Skate Park Concerns Still Exist Despite New Review Process

Residents gathered again in council chambers Tuesday night to voice their concerns despite the township’s new resolution to rescind Hillside Avenue as the designated site for a skate park.

Hillside residents once again voiced their skate park concerns regarding traffic, security, aesthetic value and flooding, but also added their thoughts on issues related more closely to the new resolution.

“Everybody wants it as long as it's not in my neighborhood,” said one Hillside Avenue resident at the official township committee meeting. “We’re going to be in the same situation over and over and over again. I’d rather see you focus your efforts on my property taxes or tenants for Cranford Crossing.”

Resolution No. 2009-263 takes back a previous resolution that designated an area along Hillside Avenue as the location for a skate park. Instead, it identifies Hillside Avenue, Centennial Avenue and other locations as possible skate park sites and creates a six-month review process on the issue. The review process will consist of hearings held by one or two members of the township committee and will include an updated study of the locations.

The resolution was unanimously approved on Tuesday night.

“There’s an ongoing desire to keep the kids from skating on the streets of Cranford,” said Mayor David Robinson, who continued to say that by offering a skate park, children would be able to practice their pastime in a legal and safe manner.

Some residents doubted that six months would be sufficient time to fully study the sites and make an informed decision on the skate park location. Others were concerned about the amount of time, effort and money the review process would cost committee members and taxpayers.

Still others were unsure if the skate park would deter Cranford children from riding their bikes and skateboards in the streets and downtown areas.  

“I think there’s a distinctive pleasure in skating on the streets than in the park,” said Dan Alexander of Crane Parkway. “Go online and check YouTube, all the videos are of them skating on the streets.”

Other residents worried that children from the north portion of Cranford would not use the skate park because it would be too far away. They suggested placing separate elements of the skate park in locations throughout the town. The placement would appeal to kids in all corners and wouldn't "be in someone's backyard."

Township officials will examine an ordinance to prohibit parking along Hillside Avenue at all times at a public hearing on October 27. Other ordinances up for examination include the regulation of garage sales and flea markets on October 27; and rules regarding the duration of use and placement of portable home storage units (PODS) on November 10.