Ortonville- The village council voted unanimously to close the Village Skate Park at their June 26 meeting.
Several neighbors of the park, located in a residential area at Ball and Cedar streets, were present at the meeting to voice complaints that included kids using foul language, drugs and alcohol, urinating on their lawns, tipping over a porta-john, and jumping the fence after the park is closed.
‘There are a lot of issues,? said one neighbor who spoke on condition of anonymity. ‘Kids chasing each other with knives, our houses are being egged… People drop their kids off and think it’s a babysitting area.?
Another neighbor complained that the problems with unruly kids has been going on since the park opened in May 2003 and the neighbors call the police at least once a week.
Although the skate park was not on the agenda, councilmember Marcy Hanes addressed the issue during a report she gave on the parks and beautification committee. A motion was made to close the park until further notice and passed unanimously with Hanes, council president Sue Bess, and council members Kay Green, Larry Hayden, and Mary Kassuba all voting yes. Council members Harold Batten and Bob Flath were absent.
‘We have tried everything,? said Hanes after the meeting. ‘We’ve posted signs and they (the kids) refuse to abide by the rules. I’m very disappointed. It’s a wonderful skate park.?
The park, entirely funded by donations and in-kind services, cost about $130,000, estimates Brandon Recreation Director Fred Waybrant.
Waybrant inspects the skate-at-your-own-risk park weekly and pays equipment manufacturers for repairs with money from pop bottle fundraiser money. The Department of Public Works keeps the park clean.
Waybrant said he had no specific comment on the closing of the park, calling it a village council issue, but noted the kids are expected to police themselves.
‘Supervision needs to come from everybody,? he said. ‘If you see something bad you need to report it.?
Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Brandon substation Sgt. Tim McIsaac says deputies respond to the park accordingly and patrols are stepped up in that area during the summer months. He is currently working with the village to see what current ordinances are on the books and says if there aren’t any that apply to the disorderly conduct occuring at the park, they will look into adopting some new ordinances.
McIsaac says ordinances regarding disorderly persons are very vague. A deputy must witness the disorderly conduct or another witness must be willing to sign a complaint and go to court in order to take enforcement action against an individual creating problems. Deputies are sent to the park when there are reports of kids using marijuana, but foul language is not enough to constitute disorderly conduct, he said.
Complaints police have received include loud music at the park, swearing, and marijuana use.
‘I’d hate to see the park shut down because of misuse by a small minority,? McIsaac said. ‘The goal is to keep the park open, but with good behavior. I’d hate to see all that work (on the park) go to waste, but on the other hand, the neighbors have a right to not hear loud music, bad language and (see) marijuana use.?
The day after the meeting, a ‘closed? sign was taped to a park sign. Within the space of 30 minutes, three vehicles drove up, loaded with kids who questioned why the park was closed, and more kids arrived on bikes.
Austin Wester, a 16-year-old Brandon student, has been coming to the park since it opened. He asks why the park is closed, saying nothing bad happens here. When he is told of complaints of drug and alcohol use and swearing, he admits he has seen ‘girls up here tipsy,? and says there is a lot of cursing, ‘everyone does that.?
‘Now I understand why the neighbors are upset,? he says. ‘If they close this, I’m gonna die. We have to get the kids together and straighten their asses out.?
Wester says he will probably go to Waterford to use that city’s skate park, although it costs money, where the Village Skate Park is free.
Stephen Rooney, 13, says he has been coming to the skate park for 2-3 years and spends 50-percent of his time here.
‘I don’t think it’s right that they closed it,? he says. ‘I don’t think closing it will work, people will still hop the fence. Some people do bad stuff and others get punished for it. It’s a shame a few kids ruin it for everyone because some kid doesn’t know how to act in public.?
Waybrant says 30-40 kids use the park on any given day during the summer months. Brandon Township Supervisor Ron Lapp agrees the skate park has been well-used and says the township has a significant financial interest in the park, but the village controls the property.
The park will be open for the Co-ed Skateboard & Rollerblade Camp scheduled from 9 a.m.-noon July 3-7, but otherwise is closed until further notice.
‘It makes me sad we have to do this,? said Council President Sue Bess. ‘I hope the parents will step up to the situation so we can open it up again… We’ll see what people are willing to help us do. We are hoping they will call with offers of help and volunteer to help supervise.?