With many skateboarders asking for action on the township’s proposed skate park, The Review went to work to get answers.
The original consent judgment in 2004 called for Dutton Partners, LLC, to contribute $200,000 to the skate park project. Provisions of the judgment were amended in September of last year to the completion of grading and site preparation work in a range of $100,000 to $200,000.
Parks & Recreation Director Rock Blanchard said the township is essentially waiting for an order to get going on the skate park, but Dutton Partners? Jim Faycurry said it’s the township’s responsibility to get the basic engineering done.
‘I called them on March 1 to see what the status of the engineering was and they thought I was responsible for that,? Faycurry said.
Faycurry noted that to avoid the hassle of going back to the board, he agreed to pick up engineering costs on both the amphitheater and skate park projects, even though they were not his responsibility.
He added that the township currently has approval to withdraw money from the Dutton Partners escrow account, but the engineering is the responsibility of the township and their engineers at Orchard, Hitlz & McCliment.
In addition to the skate park, Blanchard said Dutton Partners is also responsible for a 15-acre park in the Dutton-Squirrel area.
The township does not expect the recent rejection of Dutton Partners? contract SAD to affect either park.
‘The agreement we have is to build and complete that park and he hasn’t said he wouldn’t,? Blanchard said.
Faycurry said the park (pictured above) within the Stonegate Villas development is nearly completed, and is currently roped off to allow vegetation to grow.