Officials seeking answers to skate park plan questions

By: Vic Monaco, Managing Editor and Matt Chiappardi, Staff Writer
   A plan for an area skateboard park has run into some significant concerns but a local proponent says he remains optimistic that the proposal will keep rolling along.
   Richard Pratt presented the conceptual plan last week to the East Windsor Regional school board and East Windsor Township Council.
   Both entities had several questions, and the school board expressed the most concerns including issues of supervision, hours and access.
   The plan calls for a privately funded park on roughly 200 square feet of land next to Hightstown High School owned by local businessman Matt Lucas.
   Schools Superintendent Ron Bolandi, who listened to the presentation June 25, said he is most concerned with allowing access to youth who do not live in East Windsor or Hightstown.
   "That alarms me," he said. "It’s harder to police people when they don’t have a vested interest in the community."
   Township Councilman Hector Duke also expressed concern about access and suggested that perhaps the park be fenced in. Mr. Pratt responded at the council’s June 26 meeting that a fence would not likely serve to keep folks out.
   Township Deputy Mayor Walter Daniels asked if there would be someone to enforce the wearing of helmets and pads. He also wondered who would pay maintenance costs and electric bills.
   Mr. Pratt answered that there could be a requirement that helmets be registered with local police.
   As for who would pay for maintenance and electricity, he said, he didn’t have an answer yet.
   "It’s just in the conceptual stage," he said later.
   As for supervision, he said, West Windsor has a Public Works employee in charge of its skateboard park. Another possibility, he said, would be volunteers serving in such a capacity.
   "I’m optimistic we can overcome the concerns," said Mr. Pratt.
   And not all the response last week was negative. Mr. Bolandi said he thinks the school board is open to the idea of providing the approximate 100 feet of land needed for an easement. And township Mayor Janice Mironov commended Mr. Pratt for his effort.
   "I certainly agree there is a lot of interest from young people about this activity," she added.
   Earlier last month, the Borough Council seemed open to the idea while Mayor Bob Patten voiced support for the proposal, which was the brainchild of borough Planning Board member Pratt and local activist Jill Johnston, whose son Brian Landry died of a drug overdose last year.
   The cost of the park has been estimated at $150,000 to $250,000.
   Mr. Pratt said he hopes to have a proposed design ready this summer. In addition, he said, fundraising activities would soon begin.
   The organizing group also has set up a Web site to gather ideas and support — www.hightstown-skatepark.org.