Committee of local kids helped design facility.
By: Laura Szalaj
WASHINGTON After more than a year of anticipation, kids at last have a skate park to use in the township.
"They just want to get in and use the park," Township Committeeman Vince Calcagno said prior to the grand opening, which was held Saturday.
Festivities Saturday were to feature a ribbon-cutting, music by Ultrax DJs and a skateboard demo by Economy Bike and Skateboard of East Windsor. The company also donated a skateboard that was raffled off to a skateboard park member.
During the ribbon-cutting, the 11-member Skate Park Youth Advisory Committee was to be recognized.
"(The committee) was a group of kids, ranging from 10 to 14 years old, that wanted to assist with the design of the park to make sure we put in equipment that they’d be interested in," Mr. Calcagno said.
According to Mr. Calcagno, the group met extensively during the past year to assist with drawing up rules and regulations, help design the park and choose equipment.
"What we wanted to do was expose kids to the whole process of completing a project like this," Mr. Calcagno said. "The group learned a lot about the bidding and construction process."
The park, located in the Municipal Complex off Route 130 north near Robbinsville-Allentown Road, is open to both residents and nonresidents, but registration is required before using the park. The annual fee for residents is $45 and $10 per additional family member. The fee is increased to $90 annually plus $20 per additional family member for nonresidents.
Profits from registration will go directly into the township’s recreation trust fund.
Registration is under way at the Recreation Department at the municipal building during normal office hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The final cost of building the park came to $181,000, township Administrator Jack West said. Of that amount, $99,000 was allotted for equipment; the rest was spent on the fencing and blacktop.
Funding for this project came from the Matrix Development Group and the township’s Recreation Facilities Trust, a fund into which housing developers contribute a certain amount per house.
The park, which measures 115 feet by 110 feet, is divided into two sections, Recreation Director Chris Merias said. Novice skateboarders can hone their skills in one section and more advanced skateboarders will have use of the other.
Equipment includes a double launch ramp, half pyramid, grind rail and quarter pipes, and "that’s just to name a few," Mr. Merias said. Everybody must bring his own skateboard and safety gear.
The park will be open from 2:30 p.m. until dusk weekdays during the school year; 10 a.m. until dusk weekdays during the summer; and 10 a.m. until dusk on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
"Teenagers are the fastest-growing segment of this town’s population," Mr. Calcagno said. "We’ve built the skate park and previously the volleyball and basketball courts with this in mind.
"(The park) is close enough for kids to walk or ride their bikes there, but also far enough away as to not disturb other residents. We don’t want the township’s kids to have the traditional hangout of just hanging out with nothing to do."