Cranford Identifies Skate Park Site

After about four years of debate, Cranford has agreed to host what town officials hope will be a safe, legal haven for area skateboard and BMX enthusiasts—that is, if they can afford it.

Town officials identified township-owned property on Hillside Avenue as the location for a skate park at an August 18 meeting. The triangle-shaped area is roughly 10,000 square feet and is nestled behind the Hillside Avenue tennis courts. 

“A number of factors contributed to the decision to allot the property for this proposed use,” said Dr. Mark Smith, deputy mayor and commissioner of public works and engineering. “The continued growth of the activity, the perception that there is a lack of nearby facilities, the willingness of a group of supporters to step up and assume responsibility for the project, and the identification of a location that will not impact a local neighborhood or neighbors all played a part in the recent decision to designate property for use as a skate park.”

The skate park will not be built, however, unless skate enthusiasts can raise the funds.

The Cranford Skate Park Association is in charge of raising money and building the park. Though they have employed veteran skate park designer Edward Pollio of New York Design and Construction to plan out the site, there is no timeline for completion at this early stage. The association deemed it necessary to secure a site for the park before planning to build.

Now the biggest concern is “fundraising, fundraising, fundraising,” said association member Susan Fichiera of Walnut Avenue.

The association plans to hold an expo at the site on October 11, where they will answer questions, provide information, and hopefully show off a rendering of what the completed park may look like, courtesy of Pollio.

Cranford High School student Matt, 17, can't wait.

“We need somewhere to go where we won’t get in trouble,” said the avid BMX rider. Matt frequents skate parks in Clark, Woodbridge and Edison, but would like somewhere to go where he “doesn’t need to get a ride to.”

Lenox Avenue resident Andy Hogan, 42, thinks it is about time Cranford allows a skate park.

“The kids need a safe island, a place where they won’t be chased by the cops, where their parents know where they are. It will give their parents peace of mind," he said. "My son is three, and if he starts skateboarding when he’s older, I’ll feel a lot better knowing where he is.”