WILTON — Options to deal with problems at the town’s skateboard area at Kineowatha Park are up for discussion at the next Wilton Recreation Committee meeting planned for 6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 10, at the Wilton Town Office.

After receiving a number of complaints about foul language used by some participants, trash left, speeding, vandalism, smoking, and the use of park picnic tables and trash cans for ramps, the Recreation Committee is ready to discuss options, including the possible closing of the skateboard park, said Recreation Director Frank Donald.

It’s not a matter of wanting to get rid of it, although there are a few people on the committee leaning in that direction, he said. They wouldn’t want to do so without giving a chance for skateboarders and residents to voice their opinions.

Donald has already received some calls and e-mails saying “shut it down” while others voice how “it’s the best thing going in the park,” he said.

“We encourage people to come to the discussion, pro and con. We’d definitely like to see actual skaters weigh in on it,” he said.

The paved skateboard area was built and opened about eight years ago when skateboarders needed a place to go somewhere off the downtown streets.

They formed Skaters Need A Park and raised $5,000. The Recreation Department agreed to match it, and when the actual cost came in higher, paid the difference, he said.

The park is in a visible spot near his office, the tennis court and a soccer/baseball field and becomes an ice skating rink in the winter.

“It’s had some peaks and valleys,” he said of the need for the park to be shut down for a week or two for inappropriate behavior, a right listed on the skateboard area sign posted outside his office.

Sometimes the music brought by the skaters is deemed too loud or inappropriate. Some people heading for the tennis courts have been pestered with inappropriate things said to them.

Some skaters haven’t wanted to share the paved area with people parking for soccer or ball games. While wanting to keep the skateboard park in a visible area, another designated skateboard area might be the answer.

It’s not the only area where trash is left. Donald receives complaints about trash on the beach and playground, including dirty diapers, but it’s the accumulative number of complaints, the volume and frequency, that has the committee looking at options, he said.

Some options might be a parental volunteer staff to watch over it or charging a fee to pay someone to watch it or the possible closure.

“Closing the skate park is not our first choice for several reasons. One, it is used a lot, and we would like to see that continue if these problems can be addressed. Also closing the park would mean more skateboarders on the street, which is dangerous and is already causing complaints to the town office. It would likely mean more skateboarders in front of businesses in town,” he stated in a release.

The meeting is meant to brainstorm ideas. The public is welcome to attend or to contact the Recreation Department or town office with any concerns. The Recreation Department can be called at 645-4825 or by e-mail at [email protected]

[email protected]

Comment on this story at:

https://www.sunjournal.com/weblink/Comment on this story at:

https://www.sunjournal.com/weblink/