Long-awaited skate park to be unveiled

Park to be dedicated
in memory of advocate Alan Kleinberg

By vincent todaro
Staff Writer

Park to be dedicated
in memory of advocate Alan Kleinberg
By vincent todaro
Staff Writer

Skaters throughout East Brunswick will get a chance to show their stuff in a place all their own starting Saturday when the township’s skate park opens.

The East Brunswick Skate Park will open its gates at 10 a.m. with a ceremony that will include a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony conducted by Mayor William Neary, a 30-minute team demonstration, and free skating to a local a rock band and DJ until 2 p.m.

The park, located behind the township’s recreation building on Dunhams Corner Road, will be dedicated in memory of Alan Kleinberg, who served as co-chairman of the township’s Skate Park Committee before his death on Sept. 11, 2001, at the World Trade Center.

Saturday will mark an end to a lengthy period of planning and debate that included some dissension from BMX bikers who were upset that the park, at least for now, is only for skateboarding and roller blading.

"I’m really excited they’re opening it before I move out of town," said former Councilman Jeffrey Simon, a skate park advocate who is moving to Florida next month. Simon, who served as a Democrat, and former Republican Councilman Thomas Clark were instrumental in pushing the skate park idea. They were joined by members of the ad hoc Skate Park Committee, as well as numerous skateboarders, roller bladers and BMX bikers.

"I’m pretty pleased," said Michele Strubeck, chairwoman of the Skate Park Committee. "It’s a good thing that’s been a long time coming."

The park is constructed on 14,000 square feet of new asphalt surface with a fence enclosure. The area was formerly the location of two run-down tennis courts.

As for equipment, the park will feature two 4-foot-tall by 8-foot-wide quarter pipes, two free-standing grind rails, a 2-foot-tall by 8-foot-wide fun box with a rail, and a compound manual box. Also included are a 6-foot-tall by 16-foot-wide hipped wedge and quarter pipe, and a 2-foot-tall by 10-foot-wide fun box with a double raked planter.

Open year-round, the park’s hours of operation will run from dawn until 10 p.m. The park is lighted.

There is no charge to use the park, but all skaters must use safety equipment and adhere to the posted rules. The park will be closed in inclement weather.

Strubeck said the park is mainly intended for children over the age of 8. Children who are too small could get hurt if they use the facility with older children, she said.

"They won’t let tiny kids use it," she said. "The kids will be aggressive, and they don’t want the little kids to get hurt."

She said police will visit and observe the activities at the park, but there will be no full-time supervision.

One lingering point of contention is whether the park should also be open to BMX bikers. Strubeck, who has children who use BMX bikes, said she believes it is only fair to let the bikers use the park, even if it’s at different times than skateboarders and roller bladers.

"It’s up in the air right now," she said of adding the BMX option.

Simon, who noted the BMX usage may become allowed at some point, said there are two reasons BMX bikes are not allowed. He said BMX bikers have other options for riding beyond a designated park. Also, the BMX bikes have parts that chew up the equipment they are used on.

"We may get them their own time," he said, however.

The township contributed about $85,000 for both the park’s infrastructure and equipment.

"It’s enough to start the park and enough to enjoy the park," Strubeck said of the equipment, adding that the children who use it will raise funds to buy more equipment.

"We tried to get some fund-raising off the ground but the kids didn’t seem too interested," Simon said. "We wanted to get them in the mode of raising funds for future expansion."

He said the township would also likely contribute money to any future expansion of the park.

"We [designed the park] for more equipment than we bought," he said.

"The children actually sat down with the builder and discussed what they wanted the park to look like," Strubeck said.

The road to creating the park has been a long one for some of its advocates. An initial effort to have a park built stalled in 1998, Strubeck said. Clark spearheaded a renewed effort in 2001, and a rally was held at the East Brunswick Public Library at which a petition was assembled and the committee was formed that included both parents and children.

Neary and the council approved the project last year.

"Jeff Simon played a great role as councilman," Strubeck said. "He was the go-between between the council and us. He was a great help."

Saturday’s ceremony will include a 30-minute demonstration by the Steel Wheels Skateboards of East Brunswick. There will also be a booth for anyone who wants to purchase gear or merchandise.

Also appearing will be Daze of Grace, a local rock band, and DJ Stevie C. There will also be ice cream, snacks and drinks for purchase. The band will play from 10:30 a.m. until noon, followed by Stevie C until 2 p.m.