Seba Avenue Skate Park is a Disgrace
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Seba Avenue Skate Park is a Disgrace!
If it’s not the trees being broken in half, it’s now the litter, destruction and complete lack of maintenance.
What used to be a beautiful park, which opened in November 2007 , is now a disaster. Completely green grass is now a desert or in some spots completely overgrown. The park is completely covered in garbage: bottles, cans, beer, liquor, plastic bags, broken glass, cardboard boxes, and graffiti.
The toddler park has broken glass in it and empty beer cans and boxes.
Even better is the bus shelter that is currently destroyed on Everett Avenue. The posters from that shelter are at the park (here and here). Case Solved. The Seba Avenue bus shelter covered in graffiti, is in front of the park again cased solved.
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There has been alot of talk and hope that the local kids will police themselves back there. Well that idea is shot dead as of right now. That park (including RCSMP) needs enforcement.
Maybe Fred Wilkins the park manager will do something/anything, but more than likely he won’t. I have not seen any litter removal at Seba Avenue Park in weeks. Also, from comments on this site (made by parks managers) and “meeting chatter” our park manager isn’t to fond of our neighborhood.
We all know there is ZERO enforcement back weeds and at the park, just last night there was 30-40 kids at the park past 9pm, when a “cop in a box”(those interceptors/scooters) drove past and did nothing. All that cop would have to do it get out and say leave, hang out for 10 minutes to make sure and we won’t get our parks and bus shelters destroyed.
I don’t know about you, but considering what it cost to build this park, I’m angry there is no enforcement and more angry that no one is doing anything about it.
I don’t want to see the NYPD wasting their time or our time with their Guard Tower, or the captain himself on Gerritsen Avenue on the 4th of July. They just need to patrol!
Without enforcement, this park will be destroyed soon.
Posted: July 11th, 2008 under Avenue, Commentary, NYC Parks, Old Section, Seba Avenue Skate Park.
Comments: 62
Comments
Comment from Anonymous
Time July 11, 2008 at 9:26 pm
I think this park was set up to fail. No grand opening, no supervision, no pd or park presence, just nothing.
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Comment from annmarieminze
Time July 11, 2008 at 11:35 pm
I was there with my grandson a few weeks ago and was very saddened to see what they have done to the park. the glass and beer bottles. They distroyed this park 40 years ago Here we go again.
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Comment from Happyjack
Time July 12, 2008 at 7:52 am
I remember the original park that was there 40 yrs ago. That was driven down by the local youth. It looks like history repeating itself. What a shame..these kids don’t know what they’ve got and how good they have it.
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Comment from Andy
Time July 12, 2008 at 10:36 am
It’s not the kids fault, but the parents. Clearly, these kids are bored out of their mind, have nothing better to do, and the parents do not care.
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Comment from skatekid
Time July 12, 2008 at 11:51 am
As a GB teenager I have to say that we are all trash and should all be locked up.
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Comment from joseph
Time July 12, 2008 at 12:01 pm
for all those that wanted a skatepark where are you?
THIS PARK WAS BUILT FOR YOU take care of it go clean it up and use it as it was meant to be for those Not intested in skating stay away go home and destroy your own stuff
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Comment from Anonymous
Time July 12, 2008 at 12:05 pm
How can you say that there’s no enforcement back the weeds . Didn’t they do a great job getting rid of The wrestling ring and paintball ? two things the teenagers in the beach liked to do . I’ve seen the park , Its more then a shame its an outrage .
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Comment from mike24611
Time July 12, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Good comment joseph, the kids who skate should look out for it, it is there for them. As for the people who see who is destroying the park, or anything in our neighborhood, and say nothing, they need to open their mouths. It is our neighborhood and we need to protect it
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Comment from Anonymous
Time July 12, 2008 at 2:07 pm
I thought this park was supposed to be surrounded by a very large gate that would be closed at dusk? Wasn’t that in the original plans?
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Comment from anonymous
Time July 12, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Oh great, just what they need, a new toy to climb over and destroy. They wasted enough money on this eyesore. As for the comments about those kids being bored, why? They were built their own skate park, skateboard! If you’re done and bored go the f home, your old enough to stay home alone if your parents aren’t there. Destroy your home not “our” park. Forty years ago that park was the only thing the local teens had, today there is no excuse.
