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Future unclear for skate/bike park in Kane |
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Written by Publisher
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Monday, 20 April 2009 |
Photo by Ted Lutz
A youth rides his bicycle on one of the ramps at the skate/bike park in Kane. The facility is located at Glenwood Park on Hacker Street (Route 321). The Kane Borough Council is upset with litter at the site since trash cans (right) are provided.
By Ted Lutz
Republican Staff
The skate/bike park in Kane has a nebulous future.
The wooden ramps are deteriorating. Vandals and litter also are doing their part to jeopardize the continuation of the youth recreation facility near the Pat Santilli baseball field at Glenwood Park along Hacker Street (Route 321).
Mayor Doug Caldwell last week said there has been “wanton destruction” at the skate/bike park.
“Probably two or three are ruining it for everybody,” he said during discussion at a meeting of the Kane Borough Council.
Borough Manager Patrick Nuzzo said trash is “all over” in the area of the skate-bike park. He believes youths “intentionally don’t use barrels” that have been placed at the site for trash.
“We sent a crew down there and the barrels were empty,” he said. Caldwell said the “garbage goes all over” the area.
Nuzzo said there are “holes” in the wooden ramps at the site.
“Things need to be repaired,” he said.
“It’s our responsibility to maintain it if it’s there,” Caldwell said. “We have to take care of it or it will disappear.”
Council in September 2007 purchased $1,078 in materials for repairs at the skate/bike park. A work crew from the state prison in Marienville provided the manpower for the repairs.
Nuzzo said the facility again needs major repairs.
“It’s bad,” he said.
Some council members believe the time has come to consider shutting down the site rather than make more repairs.
“I say no more repairs,” Councilman Mike Merry said.
The skate/bike ramps were installed in 2004 by a volunteer group of workers headed by Councilman Bob O’Rourke.
The borough used $31,818 in funds from a federal community-development block grant to buy materials. The Kane Rotary Club donated $10,000 to install a paved blacktop area for the base for the skate/bike ramps.
The project at one time was planned in Evergreen Park. However, residents in that area circulated a petition against the Evergreen Park location and the site was moved to Glenwood.
“It’s down there (at Glenwood) and we have to deal with it,” Caldwell told council.
On a recent mild spring evening, at least 15 youths showed up at the skate/bike park to ride their bicycles up and down the wooden ramps and perform trick maneuvers.
A few youths on skateboards also were at the site. But, due to the deteriorating condition of the ramps, the skateboarders do not have smooth sailing.
“It’s a blast,” Cody Rosenhoover of Kane said as he took a break from riding his bicycle on the ramps. “It’s a lot of fun and gives us something to do.”
Rosenhoover said he and his friends “try to keep everything picked up as much as possible” and put trash in the barrels. He said the youths would be “upset” if the borough decides to close the skate/bike park.
“We’re allowed to ride here,” he said. “They yell at us if we ride around up town.”
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Last Updated ( Friday, 12 June 2009 )
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