, such as the replacement of deteriorated wood, which he linked to a Fox 5 news report from January.
He specifically mentioned that a newly implemented primary support column was reportedly fractured in multiple places, which he claimed Belmont Park would attempt to conceal with paint rather than properly replacing it.
In response, Thomas dismissed Payne’s claims as unfounded, stating, “A lot of what I see is him taking photos and harassing our team members who are just doing routine maintenance on the property.”
Thomas further asserted that Payne has a known history of targeting the park and intimidating staff members.
Despite Thomas’s rebuttals, Payne announced plans for legal action against Belmont Park, indicating that his lawyer is finalizing a lawsuit aimed at enforcing the lease stipulations he believes the park is violating.
He plans to request that the court appoint a monitor to ensure compliance and also seeks a forensic audit by a reputable firm, alleging that the park’s operators are hiding revenue and withholding essential financial documents.
Regarding complaints about noise from concerts and the use of public space for profit, Thomas asserted that Belmont Park always collaborates with the city to secure necessary permits.
He expressed that the park faced significant challenges during the pandemic, as it was forced to shut down for a year while still paying rent.
When Belmont Park assumed control of the property, Thomas noted, they inherited a situation where boardwalk restaurants were burnt down or boarded up, with individuals living inside.
He mentioned the efforts to revitalize the property into a venue the San Diego community can take pride in.
As Belmont Park approaches its 100th anniversary this year, Thomas remains optimistic about its future.
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