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Comment from Anonymous
Time July 12, 2008 at 9:51 pm
They’re bored because none of them wanted a skate park .not that ,that makes what they’re doing right but Most teen that I’ve talked to were never asked what they wanted and even if the idea was ok with them , they would never use it because they don’t skate board . as far as I know it was never presented to Gerritsen beach as what would you like but this is what your going to get . Wait till the bathrooms are built . The Kiddie park was a good idea but we need someone to clean it on a daily bases like they do in Marine park .
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Comment from anonymous
Time July 12, 2008 at 10:25 pm
I am 48 years old and no one has ever asked me what kind of park I ever wanted.
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Comment from monsterzro
Time July 12, 2008 at 11:02 pm
a shame, I haven’t been there since April, and it was in decent shape. Maybe these kids need to get summer jobs instead of tearing up parks.
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Comment from anonymous
Time July 12, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Don’t only blame the kids from the neighborhood, there are many other kids that show up there every day OHHHH right they can do not wrong it is only the
GB kids that do graffiti and throw bottles and cans., LITTER ETC…
…. YEAH RIGHT!!!
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Comment from truth hurts
Time July 12, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Whoever that anonymous is that always defends GB kids and blames outsiders makes me sick. It is GB trash kids. Wake up. You think Italian kids from Bensonhurst come all the way to Seba to trash it and then go home? YEAH RIGHT!!!
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Comment from Anonymous
Time July 13, 2008 at 9:16 am
there are a lot of kids from marine park and sheepshead that come to the park its everyone. the park should be maintained.
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Comment from dont crap on our guard rails
Time July 13, 2008 at 11:34 am
I would not mind seeing a few photos of the kids who are leaving the park at night posted on this site…..Maybe some parents in this ‘hood will concern themselves more with their childrens activities, rather than drinking at the bar all night or playing in the weeds all day.
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Comment from Regina
Time July 13, 2008 at 11:46 am
I just called 311 to complain about the condition of the park.
Maybe it will help. I hope so.
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Comment from mike24611
Time July 13, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Anonymous, lets be serious here, I am sure that there are kids from residing neighborhoods coming here and messing the park up but if you are seriously defending the kids in this neighborhood, then you are blind to what goes on. Just drive down the avenue after 7pm and watch. I have been in the ice cream store when some knuckleheads decided it would be fun to bounce a basketball off the front glass, and then others figured it would be fun to sit on the steps leading down into the store even though it meant people had to ask them to move. And thats a mild example, the racing up and down the courtswith no regard for who is coming, the parking on a block and drug buying and usage. I have made numerous calls to 911 and it has worked on some occasions, but if others are gonna have your attitude that it is outside people coming in and doing these things then why even bother talking about it? just let whatver happenes, happen
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Comment from anonymous
Time July 13, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Go ahead keep defending the GB kids, keep blaming the outsiders, and when you need to move forget about trying sell your house, no one wants to move into a dump.
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Comment from Anonymous
Time July 13, 2008 at 8:59 pm
These kids will be in Rikers soon. Of course they will be replaced by the next group of mutts.
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Comment from BakiShamil
Time July 13, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Rikers it is for them if they don’t want live in peaceful and clean neighborhood
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Comment from Local BMX Rider
Time July 13, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Trash is a problem at the skate park. No doubt about that… whether it be the empty water bottles, beer cans, wrappers, etc, or some of the kids that just hang around there and don’t skate or ride a bike. As for the dead grass and overgrown grass. They should have never sorrounded the skate park with grass lawns in the first place. It is useless and only attracts tons of bugs into the skate park. It annoys the shit out of me and I know it annoys a bunch of the local skaters and riders there as well. The people in charge of the planning and building should have sorrounded the skate park with cemented hills, stair sets, and cement bleachers in place of the grass slopes around the park. Less bugs, less maintenance, and more material for skaters and bikers to ride. More trash cans shud be mounted in place around the skate park as well. When I ride there I never see a trash can around. I think there is one for the entire park.
Now I say, instead of installing public bathrooms into the park, which will inevitably be polluted with tons of sex, drugs, trash, and urine, redo the skate parks sorrounding… cover up those dead grass sloped lawns with cement banks, stair sets, and cement bleachers. Less bugs, Less maintenance, More stuff for us riders/skaters to ride and skate.
