Ortonville- School was out last week for spring break and kids were in at the Village Skate Park.
The park reopened for the season on April 7. That evening, at the Brandon Township board meeting, adults were discussing what to do about the problems that closed the park last year. The park later reopened with limited, supervised hours.
‘If we leave it open, we have to make sure it’s policed better,? said Township Supervisor Ron Lapp. ‘We understand there are problems with the site. Let’s address it as adults and see what we can do to rectify problems.?
Those problems have included indecent exposure, smoking, drugs, foul language and more and have upset neighbors of the park, located at Cedar and Ball streets in the village.
A conclusion on how to solve the problems was not reached at the board meeting; instead, the board voted to have a park subcommittee, consisting of boardmembers Tom Stowell, Charlene Carlson and Bob DeWitt, bring back a recommendation on how to proceed with the park at the next board meeting, set for April 21.
The committee is not the first formed to resolve issues at the park.
Late last summer, after the council closed the park because of the problems, a skate park committee was created to research solutions. After several weeks and meetings, the committee recommended installation of a concrete wall, higher fencing, and security lights, but those ideas were recently scuttled after finding little support among park neighbors, who favor closing the park and moving it to the Brandon Township Community Park, opening this spring at Oakwood and Hadley roads.
At the village council meeting on March 24, the council voted 5-2 to approach the township board for solutions after a vote to permanently close the Village Skate Park failed by a 5-2 vote. The village owns the skate park property, but the township owns the equipment.
‘My question is, why is the skate park any different than the ballfields?? asked Village Councilmember Kay Green, referring to the fields adjacent to the skate park. ‘They (the township) proposed putting the equipment there. We said, ‘Sure, they can use our land? and they basically said they never saw anyone running it, it would be open for use. We never thought of all the issues you could have with a skate park. Together, we will try to come up with a workable solution.?
Township Parks and Recreation Director Fred Waybrant, who will work with the subcommittee on a recommendation, favors putting up a 12-foot chainlink fence around the skate park, with a heavy-gauge silt screen that would block wind and is made for sound. He will also suggest heavy landscaping around it, to make it more attractive, and solar lights to shine into the park. He estimates the total cost at about $15,900, and would hold fundraisers or seek grants to pay for it.
‘If a 12-foot fence doesn’t work, I don’t know what will,? Waybrant said. ‘We don’t want to move the equipment to the new park.?
The village council needs to approve the recommendation and ultimately makes the final decision. Green said the councilmembers don’t want to close the park or move the equipment, either.
‘I’m hoping there is a workable solution to live in harmony,? she said. ‘We have to do something to make it good for the neighbors and good for the skaters.?