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Skateboarders grinding on nerves in Massapequa Park
"These kids are annoying customers and scaring away business," said Carol Leff, president of the Massapequa Park Merchant's Association and an owner of Leff & Leff Attorney's office on Park Boulevard. "They throw their skateboards and bikes all over the sidewalk, and if you ask them to move, they swear at you. They are ruining the planters with their skateboards."
"I saw these devices in another state so we had them done here." explained Peggy Caltabiano, Village Administrator, who added that the Village has no problem with skateboarding in other places around the Village. "We have nothing against skateboarders, but skateboarding and doing damage is unacceptable," So far, so good, according to several residents and merchants. "I think the bands are a great idea. So far, we haven't seen the usual gang of skateboarders hanging around our store," said Jeanette DiMonda of DiMonda Bakery on Park Boulevard who said that she has been having the problems for about five years. Leff added that she's received many complaints from both merchants and residents about the skateboarding, congregating and littering. "We need a police presence as well as a daily cleanup from the Village sweeper," she said. "The kids are making the Village look unkempt." The sweeper operates weekly and is looking to add a weekend day, according to Village officials. Local skateboarders say they are just looking for a place to practice their art and that not all of the loitering and other problems is caused by skateboarders. "We aren't hurting anyone. It's better than us being out here doing drugs," said 17-year-old Matt Dahlem of Massapequa Park who said the metal straps on the planters do make them unskateable. "If we had somewhere to go we wouldn't be out here on the main street." The Village Board has been approached by residents who asked that officials consider putting in a skateboard park or recreational center several times over the past few years, said Caltabiano. She added, however that without sufficient space to put such a center, the Village is unable to consider those requests. "They have space," countered Dahlem, who added that there has been a petition for such a park making the rounds in the area. "What about Marjorie Post Park? They (public officials) just need to open their eyes." Marjorie Post Park is outside Village limits, which would require appealing to the Town of Oyster Bay for approval. But some merchants agreed that youngsters need a safe place to go. "These kids are just bored and need some type of recreational center," said DiMonda. Local mom of three Jane Bilella-Fitzpatrick has taken the lack of a place to skateboard into her own hands- and her own yard. She has built a half-pipe and allows her own children, and their friends who have a waiver from their parents, to use it. But even that appears to be causing a problem. Bilella-Fitzpatrick was issued a citation from the Village ordering her to take the half-pipe down. "Where are these kids supposed to go?" asked Billella- Fitzpatrick, upon receiving the letter. "We aren't hurting anyone by having this halfpipe but they (the Village,) said that it is too close to the front of my property. I guess they haven't seen all the jet skis, boats and trailers in the area." Mayor James Altadonna said he understands the problem and agreed that the skateboarding kids need somewhere to go. He's agreed to allow the family to keep the half pipe if they agree to relocate it to a safer place.
"Children need to play and the safest place for that is in their backyard," he said. "They can keep the halfpipe if its moved behind their house," he said.
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