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Comment from anonymous
Time July 14, 2008 at 2:54 am
… I am not talking about Italian kids from bensonhurst,!!!!! Where in the world did you get THAT from??? (do you have a problem with them also??? ),
Other kids do come from out of the neighborhood and race on the avenue like the kids in the new black BMW and mercedes I saw racing down the avenue tonight (sunday) gee… what court do they live on ??.. and Yes there are rotten kids down here but NOT all of them are . I am tired of all of them getting a bad name because of what is written on this board there certainly are wise a–es that hang out on the avenue , but there ARE also well behaved and good kids down here , so while I am defending some kids down here… I am NOT defending them all because there is a LOT of white trash down here adults included.
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Comment from joseph
Time July 14, 2008 at 9:29 am
If all the GOOD PEOPLE would stop complaining about all the
Bad people and stand together AGAINST them what a great place the Beach could be. Stop complaining and do something about it. Keep calling the pct the parks dept the newspapers give all the info you can call enough and somebody will listen Remember the squeaky wheel gets the oil.
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Comment from anonomous
Time July 14, 2008 at 10:24 am
Why does boredom have to equal destruction?
Newsflash: GB is a very very boring place to live in the PM after the age of 8. There is no structured activity (for free) in the neighborhood & it has been like this FOREVER. So if you can not afford to entertain your child for a fee (karate, girl scouts etc) and can not drive them outside the neighborhood to the movies or the sport center on Flatbush, try entertaining them at home.
Too often ADD & ADHD is blamed for the child’s behavior when if theses children were paid attention to they would not be bored & probably would not need medication. Its tough living today without both parents working and being too tired to entertain their child but you know what? TOO BAD YOU chose to have the kid now take care of them.
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Comment from monsterzro
Time July 14, 2008 at 3:06 pm
how many of these bored kids have part time jobs?
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Comment from anonymous
Time July 14, 2008 at 6:33 pm
“They should never have surrounded the skate park with grass lawns in the first place.” ROFLMAO
The grass was there way before you dude.
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Comment from Regina
Time July 15, 2008 at 11:33 pm
I drove by the skate park this morning and the parks department was cleaning it up. Is there any improvement?
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Comment from Tiggergirl
Time July 16, 2008 at 7:49 am
What the parks dept should have done was put somthing for adults near the skate park, that way there is always an adult around. Also there should be a fence around the entire area
and it should be locked at night.
If there was a dog run by there - adults would be hanging around all day and evening. You can’t have kids unattended for hours and expect nothing to happen.
As for the beer and drugs - anyone with an idea on how to stop it. I’m tired of the kids on the avenue throwing the bottles and hanging out doing drugs. I can’t believe NO ONE SEE’s THIS?????
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Comment from Kate
Time July 16, 2008 at 9:41 am
People walk there dogs there anyway…it doesn’t stop the kids. I’ve called more than once to say there was a group of about 50 kids scattered around the park. Some nights you don’t realize how many kids are there because they aren’t loud & it is very dark. Then you see the shapes.
And just for the record there is a good mix of kids from the beach & from outside the beach. More than once I have seen sub-groups of the large groups waiting for the bus at Seba and you can hear them say things like, “We have to be home at 10.” When it’s not 9 yet…
I am a life long resident and when I was 15 or 16 I didn’t hang out in the beach because no one from the beach went to my high school. I would take 2 or 3 busses to hang out with my friends on the weekends or on weeknights in the summer.
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Comment from Gizmo
Time July 16, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Forget about these fences and dog parks, etc. The parents need to be more involved with what their kids are doing and teach them respect. BOTTOM LINE.
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Comment from monsterzro
Time July 16, 2008 at 2:26 pm
my kids are 9 and almost 2, if you see them trashing stuff in the next few years, find me, I’ll straighten them out.
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Comment from HERE
Time July 17, 2008 at 12:32 am
I HEAR THAT A YOUNG MAN BY THE NAME OF “PATRICK” BROKE THE PARK BENCH. HE BROUGHT IT TO THE RUNWAY AND POSITIONED IT NEAR A CAMPFIRE TO KEEP WARM DURING THE WINTER……GOOD JOB PATRICK!
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Comment from Proudtobeabeachrat
Time July 17, 2008 at 10:14 am
I have not been to the skate park often but I can tell you this there is a seriously lack of garbage cans in both the skate park and Gerristen park. When ever I do go to the park I have to take my garbage with me because they are either no existent or completely full.
I do play softball at the fields and there are no garbage cans there either, which amazes me because there are constantly games going on.
Something needs to be done. I would beat my child if he was that disrespectful to the community!
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Comment from anonomous
Time July 17, 2008 at 10:24 am
Beachrat,
You hit the nail on the head. you would beat your child.
Children are no longer threatened by corporal punishment.
Bring back beatings and see how fast the kids straghten up
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Comment from Anonymous
Time July 17, 2008 at 10:30 am
your both right bringem on but then some idiot will call
acs and have you butt turned in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Comment from Proudtobeabeachrat
Time July 17, 2008 at 10:37 am
Who is gonna call ACS? I would not leave any bruises! Prove it.
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Comment from Proudtobeabeachrat
Time July 17, 2008 at 10:39 am
No serious. I would beat fear into my child. Not beat him so that he is really hurt physically. Hopefully, if you bring your children up with morals and values you would not literally have to beat them.
Growing up my parents whacked me when necessary and I am not scarred because of it. Discipline your kids people.
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Comment from Gizmo
Time July 17, 2008 at 11:04 am
YES DISCIPLINE! Parents let their kids do whatever they like. They seem to assume that they are angels and do not have to intervene. The kids are learning from their parents. It’s a endless cycle.
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Comment from anonomous
Time July 17, 2008 at 11:50 am
Literally beating anyone (including animals) is wrong of course but tying a parent’s hands causes outragoues behavior.
There is nothing wrong with being afraid to get in trouble it keeps MOST kids from doing something wrong.
Threats only work if you act on it. It usually takes one crack on the butt for most children to not want a second one.
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Comment from susan
Time July 17, 2008 at 3:15 pm
I don’t necessarily think hanging out in a park at dark is bad. Where do u expect these kids to go? Is any parent going to let 10-20 in their homes? I doubt it. What I think is bad is that these kids are making it bad for themselves. If this is the place that you can go to with your friends, and you obvious like being there, why do you destroy it? Forget the fact that it is not the right thing to do and that you are making it bad for younger children and babies who want to play there during the day and can’t because of your glass and garbage. Be selfish and see that you are making it bad for yourself. The park will start to be policed and you will have no place to hang out.
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Comment from jane
Time July 17, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Yes it is GB Kids doing this. Hanging out in the park is not bad. Destroying the park is. Maybe Parents should pay attention to where there kids are and what they are doing/
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Comment from There
Time July 17, 2008 at 11:45 pm
One garbage can in the skate park!
All readers please take a moment to call 311 or call a local polititian and complain.
Ever since the park opened there has been and extrodinary amount of litter that needs to be policed.
The Parks Department is failing our community! Do they fail communities like Crown hieghts, Midwood, Park Slope or even Bed. Stuy? Doubt it.
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Pingback from GerritsenBeach.net » Picture of the Week: Egret
Time July 18, 2008 at 10:17 am
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Comment from Anonymous
Time July 18, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Gerritsen Beach is home to kids with good heads on their shoulders and kids who will be either dead and cracked out by 30. The latter of which are the ones spending almost every night at the park trashing it while getting drunk and high. Now, I’m not one to put down getting drunk and having fun, but when it’s in a public area, can’t we do without trashing it? The kids were raised with no manners. I come across these kids and they can’t hold a conversation or do anything remotely positive. They’re burnt out and ignorant, and know how to only look out for themselves, which they can’t do properly either. The kids with the good head on their shoulders are the ones getting there while there’s glass and trash all around, and sweeping it up so that when younger kids fall, they don’t have to worry about getting some disease or simply getting stitches. The good kids are the ones skating and having fun, throwing their trash out. As for “outsiders,” seriously grow up. Most of the kids who are “outsiders” know what they’re doing. They go there, skate and do their thing, and head out. You have exceptions, but when it comes down to it, the majority of the destruction is from GB burnouts. The late teen/20 something’s with no responsibilities, hobbies, or consideration… animals, really.
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Comment from Gizmo
Time July 21, 2008 at 3:17 pm
To the last comment, you hit it on the head. Unfortunately, the parents are failing to actual PARENT their children. No rules are enforced on their children and anything goes. I was just at at a bbq a few weeks ago at the Beach and couldn’t believe that not one neighbor complained about the noise or raucous that was going on. I felt uncomfortable about being a part of that group, being that it was during the week and people have work in the morning. That is the way I was raised. But it was an adult party and no one in the neighborhood complains since it’s the norm. How does one expect the children to act when the adults are just as bad if not worse?
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Comment from mcgrath
Time July 21, 2008 at 4:01 pm
How dare Mr. anonymous name names and not even have the nerve to put their own name?
