New skate park will be set to roll by summer’s end

New skate park will be set
to roll by summer’s end

JAMESBURG — Borough children will see their hard work to build a skate park pay off this summer.

The new skate park is already under construction on a 10,000-square-foot parcel alongside the baseball fields and basketball courts at the Green Acres park on Augusta Street.

It’s been a long time coming for the community’s skaters and their families.

After being banned from skating on school property because of liability issues, the borough’s skaters decided to take action, forming a skate park committee in November and asking Mayor Anthony LaMantia and the Borough Council if the governing body could help.

LaMantia told the group that the borough could not afford to build the entire park because the recreation budget did not have the funds, but the municipality was able to provide the Augusta Street property on which to build the park.

The skaters then decided to start fund raising and raised about $8,500 by selling candy bars, holding spaghetti dinners and soliciting donations. Their efforts were also rewarded with a $10,000 grant from the state. Materials and labor are being donated by local businesses.

Construction began this summer and is expected to be completed in a matter of weeks.

"We are waiting for the asphalt to be put down so we can get the fencing done," Susan Zimmer, skate park committee co-chairwoman, said. It is hoped the park will be finished by the beginning of August, she said.

LaMantia said he is thankful to the parents who helped the skaters raise the money for the park.

"I am proud of the children for working with the town," he said. "I am happy to see the kids of Jamesburg being so independent. When they want something, they go out and do something about it."

The skate park committee, comprised of about 25 parents and children, is co-chaired by Theresa Pilecki whose two sons are among the skateboarders involved in the effort. She said in May that her children and others were using plastic-molded ramps and a 250-pound box, which they set in the street and use to perform tricks and stunts.

"They have to move them when the cars come by, so it’s inconvenient to say the least," Pilecki said, adding that it takes several kids to move the box.

Skate park committee members also said the new facility will provide a safer environment by taking them out of the street where the danger exists of getting struck by a car.

The design for the new park, which is described as a basic course, was developed by the skateboarders themselves.