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Mostly Cloudy Thumbs up for Valley Stream skate park
Board gives approval; September opening slated
The long-awaited, highly anticipated Valley Stream skate park soon will be no longer a dream, but a reality. Plans for the venue were approved by the village board at its July 18 meeting.
“This is amazing,” said Anthony Savillo, a Valley Stream South High School student and skateboarder. “It should be soon, though, because it’s already July.”
In fact, the park will open in September. Portable skate park equipment, including pipes and half-pipes, will be installed at the village hockey facility off Sunrise Highway, near the Long Island Rail Road station. The South Shore Roller Hockey League will now easily share the space with the village, thanks to the movable skate park equipment, Mayor Ed Fare explained.
The park’s “street course” design will duplicate community obstacles such as ledges, banks, steps and railings. The cost of the park will total $17,464, which includes the purchase of launch, grind and wave ramps, fly boxes and other equipment. Officials initially researched and consulted experts about the park’s safety, equipment, supervision, maintenance, design and instructional components. The Hendrickson, Barrett and Edward W. Cahill Memorial parks were other locations that were considered, but the rink offered good lighting, supervision and distance from residents’ homes, village officials said.
Skaters must comply with the park’s safety plan and regulations, including wearing protective gear. Membership will be open only to residents of the village and the Valley Stream Central High School District. And the park hours will be similar to those during the roller hockey league season, said Village Clerk Bob Barra.
Feedback is already pouring in. South High School incoming senior Tyler Moran was thrilled about the park. “I can’t wait,” he said.
“Skaters, just like basketball, soccer or baseball players, need and deserve a facility in which to perfect their sport,” said Envision Valley Stream President David Sabatino. He added that he expects skaters will take pride in the park. He also said that the village should continue to work with local skate shop Mass Transit, on Rockaway Avenue, to promote skating events.
Skater Elvis Molina thinks the park should be unrestrictive. “I think anyone should be able to come skate,” said the recent Central High School graduate. “The gear should be for kids ages 13 and under, and the rest should choose to wear gear.”
The park ties in with the village board’s goal to expand recreational programs and activities for young people to create a positive quality of life in the community. “The teens and kids aren’t finding a niche for themselves,” Fare said, “and they don’t have a place of their own.” The skate park would fill that role, he noted.
Longtime resident Jason Sinaly said he talked with former mayor and current Town of Hempstead Councilman Jim Darcy about the idea 12 years ago. Safe to say, Sinaly was ecstatic about the news. “It’s about time,” he said. “It’s nice to see, after all these years, that Valley Stream is finally getting a skate park.”
