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Skateboard park opens
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| Robert Ragaini/Hudson-Catskill Newspapers City officials watch as skateboarder Scott Merritt is the first to "drop in" to the halfpipe at the new skatepark at Hudson's Oakdale Lake park Monday. Observing the official opening of the park are, from left, Mayor Rick Scalera, Fourth Ward Supervisor William Hughes, Treasurer Eileen Halloran, Third Ward Alderman Christopher Wagoner, DPW Foreman Skip Weed, Youth Department Recreation Supervisor George Bednar and Mayor's Aide Carmine Pierro. |
By Jamie Larson
Officials turned their backs and cringed as the first (authorized) skater dropped in to the half pipe at Oakdale Park to christen the new city skate park, years in the making.
“I can’t watch,” Mayor Richard Scalera said as Hudson High School student Scott Merritt nonchalantly pulled a 50/50 grind on the lip of the ramp behind him.
After the public officials, who gathered for the opening, drove away the park filled with about a dozen skaters who took to the ramps and couldn’t resist giving some advice on how the park could be made better. “They shouldn’t have put the box over by the half pipe,” Chris Szafran said. “It’s pretty good I guess. They’re finally doing something for us.”
Despite the precociousness of his peer, Merritt said the skaters should say something positive about the park and thought for a few seconds sitting on the edge of a drop-in. “I’d like to thank the city of Hudson for building us a skate park at Oakdale, and keeping us out of trouble in the streets,” he said.
“I’m happy for the kids,” Scalera said, though watching kids skate does make him more then a little nervous. “I can tell you how happy they are, because I had to chase 15 kids off of it Sunday, but just to tell them to come back 10 a.m. Monday when it’s open.”
The impetus for the park came originally from Warren Street business owners who complained about young skaters damaging their property and being a general nuisance. The city worked with Youth Department donors and local businesses to drastically reduce the city’s financial contribution to the roughly $109,000 build.
Hudson River Bank and Trust Company covered the entire cost of the equipment installed, $72,000 worth of ramps and rails, by reallocating a portion of their five year, $500,000 donation to the Hudson Youth Program.
The city contributed $28,000 for excavation and black-topping and $9,300 for installation of a easily hopped four foot fence. And $5,000 of the fence’s cost was later donated by two undisclosed nonprofit organizations.
Scalera added that all the local companies involved in the building process donated some free services. Roma Fence, he said, went above and beyond the contracted build, adding additional features. J and R Contractors did some free bulldozing on an adjacent hill to keep water from flowing into the park, and A. Colarusso and Son, supplied a couple loads of free gravel.
Even City Treasurer Eileen Halloran said the unbudgeted funds spent for the skaters was “absolutely” worth it. “There are a lot of interests served by this,” Halloran said, remarking that she has spoken with a number of concerned business owners. “They see it as business development and good for the young people.”
“I give a lot of credit to our youth and those who worked so hard to actually get this done,” said Supervisor William Hughes (D-4th Ward). “It’s been a long time coming.”
“It helps in so many ways,” said Alderman Christopher Wagoner (D-3rd Ward). “It keeps kids off the street and parents know where they are.”
The mayor said he has a vision to grow the west side of Oakdale even more, leveling out some hills and gullys and adding a playground to create an even more active recreation center. “(The skate park) is a collective effort of people in the community and the Common Council,” Scalera said, “and this administration got it done.”
The Youth Department is still feeling out details about how to regulate the skate park but those who want to skate now need to sign a waver and receive a permit card from the Youth Department office at Oakdale. Helmets and pads are required to use the facility, and the park is closed when the low gate is locked.
To reach reporter Jamie Larson call 518-828-1616, ext. 2269, or e-mail jlarson@registerstar.com. to comment directly on this story visit www. registerstar.com.
“I can’t watch,” Mayor Richard Scalera said as Hudson High School student Scott Merritt nonchalantly pulled a 50/50 grind on the lip of the ramp behind him.
After the public officials, who gathered for the opening, drove away the park filled with about a dozen skaters who took to the ramps and couldn’t resist giving some advice on how the park could be made better. “They shouldn’t have put the box over by the half pipe,” Chris Szafran said. “It’s pretty good I guess. They’re finally doing something for us.”
Despite the precociousness of his peer, Merritt said the skaters should say something positive about the park and thought for a few seconds sitting on the edge of a drop-in. “I’d like to thank the city of Hudson for building us a skate park at Oakdale, and keeping us out of trouble in the streets,” he said.
“I’m happy for the kids,” Scalera said, though watching kids skate does make him more then a little nervous. “I can tell you how happy they are, because I had to chase 15 kids off of it Sunday, but just to tell them to come back 10 a.m. Monday when it’s open.”
The impetus for the park came originally from Warren Street business owners who complained about young skaters damaging their property and being a general nuisance. The city worked with Youth Department donors and local businesses to drastically reduce the city’s financial contribution to the roughly $109,000 build.
Hudson River Bank and Trust Company covered the entire cost of the equipment installed, $72,000 worth of ramps and rails, by reallocating a portion of their five year, $500,000 donation to the Hudson Youth Program.
The city contributed $28,000 for excavation and black-topping and $9,300 for installation of a easily hopped four foot fence. And $5,000 of the fence’s cost was later donated by two undisclosed nonprofit organizations.
Scalera added that all the local companies involved in the building process donated some free services. Roma Fence, he said, went above and beyond the contracted build, adding additional features. J and R Contractors did some free bulldozing on an adjacent hill to keep water from flowing into the park, and A. Colarusso and Son, supplied a couple loads of free gravel.
Even City Treasurer Eileen Halloran said the unbudgeted funds spent for the skaters was “absolutely” worth it. “There are a lot of interests served by this,” Halloran said, remarking that she has spoken with a number of concerned business owners. “They see it as business development and good for the young people.”
“I give a lot of credit to our youth and those who worked so hard to actually get this done,” said Supervisor William Hughes (D-4th Ward). “It’s been a long time coming.”
“It helps in so many ways,” said Alderman Christopher Wagoner (D-3rd Ward). “It keeps kids off the street and parents know where they are.”
The mayor said he has a vision to grow the west side of Oakdale even more, leveling out some hills and gullys and adding a playground to create an even more active recreation center. “(The skate park) is a collective effort of people in the community and the Common Council,” Scalera said, “and this administration got it done.”
The Youth Department is still feeling out details about how to regulate the skate park but those who want to skate now need to sign a waver and receive a permit card from the Youth Department office at Oakdale. Helmets and pads are required to use the facility, and the park is closed when the low gate is locked.
To reach reporter Jamie Larson call 518-828-1616, ext. 2269, or e-mail jlarson@registerstar.com. to comment directly on this story visit www. registerstar.com.
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celticsfan33and1 wrote on Aug 18, 2009 7:26 PM: