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The Asbury Park Skateboard Foundation, led by resident Brian Watkins, received an unofficial nod Monday night to move forward with plans to construct a skateboard park within Sunset Park.

The nonprofit, which formed in 2015, wants to build the skateboard park, at no cost to taxpayers, within the western portion of the park that borders Main Street, Fifth Avenue, Bond Street, and Sunset Avenue.

“We’ve spent the last 10 months at various locations in the city – spoke to the Housing Authority, BOE, and Interfaith Neighbors to find suitable locations,” Watkins said during a presentation to the City Council.

Watkins said the location is best suited for a skateboard park because of its visibility from the Main Street corridor, and its accessibility to the elementary and high school.

“It’s an underutilized space,” he said. “There is no place to sit and enjoy the park [and] it falls into the Main Street Redevelopment area.”

The Foundation will seek grants and corporate funding to develop the skateboard park and will include interested city kids in the process.

“We plan to engage youth from various angles of skateboarding,” he said. “From planning to development and construction, the youth of Asbury will learn architecture, engineering and all the design aspects that go into building a skate park.”

A recent graphic design contest with the school district’s students yielded six winter coats for contests winners, he said. They plan to develop programs in conjunction with the school district and the city’s Recreation Department.

“Aside from the obvious health benefits, skateboarding lacks any socio-economic boundaries,” Watkins said. “It will stir creativity and determination.”

Councilman Jesse Kendle said the Foundation initially sought to build a skateboard park on the west side of town.

The Foundation plans are to complete the park within 24 months. Watkins said any trees removed during construction will be replanted and they plan to incorporate seating areas in their design.

City officials said a survey of the exact location and an amendment to the Main Street Redevelopment Plan will need to be completed.

“You’ve done a good job,” Mayor John Moor said. “I agree our parks are underutilized. I’m very supportive of the plan.”

[featured photo from left to right: Asbury Park Skateboard Foundation members Derek Rinaldi, Brian Watkins, John Herguth, and Lou Cuccaro]

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