Ortonville- The Village Skate Park will reopen July 14, after being shuttered for nearly two years.
The park, located at the corner of Ball and Cedar streets in the village, will be open 3-7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 1-7 p.m. on Saturday until school begins.
‘We will reevaluate keeping the park open after school starts,? said Village Manager John Lyons. ‘As of right now, we only have 10 people who have paid the fee.?
To be eligible to use the park, skaters and/or bikers must register at the village offices, as well as pay a $10 fee, with a $5 charge for each additional family member and a cap of $20 per family.
The village council voted 4-3 at their June 22 meeting to reopen the park as soon as possible. Members Debbie Baker, Tonja Brice, Courtney McClerren and Liz Waters voted yes. Council President Wayne Wills and council members Dan Eschmann and Coleen Skornicka voted no.
The park originally opened in 2004, adjacent to the Sherman Village Park at Cedar and Ball streets in the village. The property is owned by the village and located near homes, as well as a basketball court and baseball fields. Skate Park equipment is owned by Brandon Township and Recreation Director Fred Waybrant has estimated the total investment in the park to be $120,000, with $85,000 worth of equipment, $15,000 in concrete, and the remainder of costs in fencing and excavating. Various fundraisers and donations paid for the park’s establishment and it was very popular for several years with kids, but not with neighbors who complained of noise, vandalism, littering, profanity and drug use by those at the skate park. To eliminate issues, village officials instituted registration and user fees and hired a monitor.
Due to a lack of registrations last year, however, the skate park was closed for the season. This spring, the park also remained shut due to a lack of registrations, even as kids are seen skateboarding on village streets, sidewalks and outside of businesses and the Old Mill and inflicting property damage.
When the park reopens Tuesday, a monitor will again be in place to ensure rules are followed.
Lyons is hoping to see more paid registrations.
‘If we don’t have more sign-ups, the park will be in jeopardy,? he said.
For more information call 248-627-4976 or register at the village office, 476 Mill St.