Millstone considers building a skate park
BY JANE MEGGITT
Staff Writer

MILLSTONE - Having to wax handrails, picnic tables and park benches may become a thing of the past for township skaters.

During the public comment portion of the township's recreation study meeting, which was held April 25 at Wagner Farm Park, a local parent asked the Township Committee to consider building a skateboard park.

Cecilia Clark, a mother of three boys, advocated for the skateboard park but noted that there have been problems with skateboarders in the town.

Mayor Nancy Grbelja said that skateboarders have been riding on top of the very building they were sitting in.

"There has been vandalism in every park," Clark said. "Skateboarders have gotten a bad name."

She suggested that rather than just having structured recreation such as basketball and baseball, which her sons participate in, the township should investigate creating a skateboard park.

"Grants are available, and it doesn't require a lot of space," she said.

While a skate park would not provide income for the township, she said it would give the kids something to do.

"Kids grow up," she said. "They're not always at your side. They get into what they like to do."

Clark said she knows there are liability issues with skateboard parks but that there are liability issues everywhere.

"If there were a safe environment for children that was monitored, I think the children would respect it," she said.

Clark said that her sons have to sign safety rules and waivers at the skate parks where they currently ride.

Deputy Mayor Bob Kinsey said there have been discussions in town about establishing a skateboard facility.

"The general consensus of the Recreation Commission is that they would like to find a place for it," he said.

Clark said a structure the size of the Wagner Farm Park building would be ideal for a skateboard area.

Former Committeeman Cory Wingerter said that Manasquan recently built a skate park at a cost of $210,000, which "came out very nice." However, he said that a skateboard park in Point Pleasant has had problems with regard to noise and drinking.

Tom Miller, of Environmental Resolutions in Mount Laurel, the company hired to do the recreation study for the town, said he has seen both supervised and unsupervised skateboard parks.

"There are pros and cons," he said. "A supervised park has different accountability."

According to Miller, Burlington Township built a skateboard park, which it later took out. He said that a skateboard park his company built out of concrete in Medford is a favorite with that municipality's Department of Public Works, since it is easy to maintain. However, he noted that it is unforgiving when someone falls on it.

Kinsey said the township may consider a stand-alone, self-regulated park.

"Having an attendant on staff who monitors is a whole different level of township services," he said. "The last thing I want to do is put someone on the payroll whose job it is to chase kids off a skateboard park after hours."