Skate Park Plan Sparks Controversy

by Allan Appel | Jun 3, 2019 3:10 pm

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Posted to: Parks, Sports, Dixwell, True Vote

Two young men with a skateboard and $50,000 in private committed funds in hand walk into a community meeting and propose to build a skate facility in a beloved park. What could happen? Interest, of course — but also an unexpected fusillade of skepticism and opposition. That was the scene Thursday night at Trinity Temple Church on Dixwell and Henry streets at a meeting convened by Dixwell Alder Jeannette Morrison. J. Joseph, who just graduated from Yale and who now works for the evolving Stephen A. Schwarzman Center at Yale, and Steven Roberts, who teaches skateboarding in a program at Stetson Library called “Push to Start,” are both skateboard aficionados. They met enjoying the sport as well as the cross-cultural cross-class camaraderie that unfolds at the recently opened Edgewood Park Skate Park. That is the only skate park in the city . Many of the kids in Roberts’ program come from Newhallville and Dixwell. Joseph and Roberts applied for a grant from the Could Be Fund of the Elm City Innovation Collective (ECIC) to establish a similar skatepark closer to those neighborhoods. They were successful, to the tune of $25,000. The grant required a match. Step in Garth Ross. For 20 years Ross was the director of community engagement at the Kennedy Center in the nation’s capital. Now he has taken a job running the Schwarzman Center, whose aim is not only to build cozy new facilities for Yale students but also to support barrier-breaking grassroots programs outside of the campus . Skateboarding, Roberts, Ross, and Joseph argued, also promotes music, as in hip hop, the visual arts and culture. It promotes character-building values like perseverance, team work, and design and even architectural problem-solving: As in, how am I going to get my board over that pyramid? Skateboarding programs accomplished those goals in D.C., said Ross. He therefore matched the grant. Both Ross and ECIC chief Michael Harris were in attendance at Thursday night’s community meeting along with city parks chief Becky Bombero, along with a dozen neighbors. Roberts and Joseph told the group their plan would be great for Scantlebury Park. Alder Jeannette Morrison ask neighbors to fill out surveys on how much they wanted a skate park and what other activities the park needs. Before the surveys were handed out, neighbors said: Hold your horses. And your money. “We don’t think a skate park is for us,” said E. Lindsey Ruminski, a longtime resident in the area around the park. “It’s great for Yale, but not for our kids. Yale] took over,” she said. Other neighbors said the money would go a long way for park repairs. Roxanne Condon, one of the movers and shakers to establish Scantlebury, cited the need for a degrading pad under the little kids playground area on the west area of the park. Another suggestion: establish pickle ball court first. And what about all the parking hassles Scantlebury is dealing with already? You and Yale, neighbors said to the young men and to Morrison and Bombero, are presenting this as a fait accomplis, or at least, as one listener put it, a game that’s in the ninth inning. “No,” said Morrison. “This is step one, the beginning, or continuing of a visioning process for the park.” She and Bombero also pointed out that Scantlebury Park, which was initially funded by a half-million-dollar grant from Yale, has a dedicated fund for other infrastructure building and improvements. The proposed skate park would not take away from other projects. That fund paid for a new splash pad two years ago. Other projects have been put on hold in part because the city’s beloved landscape architect, David Moser, died. The city hasn’t yet filled that position, Bombero reported. Joseph said if the skate park