Belchertown Selectman George Archible said the Skate Park is not safe and is an eyesore.
BELCHERTOWN – Dissatisfied with the lack of progress made cleaning up the Skate Park, the selectmen are saying that unless steps are taken soon by those who use it and their parents, the park will stay closed for the year and possibly longer.
“The Skate Park remains in a serious state of disrepair,’’ Town Administrator Gary L. Brougham told the selectmen during his report to the board Monday.
Selectman George D. Archible said, “I was very disappointed.’’
“I don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings, but I say, ‘Let’s just close it. It is an eyesore. I am afraid somebody could go through the gate thee and get hurt,’’ Archible said.
Maintenance of the Skate Park has been a thorny issue for the Board of Selectmen in the last several years.
The park is town property, located behind the Police Station. The ramps were built in 2002 with $40,000 of private donations and the facility has never been taken over and run by the town Recreation Department like other parks.
Town officials have said that concerns about liability and the lack of funds resulting from state decreases in revenue have been problems, but they have also encouraged those interested in the park to make improvements there and come up with plans for long-term maintenance.
Over the years, parents of the teenagers using it would volunteer for the positions on the town Skate Park Committee and would oversee and take part in cleanup and maintenance work needed for the selectmen and building inspector to allow it to be used.
When the building inspector and the selectmen decided in late May that it should remain closed until improvements were made, a group of parents, acting as the Skate Park Committee, started to work on it, but Archible said that although he witnesses some hard work weeks ago, it has not progressed to the point of making the place safe.
Archible said that the place is now enough of an eyesore that it could detract from plans for commercial development on nearby sections of the former Belchertown State School property, so it cannot be left as it is.
Archible said he realizes that frequent rain early this summer followed by excessive heat made it difficult for volunteers to work there, but the situation must be addressed.
Town Administrator Gary L. Brougham, who has also inspected the park and found need for repairs, cleaning and maintenance, said he would invite members of the Skate Park Committee to an upcoming meeting of the Board of Selectmen to see if progress can be made.