Teens skate in for action

By Kelly Yates
SKATERS in Narre Warren North are putting pressure on the City of Casey to build a skate park in the area.
Jye Smith, 13, and 14-year-old Anthony Sigeti have written letters to the council for the skate park, saying teachers and parents at local schools were getting sick of teenagers riding in their school grounds after hours.
Jye stated in his letter: “Heaps of us like to ride our scooters in our spare time but can’t as there is no where to ride” .
Anthony told the News the schools didn’t like the teenagers being there after hours. The Fountain Gate Secondary College students have called for a skate park to be built in the park near Maramba and Kendall drives in Narre Warren.
Jye’s mother Corinne Smith said there was nothing in Narre Warren North to occupy the children. She said for safety reasons she wouldn’t let Jye ride his scooter to the main skate park at Ray Bastin Reserve. “I’m 100 per cent sure having a skate park in the area would be a benefit to hundreds of children,” she said.
Four Oaks Ward councillor Shar Balmes presented the letters to the council at Tuesday night’s council meeting.
City of Casey city living manager Richard Amon said the development of skate parks was guided by Casey’s Skate Strategy (2007) which has allocated funds for works at Buchanan Park in Berwick, Max Pawsey Reserve in Narre Warren, and an upgrade to The Shed indoor skate facility in Cranbourne.
Mr Amon said the Narre Warren North Recreation Ground, adjacent to Narre Warren North Primary School, was identified in the Skate Strategy as a potential site for a transportable skate facility. Council will re-assess the situation next year.