happens, it well might be named for Moser, who designed the Edgewood facility, the last project before his death. Over the years Yale augmented the fund dedicated to Scantlebury through fees paid for using part of the park as a staging area for some of the university’s new construction. That dedicated fund is growing, and with good interest, Bombero added. None of that assuaged neighbors’ concerns that the skatepark is being foisted on them by Yale and a ready bunch of cash. Longtime neighbors Jerry Turek, Roxanne Robinson Condon, and Brauna Gorin asked where the promised park improvements are. So money was not the issue in the nearly two-hour discussion that ensued, but the uses to which it’s put, and who has the ultimate say. An Africa-American Activity? Roberts said skateboarding is growing fast in the African-American community, as opposed to, say, baseball. “It’s rising globally,” he said, and will be an Olympic sport in 2020. Roberts also pointed to the first skate shop in the city, owned by Lou Cox, an African-American entrepreneur and a role model for Roberts and others. “It could have an economic benefit as well,” Roberts asserted. “People will travel from all over to a good park.” Neighbors like Ruminski were not convinced. “I’m tired of our boys playing only basketball and football,” she conceded. But she said skateboarding is too dangerous. Yes, the kids need exercise, to be outside, but crime keeps them inside, she said. Morrison politely but strongly begged to differ. “What appeals to me is the stage,” she said, referring to a raised platform proposed for one end of the park. It would be a permanent performance space for concerts and all kinds of other activities, for which the city now has to shlep over its mobile stage. “The city would do the infrastructure,” Bombero added, creating a permanent feature, much like the one at DeGale Field off of Goffe Street. In the long run, that would be much less expensive than the portable units. “Skateboarding is not a silo-ed activity,” Roberts added. “Why wouldn’t you want your kid skating with the next Picasso?” he asked rhetorically. “One of the beauties of Scantlebury is that it’s grassroots. This feels like it’s being jammed at us,” said Roxanne Condon. Parking “You guys are taking this the wrong way,” Morrison replied. “This is not a done deal. This is step one.” Discussions ensued about liability, littering, and then, inevitably, parking. Of which there is not enough. Neighbors present expressed concern that people coming to the park will park on other streets, taking their spaces. They envisioned car accidents the nearby New Haven Reads, the Rose Center, Yale’s Health Center also attract people, often hurriedly, coming and going. Roberts replied that most skateboarders do not drive their cars into the park. After taking in the long discussion, Yale Police Officer Martin Parker, whose beat is community engagement, came down on the side of the skate park — if, after surveys and a community vote, the majority goes for it. He offered a caveat: “Whatever we do, we definitely need to address parking.” With all the activities in the area already, he said, “It’s only a matter of time” before a car hits a kid. “There’s a lot of space there, and we have a pot of money to do other improvements,” said Bombero. “Yes/ our park is popular,” said Morrison, proudly. Ruminski, who had been holding her fire, said; “The city gives out permits to all kinds of people. We can’t even get to our own park.” “I can’t deny people using the park, but I always require a parking plan,” Bombero parried. After more than two hours, “I’m not going to bring this to the management team until we get ourselves together,” she declared. The young skateboarders were sobered but not daunted by the reception they had received. “It didn’t go as smoothly as expected, but we like the input and we remain optimistic,” said Joseph.

