Juveniles Continue to Trespass at Township Skate Park
Most recently, portion of fence was removed for juveniles to gain access
Police recently responded to the Gille Skate Park for a report of juveniles trespassing inside.
At approximately 3 p.m., Feb. 15, Officer Darrell Nick arrived at the skate park, which was unoccupied.
It was discovered that the southwest corner of the skate park’s fence was damaged. A section of the fence was removed, allowing access into the skate park.
The approximate cost of the damage is $50.
In May 2012, the township Committee voted to have the skate park monitored and opened seasonally because kids were violating the rules. An ordinance was also passed requiring Lacey residents to purchase a photo identification card from the Recreation Office to utilize the skate park.
The skate park now operates from April through October and is closed during the winter.
Although the issue has improved, Capt. David Paprota says that there are "continuing problems" at the Skate Park with trespassing issues.
The Committee had said they would consider keeping the park open come November but never revisited the issue.
“With all that’s going on, we’re inundated,” Mayor David Most said. “That’s just not one of our priorities.”
Most said the Skate Park would be less populated during the winter months.
“We can revisit it,” Most said, adding that he will talk to the Recreation Director Jim Wioland. “There’s always going to be ongoing problems. There’s always going to be people who don’t conform to what you do.”
lacey4ever
6:12 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
OMG open the park and let the kids skate. Why have it, if you can't use it.
Mitty
7:17 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
I agree. Is there anyway people can volunteer to monitor the skate park?
Dozer Dave
7:44 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Send the friends and family plan members in the rec dept what do they do all day?
Really !!!
8:21 am on Thursday, February 28, 2013
and then they wonder why there is a drug problem !! for crying out loud -- open the park --- which was created for the kids --- then bye bye to the cut gates! some adults should have their heads examined. while they're at it....there should be 2 skate parks! Maybe the kids will stop hanging out by the playground area where they cause more trouble for toddlers and elementary kids.
Lacey Probz
1:18 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Good job Lacey finally where keeping kids out of trouble....annoying skateboarders....now they have more free time to do drugs.
'12 Alumni
1:21 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
Open the park and let them skate. They can gain, I don't know, a sense of community and make new friends. This town seems to be lacking a place for skaters to go and 'hang out'. Not all of these kids are 'bad'. Let's think this through; they are breaking INTO the SKATE park to SKATE, which means they aren't skating in places where they shouldn't be. Makes sense to keep it closed, I guess.
proud
1:43 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
I recall some time back, there was an issue with skateboarding at the Lacey Mall. While walking into Shop Rite in the midst of the said skating debacle, I encountered a young man wearing a T shirt that exclaimed,:
"SKATBOARDING IS NOT A CRIME!"
just saying...
Bystander
2:08 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
I don't see how a skatepark should be treated any differently from a soccer field or playground or hockey rink. Why single out a group of kids who enjoy a different sport by requiring them to not only be supervised by some kid recreation hires and also PAY to use a public park? These are the same type of kids that are going to end up drug addicts because they have nothing to do. If you closed the soccer field I'm sure there'd be a different group of kids who would cut that fence too.
jabe0312
7:47 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
It has to be minitored because if little Johnny doesn't have all of his safety equipment and gets a scrape on his shin, then mommy and daddy will sue the township, the skateboard maker, the skateboard park builder and the cement company who dekivered the concrete over his injuries for $25 million dollars. Which means us taxpayers will have to underwrite it.
That's why!
JAKE 2
9:22 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
YUP ...EXACTLY.... its the parents that cause these issues !! i agree with the last comment...
Kelley
10:55 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
I grew up in this town before the skate park was around and even before Gille Park was completed. I don't know how I stayed away from drugs without these things here, wow, it must be a miracle! STFU you whiners, since when did it become my tax-paying problem to entertain your bratty kids?!
DevilsFan609
7:00 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
I think Im in love. Great response.
Laura
12:25 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013
Ok let's ignore the bratty kids so they start up a drug habit and rob you and your familys house instead !! Moron. Those bratty kids are the future, you obviously are ignorant! Maybe drugs weren't as big of a problem when you grew up but guess what that was then, this is now. Its ppl with mentalities like your own that are contributing to the destruction of our society. !
jabe0312
12:37 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013
Bravo Kelly!
Really !!!
6:59 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
every hear of swim at own risk? --- same theory should apply.
@Kelley -- since the town opened parks, beaches, schools....ETC and a recreation department!!! wake up ! it isn't 1940 anymore.
Resident of Lacey
8:54 am on Friday, March 1, 2013
Hummm, Now was the skate park for the kids or something else?
Excuses, Excuses
2:37 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013
The whole helmet violation excuse doesn't make sense. They don't enforce that rule in the hockey rink (which there is a sign)? Nor do they monitor it.
MEJ
9:16 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2013
Revisit it when? When the kids who want to skate are senior citizens..