Ortonville- Spring has arrived and the warmer weather seems perfect for riding bikes and skateboards, but kids wanting to use the Village Skate Park for those activities will have to wait awhile longer.
The park located at the corner of Ball and Cedar streets will remain closed until further notice, after a motion to open it April 1 failed in a 3-3 tie at the village council meeting March 22. Councilmember Harold Batten was absent.
The council has dealt with ongoing issues at the skate park since it opened in 2002, adjacent to ball fields at the Sherman Village Park, but also in close proximity to several homes. The park is valued at $130,000, most of which was raised through donations, and built with the help of volunteers. Neighbors to the park have complained about vandalism, profanity, drug use, noise and littering, among other issues.
Mark Oberry spoke at the meeting, saying he uses the park every day when it is open, and while there is swearing, he has never seen any drugs.
‘People think we’re bad kids, but we’re not,? he said.
Danielle Oberry, Mark’s older sister, also addressed the council, through tears.
‘They like to bike and skate and without that, I don’t know how they will turn out,? she said. ‘They’re hyper, young and they need something to do. (At the park) they are contained in an area where they can focus their energy so they don’t get into the wrong crowd. They’re all really good kids.?
Two years ago, the village council hired a part-time skate park monitor, but fired him last September for selling concessions against their wishes. The park remained closed for the rest of the season.
During Monday night’s meeting, most councilmembers seemed to agree that the skate park should not reopen without a supervisor. What remains in question is how to fund the position, which is estimated to cost the village $6,372 including FICA, at a salary of $10 per hour.
‘I would like to see the township take back some of the responsibility and open the park right,? said Councilmember Kay Green. ‘We need to hire someone to be there during the hours they are open. The township owns the equipment, so they should have a part. We could share the cost of the monitor.?
Township Parks and Recreation Director Fred Waybrant suggested during the meeting that during the months of June and July, the site supervisor for baseball games could also oversee the skate park. However, councilmembers noted that they would still need supervision for the months of April, May, August, September and October, when the park usually closes for the season.
Waybrant offered as another solution a membership fee for kids who use the park, with the township running it as a program in which kids register to use the park, having their picture taken for a laminated pass, and signing a form consenting to the rules of the park and the behavior expected of them. The fee for such a pass, he suggested, could be $15.
Councilmembers Aileen Champion and Melanie Nivelt expressed doubts about taking such action.
‘It’s too pricy,? said Nivelt.
Waybrant later worked up a skate park analysis and said even if a $15 user fee was charged, 425 registrations would be needed to cover the cost of the monitor. At $25 per kid, 255 registrations would be needed. He estimates 100 different kids use the Skate Park on a regular basis.
It also costs $300-$350 for a certified inspection of the skate park. The last certified safety inspection of the skate park was done two years ago, Waybrant said.
‘We’re not certified, but we tighten nuts and bolts and see if the boards are loose,? Waybrant said. ‘We have a couple boards that are going bad on the half-pipe. We don’t need to get it certified every year.?
Councilmember Dan Eschmann said he would like to see the park open with a monitor, but also with a plan to move it out to the Brandon Township Community Park at Oakwood and Hadley roads.
‘The skate park is terrific for kids,? he said. ‘It’s location is a problem.?
Waybrant said the cost of moving the skate park equipment out to the community park would be $60,000.
Too expensive, said Council President Ken Quisenberry.
‘I would like to keep the park open with a monitor and continue to research other options when and if they should come our way,? he said. ‘I’m an advocate of the skate park as a public facility for the kids to use.?
Green noted that if the park was moved, kids who now walk to the skate park would have to find transportation out to the community park.
Quisenberry said the skate park will be discussed at the next village council meeting, set for 7 p.m., April 12, at the township offices, 395 Mill St.