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posted by: THREEFIFTHS on June 3, 2019 3:27pm Skate park promoters Steven Roberts and J. Joseph Next time dress as Hipsters and you will get what you want. Hipster Skateboarding https://youtu.be/4Lp_hflczrk

posted by: HewNaven on June 3, 2019 4:02pm All one has to do is go to Edgewood park on any decent day to see how popular skateboarding has become. In fact, even in cold weather, when no one else is using the park, the skaters are there. The only thing I’ve seen stop them is snow on the ground.

posted by: LivingInNewHaven on June 3, 2019 4:14pm Give them a chance! These guys are young and want to contribute to the community in a positive manner. Vote yes!

posted by: __quinnchionn__ on June 3, 2019 4:23pm I hope the deal gets an approval. I think as big as New Haven is it would be nice to have more than one skate park in the city. Jay Joseph is also a good friend of mine and he’s really into skateboarding. As his friend I would really be happy for him if the deal for a new skate park goes through. Anything that makes things better for a community is a job well done. I may even get myself back into skateboarding eventually, but I do like this idea as something new for the park.

posted by: SkateboardSteve on June 3, 2019 4:29pm Hello! I just wanted to clarify a few things - The space is meant be multi-use. It can also serve as performance space as well! We will make the park available to artists to create murals to deter/cover up potential graffiti. We recently had Spray Day at the Edgewood to for that exact purpose and it turned out great! - Parking is available for free after 4pm in Lot 78 and in the Ingalls Rink parking lot. - For those of you who think one skatepark is enough, consider the splash pads. They got built only to be used for 2-3 months out of the year. The skateboarding community will shovel snow out to make skateboarding possible. The skatepark gets used year round and is well maintained. Trashing the park is HIGHLY frowned upon within the skateboarding community. - Thrasher Magazine’s Skater of The Year is a 19-year old kid from the Bronx named TyShawn Jones. In addition to being an extremely talented skater, he has a story that will resonate with youth in the Dixwell/Newhallville neighborhood

posted by: eastrockcitizen on June 3, 2019 9:32pm this park is just 4 blocks away - only 4 BLOCKS AWAY!!! - from the site of the old Q House and the proposed (“planned”) new Q House. neighbors and alders have argued for years that the city/state needed to invest in a new Q House. why? “because the kids need something to do after school. the kids need opportunities for healthy activities. kids in this specific neighborhood/community need more opportunities for positive activities.” so now a FREE skate park is proposed just across the street from New Haven Reads (free books, free tutoring, free homework help) and the community is opposed because of parking, littering, and free money being forced upon them???? WTF?!?!? you can’t make this stuff up. JFC. again: FOUR f***ing blocks away from the Q House site that this exact same community has begged for for years. Side Note: with another election coming soon, how long until Harp is at the Q House site with more promises, photo ops and media coverage? can we place bets on the date, and whoever guesses closest to the actual date wins a prize?

posted by: EngagedCitizen on June 4, 2019 9:26am I am not opposed to building a skateboard park inside of Scantlebury Park, however, I am deeply concerned about the *process* by which we are moving forward with the proposal. The community meeting at Trinity Temple Church was the first time most had heard about the skate park proposal and we felt like the process was already in the final stages before we even had a chance to propose our own ideas for the park. Although we were told that this meeting was just “the first step” in discussing the future changes to Scantlebury, the meeting certainly felt like “we are going to build this skatepark, so get ready for it.” Perhaps this meeting truly was “the first step” in the process, but the way it was carried out was a terrible stumble on the part of our leaders. For example, instead of just presenting the skatepark proposal, we should have heard multiple proposals so that everyone’s ideas are heard—so that ALL ideas for Scantlebury get equal consideration. The approach that was used, however, was just the opposite. We heard just ONE proposal - a proposal that had deep pockets ($50,000) and powerful names behind it. The leadership (Alder Morrison, Parks & Rec, ECIC, and the skate community) may not have intended for this meeting to appear like the skatepark is a “done deal,” but it did. If the community leaders continue with this approach, it will only increase skepticism and resistance to the skate park from neighbors in the community, which I’m afraid will ultimately mean no skate park at all. A comprehensive proposal that is inclusive of the entire community’s interests, including those of the skateboard community, is the only viable path forward. Lastly, the survey that is being conducted MUST ensure everyone in Ward 22 has the opportunity to participate.

posted by: ItsGettingBetter on June 4, 2019 9:36am The 13 people who voted, ‘no’ in the True Vote Poll should be appointed by the Mayor to The No Fun Committee so they can have a formal voice in making New Haven…no fun. This whole project looks incredible. Kudos to the guys and gals creating and supporting it.

posted by: tmctague on June 4, 2019 10:20am The city would benefit from listening to the youth more often. A permanent stage AND a skate park?! It’s a great idea from some young, energetic people. New Haven needs more parks.

