Saugus skateboard park discussion draws crowd

SAUGUS – It?s not every day a crowd of teenagers turn up for a Board of Selectmen meeting, but that was the case Tuesday night as more than two dozen teens from around Saugus came out in full force to show their support for a new skateboard park in town.Youth and Recreation Director Greg Nickolas along with board member Peter Petkewich pleaded their case to the board and Town Manager Andrew Bisignani for a skate park at the Anna Parker Playground on Essex Street.?The tennis court would be a perfect place for these guys to go,” said Petkewich. “It?s fenced in. It?s a nice area and it?s right next to the fire station. That?s where these kids would be in charge of policing themselves, picking up after themselves and making sure the place is clean. As long as they keep it up, everything should be fine.”There used to be a skate park at the Evans School, but it was closed in 2009 after ongoing vandalism problems. And this past summer, police cracked down on disturbances at the Veterans School after neighbors complained about large groups of teens gathering.Nickolas, however, said this new skate park will be different.?These kids aren?t the kids doing the vandalism,” Nickolas. “These aren?t the kids trashing the place. They just want a place to skateboard. But we have to find a place for them to go.”Nathaniel Gagne, 16, said he?s been skateboarding since he was 9, and said much of the damage done at the previous park was from outsiders.?We?re just trying to have our fun on our skateboards,” said Gagne. “We?re not trying to cause any harm. We?re just doing what we love.”Nickolas said he will have a table at Founders? Day with auctions and raffles to raise money and said Kelly?s Roast Beef on Route 1 will be holding a fundraiser on Sept. 14 to help raise money for a new skate park.Bisignani said he would support the project, but said he wants to see more oversight, whether it be from the kids or from Nickolas.?I would be willing to support a skateboard park,” said Bisignani. “I?m willing to give it another try under the direction of Greg Nickolas. We?d have to specify hours it would be used and who would be responsible.”Saugus resident Shawn Clark, who owns Patriot Skateboards in Malden, said the reason there was so much vandalism at the last park was that there was no designated spectator area.?The spectators there were throwing their trash around and causing the destruction which occurred,” said Clark. “Skateboarders do not leave trash in their way or rough surfaces because it causes injuries. It is inequitable that there are spaces for every other athlete out there and but not these skateboarders.”Nickolas said he will put together a written plan for the Town Manager after he tours some the skateboard parks in surrounding communities.In other business, the board voted 3-1 to deny a special permit for a drive through window at McDonald?s at 127 Broadway and voted to grant a block party permit for Candlewood Court.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected]. You can follow him on Twitter at @MattTempesta.