Sk8 Park in West Goshen
Congratulations to Supervisors Pat McIlvaine, Bob White, Ed Meakim and Township Manager Sharon Lynn for having the vision and the courage to put the needs of their residents first! West Goshen Township and their partners at the Department of Community & Economic Development deserve much credit for building the FIRST public skatepark in the West Chester area. Yesterday I attended the grand opening of The Robert Lambert Park, which also has a kids play gym area, tennis courts and a dog park, all conveniently located next to the Super Wawa on Pottstown Pike.
Here I am with Fairman's Sk8 Team at the grand opening!
L - R: Chris Mathis (15 - Media), Steve Oakey (21 - West Chester), Andrew Cannon (20 - Glen Mills), me, Dave Fairman, Seth Schiavo (11 - Boyertown), John Anthony (17 - Exton)
In 1994, after my son received a $300 fine for doing an ollie in front of WCU's Killinger Hall, I researched the need for a public skatepark. The main obstacle was supposedly insurance. Communities feared being sued if someone got hurt. The other issues were placement, noise and cost.
I then called Mayor Luongo of Washington Township and Mayor Rendell's office about the parks they had successfully championed and built. They told me that it took political clout to move this type of project forward. So I took my packet of information to the leaders at the YMCA, Police Athletic League, and the Community Police Department. I also got to know Dave Fairman of Fairman's in West Chester. Needless to say, I was unable to convince the community leaders at that time that this would be a gr8 thing for our youth who sk8. Thankfully, its time has come and my vision has become a reality.
Comments
Did you make him pay the fine? Hey, I just got home from visiting my sis and bro and found out my bro had been capmpaigning for Lisa? Murphy. He knew your name. Good Luck in November.
Posted by: John Eshleman | July 17, 2006 8:18 PM
Hey, Barb! This is exciting news...lots of changes happening huh? COOL! We're all thinking of you here (we MISS YOU) at work and wishing you all the best with your campaign. BTW, Steve checked the SK8 park out...nice!
Posted by: Jeannette Schneider | July 18, 2006 1:05 PM
Fantastic, this park is wonderful and is just one example that West Goshen is progressive in thinking and in action. We need leaders who will see beyond the fears of the few.
Posted by: Matt Leopold | July 18, 2006 1:18 PM
Finally! That's great news!
Posted by: Kate | July 18, 2006 2:01 PM
Barb,
So glad to see that these kids finally have a safe place to skate. It seems so unfair when young people who are interested in a sport that keeps them out of other trouble, can find no place to practice it!
Now, if only West Chester Borough could provide something - many kids in the borough don't have transportation to the suburbs!
Good luck in November!
Fran
Posted by: Fran Pierce | July 19, 2006 5:07 PM
It's the obvious truth
McIlvaine Smith is there
for our youth
She helped find a place
to skate
Healthy activity keeps kids
straight
We need caring,hard working people in Harrisburg. Go for it, Barb.
Posted by: sunny cook | July 25, 2006 11:33 PM
This park cannot be called a "public" park if they do not allow bikes. Skateboarders have nowhere to go but neither do the kids on bikes.STOP THE DISCRIMINATION!
Posted by: cesar | October 3, 2006 1:34 PM