posted by: anonymous on June 4, 2019 10:35am No wonder youth don’t get involved and move away. As usual the 4 people who always say they need more parking are shooting down the ideas of the youth. Young people, who mostly can’t even afford to have a car or their own yard, just need a place to play. but Condon and friend(s) somehow still don’t have room to park their car even though 40% of the city land area is asphalt that they can drive and park on for free

posted by: CT DRV on June 4, 2019 10:45am Skater here who helped with input into the Edgewood park during it’s design and construction. If the community is wary of Yale coming in with their money, it’s for good reason. I would LOVE to see more skateparks in the city of New Haven, but the fact that this process is being rammed ahead without community input is not acceptable. Edgewood was done correctly, with the input of the entire skateboarding community in process with the city’s parks department. It truly was a great example of community collaboration that produced a great expansion to a park that sorely needed updating. That park is also in Westville in an area that already had a skatepark. While I agree with all the reasons the project’s leaders make about the benefits skateboarding, we should defer to the residents of the neighborhood and the needs they made very clear. Having that sweet Yale money behind you and an “already-done” mindset (which regardless of your intent was the effect) is a really bad way to start a conversation with a community that’s been pushing for basic resources in the face of Yale’s expansion and gentrification for years. Also give that mini-ramp more deck on the side opposite the stair/hubba ledge pad. We don’t want a repeat of the micro-pipe at Edgewood.

posted by: eastrockcitizen on June 4, 2019 12:35pm Mr. Joseph and Mr. Roberts and Mr. Ross,

At the opposite end of the same Dixwell/Newhallville neighborhoods, is another opportunity I suggest pursuing in parallel. On the north side of the neighborhoods is Mill Rock Park, and across the street from it a new community center is being developed. I suggest approaching the leaders and community members there and offering the same thing: FREE public infrastructure focused on healthy outdoor activities for the youth in the community. A FREE skatepark with a FREE multi-purpose community performance stage for multitudes of other community events. One wonders if the Scantlebury Park community will change their tune and their complaints? Instead of “outsiders are forcing this upon us” will they be crying: “why won’t they invest in our park? why don’t they care about their immediate neighbors? why are they offering free public infrastructure to a bigger park that already has more amenities than our park? why are they building it closer to the suburbs and not closer to downtown where kids have less opportunities? why won’t they invest in our community? they shut down the Q House years ago and have provided no new opportunities for the youth in this community since - why don’t they offer invest in our park and our community and the kids here?”

posted by: Carlton Boyd on June 4, 2019 3:58pm Skateboarding is definately gaining ground in inner city culture. Check it out

https://youtu.be/Gl83mI69nX4

posted by: David Backeberg on June 4, 2019 7:46pm Parking is the complaint, and they’re not joking. Sigh. Let me point out some of the neighborhood parking options. There is a four layer parking garage, literally up against the park, built by Yale Health, but they don’t ask what you’re parking for. Then two blocks away, along Dixwell and Webster are the hundreds of parking spots for the closed CTown; those spots are almost always completely empty, and nobody charges for the spots. Just up the Canal Trail, is the massive, six deck Science Park garage. Literally hundreds of parking spots. Then there are the hundreds of street spots in the neighborhood. Most of that neighborhood such as the 15-ish year old housing along Webster and Canal has its own dedicated interior courtyard parking so the street parking should not be an issue. It’s true that when there are big events, like Freddie Fixer, that people park on the lawn at Scantlebury and wherever else they please. I have no idea where those car drivers live. Anybody who lived in the neighborhood would just walk over. I regularly visit the Edgewood Park skate park, and the people who use it generally bike or skate over from New Haven. The people who drive often carpool two or four to a car and are very considerate people who have cleaned up their own trash and made improvements to the space.

posted by: EngagedCitizen on June 4, 2019 8:29pm I was at the meeting and want to clarify some of the comments on parking here. The people at the meeting expressed concern with the high number of people who jump the curb and park INSIDE the park on the grass. Drive by on any weekend and you will see a dozen or more cars parked there. During big events, people will even park on Webster Street where there is no space to park a car, which causes Webster Street to become a single-lane road. The folks at the meeting want a solution to a current parking problem, not a skate park related parking problem. One suggestion was creating paid, on-street parking along Webster. And yes, people can park in the Yale lots after 5pm. So, no one at this meeting was complaining about a “coming parking apocalypse” should the skate park be built—they were complaining about a chronic parking problem that exists right NOW. There. Next issue.

