The new skate park at Community Park in West Windsor is, by most measures, a success. Local youths flocked to the $200,”000 site as soon as it opened on May 12, and continue to break-in the spines, pipes, and grindrails. At the time, Mayor Hsueh said it gave township skaters a safer place to skate than their previous haunts-namely the train station and the schools.##M:[more]##
The skaters don’t seem to have safety on their minds, since most don’t care to wear helmets on their heads. Despite the fact that that rule, along with 11 others, is posted at the entrance to the park, many of the skaters flaunt the free park’s guidelines.
According to Recreation Department head Ken Jacobs, many skaters don’t wear protective gear, including pads as well as helmets. Some of those who do ignore the registration tag rule. “It’s not a supervised park,” said Jacobs. “We asked the police to come by every now and then.”
Police Chief Joseph Pica said the police department frequents the park, and all skaters not wearing the proper padding are asked to leave the facility.
Regardless of who breaks the rules, the township will not be held responsible for injuries. “The township is covered against injury as long as the rules are posted,” said Jacobs, who said he and other members of the recreation department intermittently check the park to remind its users of the rules.
The park is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day. Some hours are designated for bike riders and others for skateboarders and in-line skaters. “They don’t really keep to those hours. They all use the park at the same time,” said Jacobs.
