Recent comments from some Hampton citizens regarding a skate park, traffic, and parking at Buckroe Beach
By Sandra Canepa
March 5, 2006
Friends, I have received three powerful statements from concerned Hampton residents which I would like to share with you.
The comments were received after it was suggested to Council that once Lots B were designated as a world-class city park, the newly paved-over First Street Extension should be closed off to through-traffic, and one end be used as a skateboard park while basketball nets could be erected at the other end, yet keeping an area of that pavement for children to use riding tricycles and for learning to ride bikes.
One gentleman stated, and truer words were never spoken:
"It would be a tragic loss to the generations that follow us, and to THEIR children, should we fail to stop the madness of development. They may rightfully blame us for not taking such grassroots action when it was still possible to do so."
A lady then commented she is in favor of a skate park being added to the vision shown on this website. Here are her comments about that:
"Kudos to whomever suggested the skate idea! Just yesterday my son and I were discussing this very same thing. The skateboarders around Buckroe, and there are quite a few, are chased off the boardwalk and pavilion area by the police (even in off season). They were told skateboarding is considered vandalism and a public nuisance and would be charged with these crimes if caught on the boardwalk again. Now I'm sure the argument that will arise on the part of the city will be that we have a perfectly good skate park right on Woodland Road. The only problem with that is how do these kids get all the way to Woodland Road on their skateboards. If they want to keep them off the streets and out of public areas, a skate park at the beach would be awesome. Again, Kudos."
And here are two more comments about a possible skateboard park on the now paved-over First Street Extension:
"I can't believe I didn't think of that. The skate park. And they can't say that the liability would be prohibitive since they already have one (though what they will say is - we already have one!). Good job!!! If we ever get another open public meeting, I can be sure that dozens and dozens of Hampton skateboarders and their parents show up (not to mention the former asst. city manager, who now owns a skatepark.)"
Another concerned citizen made the following comments on the parking and traffic situation as it now exists in Buckroe:
"I wanted to share another interesting story with you, on the subject of traffic and parking, etc. Over a year ago I contacted the city with a request for permit parking on our block (the 300 block of North 1st). They told me all I needed to do was get 70% of the owners' signatures on the block (not renters) and we'd go from there.
Well, after getting 100% of the owners signatures, Traffic Engineering did their survey and decided we didn't have a parking problem here. No permit. Then I wrote to Council. Mayor Kearney wrote back saying he was aware we do have a parking problem here. Then silence. Wrote them again 3 months later, and the answer came from Mr. Wallace stating 'Council wants the public to have a place to park' So which is it?
And in response to this I really must ask, 'If so concerned about the public having a place to park then what about the Salt Ponds? Or, when the condos were put in across the street, why wasn't parking put on the same side of the street as the beach?' Along the line with the safety issues you've discussed, I see little kids excited to go to the beach dart out into traffic all the time, which is a whole other issue.
I petitioned the city about 5 years ago to put in pedestrian walkways all along First Street allowing people to cross at the breaks in the condos. or to utilize traffic calming devices. They did a good job with this in Phoebus all along Mellen Street.
Again, way back then, they did their surveys but decided cars neither drive too fast, nor do we have the volume of traffic to justify crosswalks.
Hmmmm. I'm so over it so I've decided this summer I'm going to start shuttling people down to beautiful Salt Ponds beach, sit back and enjoy the uproar!"
I will close for now with a thank you to any of you who read down to this point. Please do not forget to share this information with the world.....well, at least with all Hampton residents!!
Thank you.
Sandra Canepa
