A New Skatepark Coming To Barnegat Township

Barnegat skateboarders will be happy to know that a new skatepark will be constructed on the site of the old wooden one in the municipal complex off Bay Avenue, according to a report in The Sandpaper.

The Township Committee introduced an ordinance for the new facility at the Aug. 1 meeting.

The new skatepark will be made of concrete, unlike the older one, which was made of wood, said township Recreation Director Jean Broadbent.

“Wood is only going to last so long,” said Broadbent. “It was deteriorating and became unsafe for kids to use. What we have now will be much more durable.”

Skateboards are advised to use the skatepark at their own risk, since it will not be supervised. It will be open from 9 a.m. to dusk and closed during inclement weather.

All users must wear helmets and the use of knee and elbow pads is recommended. Only bottled water is permitted and no food is allowed.

“Use of drugs, alcohol, smoking, profanity and/or vandalism is prohibited and shall result in automatic and permanent expulsion,” the ordinance states.

The old park - which opened in 1999- had to be closed several times for repairs and vandalism.

“We had a few other priorities,” said Mayor Albert Bille. “But this year, we made major improvements to Project Playground and got that reopened, and we’re also fixing up the smaller pocket parks. We figured as long as we were doing these projects, it made sense to give the teens a place to go with the skate park.”

A public hearing on the ordinance is scheduled for 6:30 pm. on Sept. 5.

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