Just got this in my email. So great how the Goners are taking ownership of all of skateboarding. These guys have been coming to NBPT for 5 minutes and I guess now they own it. If people like them didn't play into this crap there wouldn't be a problem. Go ahead, lock the gates, jumping the fence is more fun anyway. Go Home Goners, enough.


Letter To The Editor, The Daily News

Cuts in city funding risk youth safety and skate park closure.
Parents and businesses join forces to save it - temporarily.

Cuts to the city’s Youth Services department is this current fiscal year fell solely upon the Newburyport Skate Park, wreaking havoc with the park’s operations. Through efforts by the FNSP (Friends of Newburyport Skate Park) and GONE (Geezers of New England) over $4,000 has recently been pledged.

Since its creation in 2002, the Newburyport Skate Park has provided an ideal location for youth and young adults to enjoy skateboarding – one of the fastest growing sports in the country. Created through community fundraising, and maintained by volunteers and raised funds, city residents and downtown businesses have greatly benefited from this unique park, over the past eight years. Through a management plan mandated by the city, at the park’s creation, the city has employed skate guards (safety monitors) at the park, at minimum wage, to enforce safety rules including helmet use. However, recent budget cuts to the skate park had eliminated employed skate guards and have resulted in a variety of issues and inconsistent operation of the park. These issues may continue into the next fiscal year if funding is not restored.

After a trial period of operating the park without skate guards, city officials and school administration have determined that skate guards are needed. However, the Mayor hasn’t yet provided funding, which could cause the park to close this summer or fall. 

Currently, the park is operating with erratic hours, solely through volunteers and private donations. The FNSP has just completed repairs to the park and has raised funds to enable the city to rehire skate guards through June 30th, the remainder of this fiscal year. We acknowledge the generosity of New Balance Sneaker Corp for their generous contribution of $1600; local merchant Ganesh Imports for $500, parents Bob & Tracy Pezzella for their donation of $350, and the great work of Tim Coolidge for the recent repairs. And we thank numerous others for their volunteerism and financial contributions. However, these donations are only a temporary solution and the park still faces future closure.

The skate park has proven itself over an eight-year period, to be a healthy and safe environment for both youth and young adults. While the FNSP acknowledges the mayor’s desire to cut city budgets in order to restore funding to schools, it cannot come at the risk of youth safety. In 2004, Mayor Clancy had done the same, cutting funding to the skate park and then restoring it quickly thereafter. Mayor Clancy also developed the current Youth Services department, which continues to grow and benefit our city’s youth.

Only $12,000 is needed annually to fund the skate park, and continue its proven success. In comparison to Newburyport’s other city/school athletic facilities, the funding is minimal as the skate park takes up a small fraction of municipal real estate and sees more use, per square foot, than any other city athletic space. Park maintenance is paid for and executed by the FNSP, comprised of youth and parent volunteers.

Skateboarding is now the third largest sport for ages 6-18 and requires discipline, mastery and camaraderie. It requires no coach, team, or organization in which to operate and offers a superior bang for the buck.

To cut this funding, clearly puts our youth at risk by potentially forcing the skate park to close and returning skateboarders to our city streets. Almost all skateboarding accidents occur on streets – not in skate parks – and often involve motor vehicles. We urge the mayor to safeguard our youth and restore funding for skate guard employment for the coming fiscal year.

The FNSP is hosting its annual Skate Fest at the Newburyport Skate Park on Wednesday, June 16th, 5 – 8 pm. Both a celebration and a fundraiser for the park, all skaters and families are invited to attend.

There is no cost to joining the FNSP. Updates on the skate park are provided through email and facebook. To join, contact us at gvalway@aol.com or on facebook at Newburyport Skate Park.

Signed,
Friends of Newburyport Skate Park


Ginny & Tom Eramo
David Hall
Lisa Dorval
Bill Bixby
Bob & Tracey Pezzella
John Pezzella
James Shanley
Molly & Peter Ettenborough
Lori & Paul Healy
Gary & Kay Halloran
Scott Boches
Lori Dameron
Evan Boches