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Comment from Anonymous
Time July 23, 2008 at 11:29 am
Susan, where are these kids to go? Well, lets see there is a sports center on flatbush.
If a parent allowed the kids in the home, the number would undoubtedly shrink from 10 -20 to about 5. These kids are really many groups congregating in one place. Change the venue, see then numbers go down.
You choose to have children, the resposinbility continues for AT LEAST 18 years, the resposibility includes entertaining your child & keeping them out of trouble
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Comment from Jim Donovan
Time July 23, 2008 at 3:22 pm
WOW!!! Listen to all talk about beatings, non-parenting, drugs, beer, and the kids that are out of control. Let us not forget where we were in our teens, there are many here complaining about the goings on in the beach and that your not happy. Check your own closets for skeletons you know you have them. There were problems then and there are problems now. Let’s play a blame game recap on all the postings,
1. Blame the kids for destroying the parks (ours and theirs)
2. Blame the parks for not cleaning up in a timely manor
3. Blame the parents for not teaching their kids to clean up after themselves
4. Blame the parents for not teaching their kids that drugs and beer is not good for them
5. Blame the parents for not teaching their kids to be more constructive in their lives
6. Blame the police for not policing the area
7. Blame 311 for not answering the complaints
8. Blame 911 for not responding to the calls
9. Blame the Italian kids from Bensonhurst
10. Blame the kids with ADD & ADHD
The question keeps coming up, what are the parents doing about this situation? I have an idea, to all of you that are so concerned and don’t know what to do, meet me at the park Friday and Saturday night this week between 10pm and midnight after “the other kids” have gone home and let’s talk to our kids and see what kind of response we get. I’ll be in the blue ford with my camera.
I wonder if the one with the most complaints has kids of their own, and if so, where do they hang out?
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Comment from anonymous
Time July 23, 2008 at 8:36 pm
It’s 10 pm do you know where your children are?
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Comment from Shequana Jones
Time July 23, 2008 at 10:01 pm
My kid uses that park during the day, and by dusk…..he is outta there……whats wrong with you people, now you gonna hunt them down!!!!!
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Comment from Annoymous
Time August 1, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I really do agree with all the comments above. The biggest problem I believe is supervision. The park needs supervision and should have a fence around it to prevent people from going back there in the evening. This will allow park and city officials to give summons to those whom are found back during off-hours.
The skate park should be handled in the same manner as “Owl’s Head” with a gated fence and supervisor. To ensure the safety of the kids and the park from my recollection the skate board park is free of profanity and graphics. The kids are required to wear helmets otherwise they are not allowed to skate or bike. This is a public park and we as a community must make these suggestion so that we can get funding to make our neighborhood park a better place for children of all ages.
The baseball, skateboard, and the fields are infested with drugs, drinking and sexual activity. Where are the cops? I personally walked through all three of these fields checking on my children and his friends and although I am not surprised to see these activities I am beside myself to know that no one is doing “NOTHING” about it. I have just learned of this site and I will advocate for making this park a better place for all children.
Another suggestion I would like to make is getting a community center, like the in Bergen Beach Youth Organization (BBYO). This park is possibly smaller than BBYO however it is much more pleasant. I rather have my kids play there than be subjected to this unsafe community park.
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Comment from no kids n angel-its up 2 the parent to teach
Time September 25, 2008 at 3:02 pm
I grew up in the beach and have found myself through the years defending us so called beach rats to everyone that lives everywhere else!now this great skatepark is built and kids from everywhere r coming here-but gb still has a bad name -i myself tell my 2 boys that skate there every weekend that they r to only b in the skatepark itself-never the back weeds,or hangin out on the ave-there r 2 many drugs& alcohal,they say ma lighten up gb is nuttin but fun-ah 2 b young& innocent-thats what i use 2 think but now as an adult i see gb is a white ghetto-sure u have your few good parents that know what theyre kids r up to-but the rest useless as parents-it is the kids from gb destroying it-i was picking my son up 1 day-because they r not allowed in the park at night and some kid from the beach was ripping a sign out of the ground -i told him thahes ruining is own nieghborhood and that how could he b proud of where he comes from if it looks vandalized-i was told to go f*** myself nice right !-GB parents start parenting-get out of the beach bar and tamaqua-go into schools and parks and supervise your children-give them an age appropiate curfew,and teach them respect for their elders and community-skate park needs to b locked at 7:00 just like owls head is!
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Comment from Nick Lak
Time July 11, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Even their graffiti sucks. Thumbs Dooooooown.
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