posted by: budman on June 5, 2019 7:46am This opposition is bull. I’m tired of a few older folks, and a corrupt board of alders continuing to halt progress for the city. We want things for our kids, to give them opportunities to do other things, other interests, but only if it’s the things we want. We have someone hear who has an idea. It’s not going to harm anyone. It makes the park active to a potentially larger group of kids, and we are even contemplating saying no. Why, because someone associated with Yale is involved? Bull. Give and get every opportunity for our kids to succeed. Let them take every opportunity to move and exercise. Stop listening t these people who continue t say no to everyone. And oh yeah, vote these folks out in the next election. We need a government FOR the people, and BY the people. Now give the kids their damn skate park.

posted by: BevHills730 on June 5, 2019 8:31am Budman, Given that the Alder in this story supports the project, I find your comment to be quite confusing. Did you read the article?

posted by: scantleburypark on June 5, 2019 4:36pm MAKE NEIGHBORHOOD INPUT MATTER. This article about Scantlebury Park does not take into account the lengthy neighborhood process. Over 250 people in the neighborhood of all ages from 10 years old to seniors were asked in seven community meetings what they wanted in the park and a long list was created. A skate board park was not mentioned by any of the groups. Dave Moser, City Plan, took all of the feedback and created two plans. The plans were then voted on at Stetson Library. The plans have not been completed to date and by the way there is money to complete the plans. So now a new group comes in and does a new survey and again a skate board park is not a priority, with only 8 of 50 responses supportive. The neighborhood is asked over and over what they want in the park and the feedback is ignored. When is the neighborhood’s input going to matter? Scantlebury Park Neighbor

posted by: Bill Saunders on June 7, 2019 12:13pm Engaged Citizen hits the nail on the head and Scantlebury Park Neighbor drives the point home. 1). Where was a legitimate ‘public process’?

2). Why didn’t the neighbors ‘legitimate input’ matter?

posted by: RobotShlomo on June 8, 2019 12:54pm As usual, a vocal minority ruin it for everyone else. The very same NIMBYs will be the ones complaining “why are are all these kids hanging around with nothing to do?”. ItsGettingBetter said; The 13 people who voted, ‘no’ in the True Vote Poll should be appointed by the Mayor to The No Fun Committee so they can have a formal voice in making New Haven…no fun. This whole project looks incredible. Kudos to the guys and gals creating and supporting it.

You probably don’t remember the 80’s, when there were street merchants selling shirts that said “No-Haven”, and black t-shirts “New Haven At Night”. Seems we’re set for a return to the complacent bad old days. To quote Mallory Archer; “This is why we can’t have nice things”.

posted by: Bill Saunders on June 8, 2019 5:33pm Robot, For me, it is not a matter of NIMBYism, but rather a give-away of public spaces that ‘runs around’ a legitimate public process. Count me as #14 against! I also find it interesting the ‘behind the scenester’ Ben Berkowitz is completely omitted from this article. This project has his ‘fingerprints’ all over it!!!! So, so far we have ‘an underpass art project’ (remember BB’s similar underpass project) and a ‘skateboard park’ project to come out of this ‘affair’. Call it what you will, to me It sounds to like insiders benefitting from insiders at the expense of the community….

posted by: EngagedCitizen on June 8, 2019 8:33pm Bill Saunders, You capture exactly how many of us feel about the situation. For years now the Parks Dept has been holding around $200,000 in the Scantlebury Park Trust to complete renovations that had previously been planned (but never started). There will be another meeting about the proposed skatepark and other changes on Thursday, June 13, at 6:30pm at the Rose Center across the park (adjacent to the Yale Police Department). Please come and let your opinions be heard.