Some Point Boro Residents Near Skate Park Want it Closed, But It's Reopening Saturday, says Councilman

Local skateboarders can't wait to shred the rails when Point Borough's skate park re-opens on Saturday, but some neighbors would like to shred the park.

A number of neighbors near the park on Route 88 and Maplewood Avenue would like to see the park closed for good, citing ongoing bad behavior of some of the skaters, according to Borough Councilman Chris Goss.

The park has been repeatedly opened and closed since it was first built in 2006.

In the spring of 2010, it was closed amid complaints of noise, vandalism and urinating in public and it did not re-open until more than a year later, on May 1.

A recent incident didn't help the case of those who want the park to stay open.

"A decision had been made on June 12 to temporarily close the park because the concrete parking stops were dragged into the park to be used as additional skating obstacles," said Goss, a member of the Point Pleasant Skate Park, who had been a strong proponent of getting the park re-opened in May.

Borough officials have no idea who dragged in the concrete barriers, which violates a rule that no outside objects can be brought into the park to add onto its installations.

However, Mayor William Schroeder and council members have said repeatedly, through the legislation they passed, at meetings and in interviews during the past months, that when there are serious infractions at the park carried out by unknown persons, it will be necessary to close the park.

Closure, they say, is the only way to send a strong message that infractions will not be tolerated when they do not know the identity of the violators.

However, the borough is hoping to install cameras to address that problem.

"The issue that this incident highlights is the need for cameras, so that individuals can be dealt with instead of also punishing the other 99% of the kids who don't cause problems," Goss wrote in an email on Friday morning.

"Currently we are exploring alternate funding options to install cameras, whether it be through grant opportunities or selling advertising space on the park fences that face Route 88," he said.

"Prior to this incident, I had received a number of e-mails and phone calls complimenting how well things were going at the park," Goss continued.

"Of course, problems with helmets and trash persist, but not, in my opinion, any more seriously than at the other parks and fields.

"My only concern up to this point was for a number of neighbors who are seeking the closure of the park," said Goss.

"Their strategy seems to be to monitor the skaters and call the police any time there is a perceived rule violation," he said.

"Although skating without a helmet and littering are not behaviors that should be ignored, in my opinion, a dozen or more calls to police a day is a form of persecution and an unwarranted distraction from more serious police matters," Goss continued.

"I would think that level of vigilance directed at bicyclists without helmets or chronic traffic violations would be more beneficial to public safety and welfare."

He declined to name any of the residents who have called police and said many have been doing so anonymously.

However, Goss acknowledged rules need to be enforced.

"Problems will be addressed on a case-by-case basis and not allowed to fester as they have in the past," Goss said.

Public urination has been an ongoing problem since there are no bathrooms at the park, except for the ones next to the adjacent McKennan Lake athletic field.

Those bathrooms, housed, along with a concession stand, in a small building, are only open when there are organized, scheduled sporting events on the field supervised by coaches and other parents.

The borough is hoping to install a portable toilet, as finances and circumstances permit.

Regarding upcoming events at the park, the skate club is scheduled to hold its 1st Anniversary Contest and Demo Day from noon to 4 p.m. July 10.

For more information about permits needed to skate at the park and the park rules, see the Skate Park page of the borough website.