Skatepark Funding Brings Board Praise

CREST HAVEN – Several youngsters, including a 9-year-old girl in a pink, rabbit-eared helmet, and adults thanked freeholders Sept. 9 for passing a $500,000 agreement that will fund the Ocean City skatepark.
Leading the delegation was 1st Ward Councilman Michael DeVlieger, who presented Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton with a handmade, construction-paper thank you card from kindergarten pupils at Ocean City Primary School directly across from the skatepark.
The skatepark will be built on city-owned land between Fifth and Sixth streets and Asbury and West avenues as part of the county’s Open Space and Farmland Preservation Trusts Fund. The fund was amended in 2013 to permit use of funds for development of public parks and recreation facilities.
The Open Space Review Board voted May 27 to recommend the project to freeholders. A hearing was held July 8, with no negative comments made.
Representing Ocean City Ecumenical Council Inc., Cathy Guinosso, co-vice-president, said the group did not oppose the skate park, but wanted clarification as to its location. The group operates a clothes closet and food cupboard in the vicinity. She was concerned that the site “is not set in stone, I would like to know if it is.”
“I am here to assure you you don’t have to move,” DeVlieger said. He offered to show plans that indicated the Clothes Closet would not be moved from its present location because of the skatepark.
“We will promise to you we will be a great neighbor to the Clothes Closet. No way shape or form will it affect the great work the Clothes Closet does,” he added. “When we do tournaments we will make the Clothes Closet beneficiaries of any sponsorships. My mother used to be a volunteer for the Food Cupboard.”
Further, he said the park “would not create headaches” for the shop.
Assistant County Counsel James Arsenault added to DeVlieger’s comment that trees could be added as an added buffering.
“Thank you, Cape May County for being proactive. I really didn’t want it to be a memorial park. I wanted it to be a park that was safe for kids to skate now. It means a lot to the culture of Ocean City and the businesses that will be impacted positively downtown in the spring fall and soulder season. I see this as a huge victory for us. This means an awful lot to us. We’re going to do this once, and we’re going to do it right.” said DeVlieger.
Freeholder Will Morey commended DeVlieger’s efforts working with the community to navigate the project through many channels from concept to passage.
Among those who will benefit from the skatepark, and who went to express thanks was Angelina Pustizzi, 9, of Marmora who was lifted to the microphone. “I want to thank you for the skatepark. I am really excited,” she said.
“Because of that helmet, if we had known it we would have built it five years earlier,” said Director Gerald Thornton.
Freeholder Kristine Gabor said of Pustizzi’s head gear, “That is the most adorable helmet I have ever seen. That is great. Make sure you have that helmet on when you’re skating.”
Chris Pustizzi, Angelina’s father, thanked the board, noting the skatepark will be a good attraction for the city. He is organizing a charity benefit surf contest Oct. 11 “Spooks and Kooks.” The food cupboard will benefit from that event, he said. Five canned goods or clothing items will be the donation to enter the contest.
Formally, the county and city will enter a shared services agreement. Under it, the city will have sole responsibility over the development and implementation of the project, including all permitting, construction, operation and long-term maintenance of the park.