Page 4 • Wednesday , December 29 , 2021 • The Hammonton Gazette
Parks Comm . hears from members of Skate Hammonton
PARKS , from Page 1 it was nice to see people participate . i know we sit up here a lot of times , and there ’ s no one from the public ; no one at all . Sometimes we kind of feel like we ’ re just talking to ourselves , so it was nice to hear from the public about what they think of Hammonton , and what they want to see , and how they feel about our recreation facilities ,” Mazzeo said .
Commissioner Paul Ordille asked why someone from outside of Hammonton might be interested in the town ’ s park facilities .
“ Was that a way for you to filter the surveys ?” Ordille said .
Commissioner Mica McCullough replied .
“ We asked for the ziP codes so that we could seriously consider the responses from Hammonton ziP codes only . We opened up to everyone — in case maybe people did care and we didn ’ t know — but we only really wanted to seriously consider , and make decisions upon , the opinions voiced by people who live in Hammonton ,” Mc- Cullough said .
Present at the Parks and recreation Commission meeting were members of Skate Hammonton . Joe Kalucki spoke on behalf of the organization to petition for the building of a skate park at the 11th Street recreation fields — which , until recently , Skate Hammonton had been utilizing .
Kalucki said that he could provide the “ logical and financial reasons for why a skate park makes sense , but these reasons do not get to the heart of why the town needs a skate park .”
“ in the few short minutes that i have , i ’ m going to share with you what sets skating apart from other outdoor , recreational activities , and why that makes it so important for
Hammonton to support it ,” Kalucki said .
Kalucki said that skateboarding is not necessarily a competitive sport like hockey , football , soccer or baseball .
“ although some professional skaters do participate in competitions — as in the Summer 2021 Olympics , that was the first time this year — a lot of professional skaters go their whole career without participating in a single competition . this is because skateboarding is not about competing with other people ; it ’ s about competing with ourselves — to push ourselves , mentally and physically , to new heights ; to take risks ; to conquer fears ; to get up again , no matter how many times we fall , and , most importantly , to have fun ,” Kalucki said .
Kalucki said that skateboarding is also about supporting fellow skaters to do the same .
“ When the focus isn ’ t on beating your opponent , recreation turns into something new . it becomes a community of people building each other up , no matter where each other is . Skaters will cheer
just as loudly for the new skater who drops in on a ramp for the first time as they will a pro skater landing a ridiculous trick no one ’ s even thought of . each moment to us is equally important ,” Kalucki said . at skate parks , Kalucki said , everyone “ is equal , and everyone has a home .”
“ it is the only sport — the only sport — where you will see male , female , trans , non-binary , disabled , young and old athletes working and practicing together at the same time . You can show up to the skate park exactly as you are , and you will be accepted and treated like everybody else ,” Kalucki said .
Kalucki said that his goal in appearing before the commission was not to “ have a park built tomorrow , or next month — nor does it have to be at 11th Street .”
“ all we are asking for tonight is to be a part of the conversation ; to have a seat at the table . there is a need for a skate park in this town , and that need is showing no sign of slowing down ,” Kalucki said .
Councilman Steven furgione asked Kalucki about how skate
See SKATE , Page 18