New Location Eyed for Shuttered Port Monmouth Skate Park

The township's only skate park in Port Monmouth, closed since 2010 due to vandalism and liability concerns, may be rolled up, moved, and re-opened in another location where it can be better monitored by police, Mayor Gerard Scharfenberger said today. 

Tindall Park, near Middletown High School North and the township police station, is one of the parks being considered by the township engineers, the mayor said. The planning is just in the preliminary stages.

"It causes trouble, but there is a demand for it," said Scharfenberger. Extreme vandalism and liability concerns forced the township to lock up the paved .8 acre park on Pulsch Street, which was built in 2003 after a decade of discussion. 

"There were too many reports of broken glass on the ground, kids riding the ramps on bicycles, safety concerns. It drew a very unruly crowd," said the mayor. "We couldn't police it the way we needed to, 24/7" he said.

The pocket park and small parking lot, located on a side street surrounded by the Port Monmouth Post Office, a few new residential homes, and a strip mall, was purchased by the township in 2003 with $165,000 of open space funds, and equipped and constructed with $180,000 from the Recreation Dept., according to a 2003 report in the Independent.

With features like quarter pipes, pyramids, banks, fun box and rails, the park is appreciated by skateboarders and is currently in great condition and hazard-free, said Brian Woodward, who owns the stylish Nephews Skateboard Shop + Gallery around the corner with his brother Shawn. Brian Woodward said the park is kept clean by these days by those who use it. Although it is locked up, anyone can access it through one of several holes in the fence. 

Shop Manager Dalton Graham said, "The park's great, and it's the only skate park in Middletown, so the kids have nowhere else to go. It's hard to skate regular street spots, without getting kicked out." Because it is located off the Henry Hudson multi-used trail, skaters can come by bike or board, he said.  

Shawn Woodward said he's recently reached out to the township government to propose a deal to lease the Port Monmouth Skate Park and supervise it. But Mayor Scharfenberger said Thursday the township is not currently considering that idea. 

Shawn Woodward said, "We'd like to have the skate park open to the public, freely, for everybody to enjoy, just like every other park in the township."  Not only for the sake of the town's youth as they approach their summer break, he said, but for the local economy.

Port Monmouth delis, pizza restaurants and convenience stores would have more customers. "Port Monmouth could use the economic boost, especially after Hurricane Sandy came through and ripped it apart," he said.