Township officials award
skateboard park contract
By linda denicola
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — The second round of bidding has been successful and a contract has been awarded for a new skateboard park at Michael J. Tighe Park, Georgia Road.
The Township Committee passed a resolution awarding a contract for the skateboard facility to Rampage, LLC, of Bridgeport, Conn., the lowest bidder. Rampage bid $103,258 for the job, while the next lowest bid came in at $143,099. The highest of the four bids received was for $190,389.
Last month, all of the bids that were received for the design and installation of the skateboard park were rejected by municipal officials because they were too high.
According to Committeeman Anthony Ammiano, who is the liaison to the parks and recreation department, the township came up with new specs and went out for bid again.
He said officials still plan to have the skateboard park up and running sometime in October. He explained previously that the new skateboard facility will be state-of-the-art, unlike the one that had been at Tighe park before the municipality’s insurance company raised the rates so high that officials had to close the skateboard area.
"We closed it down because it would have cost $75,000 to keep it open," Ammiano said. "We elected, under the circumstances, not to renew the insurance when the policy came due. But recently, the insurance industry has taken a second look at it and lowered the cost. It will be included in general liability the way it was previously. We’re going to update the equipment and have a skate park again. Residents want a skateboard park. There was an outcry when we closed it at the end of 2001."
The new skateboard equipment will be built on the same spot as the previous area, near ballfield No. 3, but it will have many new features.
"We are looking to resurface a 97- by 147-foot area with asphalt similar to the way an in-line hockey rink would be surfaced. There will be state-of-the-art ramps and rails. It will be suitable for all ages and skill levels. Skateboarders will be required to wear helmets and have identification cards," Ammiano said.
The design provides specific areas for beginner, intermediate and experienced skaters.