Plan From Residents Required to Save Skatepark

The permanent shutdown of the Griffin Park skateboard facility was deferred by Selectmen on Sept. 24 unless residents can present an action plan that can convince the town to keep the park open.

The board voted 4-0 to place the ball in the court of those who support the park. Selectman Phil LoChiatto, who presented the motion, added that the town would like to see ideas presented to the board at least 30 days before the skatepark is slated to open next spring.

As for the five or six weeks left in this season, the skatepark will remain closed.

Selectman Roger Hohenberger said that he will vote to shut down the facility if the plan from residents doesn't include adult supervision inside the skatepark at all times.

Much of the criticism that the skatepark has drawn has come from users of Griffin Park reporting foul language, littering and lack of helmet use coming from some of the skateboarders.

Recreation Committee Chair Dennis Senibaldi told the board that even if volunteer supervisors come, they will quit.

"The second you try to address somebody that threatens your life, they are not going to volunteer to do that," Senibaldi said. He added that parents have stood by and "will not say a word" to the skaters causing problems because they have watched the berating that police officers have taken trying to respond to issues.

The committee, along with the Windham Police Department, presented letters to the board advocating for the skatepark to be shut down for good.

Speaking in favor of the park was Rep. Charles McMahon, R-Windham, who conceived and built the $60,000 fenced-in recreation area.

"This was done as part of a cohesive plan to develop community," McMahon said.

"I don't think we should punish all for the actions of a few," McMahon said regarding those who have caused problems.

Several park users and their parents also spoke up at the meeting.

Gerald Ventola told the board that he and his friends use the skatepark all the time.

"Me and my friends go there nearly daily to sort of get away a lot of the stress, and it's a safe haven for those to practice what we love," Ventola said.

Peter Ventola called his son "one of the nicest kids around," and also said that he would volunteer to provide adult supervision at the park.

David Hutchings, a senior at Windham High School, said that the basketball courts are just as bad with littering and obscene language.

He told the board to consider that the skatepark provides a safe environment which keeps skaters out of other areas in town.

"The public school system has a lot of problems too, but we don't say we're going to tear it down because it has a lot of problems, we try to fix the problems first," Hutchings said. "I'm not opposed to it being moved, but I'd really like to see it stay open."

Michelle Hutchings, David's mom, presented several suggestions. She mentioned assigning fines for littering, as well as police officers actually arresting those causing problems at the skatepark.

Police Chief Gerald Lewis said that only a couple of arrests have happened in the years since the skatepark has been open. He concurred with Breton that about 70 percent of police calls to the facility have been to enforce the helmet rule, which McMahon and others said could be switched to "highly recommended" rather than a requirement.

In his letter, Lewis said that the department would be open to town suggestions, but stood by the desire to close the skatepark should the current conditions remain status quo.

Speaking about the park that carries her namesake, Rep. Mary Griffin, R-Windham, implored all those involved with the debate to "take a step back (to) cool off and calm down" before seeing what can be done to solve the problem.

"You have people come to use this park from everywhere," she said. "This is a marvelous place. I can't begin to wonder what's going to happen if we're all falling apart now."

As part of the motion, a period of time will be taken to see if an action plan from residents, if it comes to the board, actually works to solve problems at the skatepark.

If the problems persist, the skatepark will close permanently.