Guess where? Is this public property? Photo by Paul Goldfinger.
By Charles Layton
Neptune Township proposes to pass an ordinance restricting skateboarding and rollerblading (i.e., inline skating) on public property.
For purposes of the ordinance, the term “public property” would include parking areas; parking lots; steps, walkways and ramps that provide access to buildings, and recreational areas not specifically designated for skateboard and rollerblade use. The term would not include public roads and highways, sidewalks abutting private property, or bicycle and/or skateboard paths — those would be permitted areas unless specifically disallowed.
The proposal was introduced at the Township Committee meeting on May 24. It received unanimous approval by Committee members on first reading.
Mayor Randy Bishop said the issue first came up because people had been skateboarding in the Neptune Senior Center’s parking lot, which was considered hazardous.
Under the proposed ordinance, police could issue a summons to offenders. They could also seize the skateboard or rollerblades of an offender.
In the public comment portion of the May 24 meeting, Kennedy Buckley of Ocean Grove told the Committee members that skateboarding had become a major recreation for a great many young people, “and you’re not providing a place. Think about providing, not just prohibiting.”
Man….no dodgeball, no skateboarding. I see freestyle walking as the next target.
Independent Voter: the ordinance seems to allow for use of a skateboard or roller blades on sidewalks as a means of conveyance like a bike. But not tricks off things.
When it becomes official at the next meeting I guess all the children who have skateboards and rollerblades can sell them at a garage sale. As a young girl growing up, I was out from morning until night,playing ball in the street or games which sometimes involved risk factors. We had roller skates and scooters and yes even red wagons. How many kids do you see playing football or hop scotch or kick the can. Every game today is played on a computer where the kid actually thinks he is playing a real game but is sitting on a couch, eating and getting heavy. No exercise or running around. I live on a block in Neptune and a rough estimate of kids would be around 25-30. If I see a few out at any given time it is a rare thing. Some kids even skateboard to the local school or store or even a friends house to play “video games.” Now they can lose it or seized liek they are convicts. When you seize something is is usaully for a criminal activity like drugs or stolen goods but a skateboard or rollerblades. Again Marybeth, Randy and the other township officials are once again spending so much time on meaningless things. We need change and someone who wants to concentrate on real live issues in town like employment, education of both youth and young adults and programs to keep the kids off the streets and give them recreation and instructional needs. You do not need to build a skateboard park but only use the resources that we already have in town. Marybeth, I hope that the Tony Hawke Foundation gets back to you soon, I hate to see the kids give up something that they love or may have to walk home barefoot when they get there rollerblades “seized”. Another question is how maay kids do the township officials have between themselves to see what goes on an everyday basis when they are growing up from child to teen to young adult and finally adulthood themselves.
The problems we are incurring with skateboarders are these: they do not yield to pedestrians, they damage – and I don’t believe it’s intentional – passive park fixtures, like granite pavers and benches, and they are hurting themselves on public property. When injuries occur on public property from unregulated skateboarders, a claim can be made against the Township, which may or may not be covered by the Township’s insurance policy. We run into the same issue when pavers and benches in parks are damaged by skateboarders, and when a skateboarder hurts him or herself on any public property where skateboarding is not permitted. Modern skateboarding is not just about racing your friends or going down steep hills anymore; Tony Hawk and his generation introduced jumping off steps and doing twists in the air and things like that.
We have been discussing the possibility of an application for and, if awarded, construction of a skateboard park in Neptune through the largesse of the Tony Hawk Foundation. However, there is more to a skateboard park than just building a concrete half-pipe. Towns like Jackson have had some skirmishes between rival groups of kids; in several other towns, the gates have to be locked at night; and another town had to close their park to get rid of all the graffiti, and I believe they assigned a special officer at their skatepark on the weekends. All the local skateparks with whom I spoke had the same #1 issue: accident liability. Even if the Township notifies skatepark users that they use the skatepark at their own risk, that does not stop injured users from filing suit against the Township. Most towns carry extra liability insurance just for their skateparks, which is not cheap, and no revenue is generated from the skatepark to cover the cost.
I hope this sheds a little light in the issues we’re having with well-meaning skateboarders who are unintentionally damaging public property. We will find a solution for them, I’m sure.
Apparently Nancy and West Neptuner aren’t aware if how expensive it is to fix or replace granite.
No, the sidewalk usually lies in the right of way of the road, therefore it is part of the public road. In most cases the first 10-20 ft back from the curb are in the ROW, designed in case they ever widen a road they have built in the space.
You accept responsibility for reasonable maintenance or otherwise arrange for such work when you purchase the home. So either you cut the grass and landscape or you report damage to the town to repair.
West Neptuner – so when a bunch of skateboarders ruin the curbs in front of your house, will you personally pay to repair the damage? Or will you come on here and complain about how “Govt” isn’t doing their job?
Nancy, do you know that skateboarders routinely steal or ruin parking barriers? It happens all the time – those low parking barriers are highly desirable because they’re long and flat and easy to grind on. I can’t imagine you’d want our local seniors to have to navigate a trashed parking lot, with half of it’s parking barriers missing or moved about, would you?
As for a skate park, while I think that’s great and know there are a couple of foundations out there – Tony Hawk’s particularly – that offer grants for them, it’s not going to totally relieve the problem. Skaters will always find a parking lot to grind in. There are a couple of good strip mall parking lots that are always pretty empty I can recommend.
I agree with Nancy above, enough with all the ordinances. Why does Govt think they need to control everything about our daily life’s? These are kids or young adults just trying to stay out of trouble & have some fun. It’s better then sitting in front of TV vegging away with video games.
Since I am responsible for the maintaince of my sidewalk in OG does that make it private?
Enough already with the ordinances. Someone has too much time on their hands. Maybe it will be turned into a movie one day … a skateboard version of “Footloose.”