I am always amused at the actions of the Cornwall-on-Hudson police moving around, shooing on and scolding skateboarders. The tiny town of Gardiner has a skateboard park - does C-on-H? And why not? Not insurance, not money, good grief - when will people see that a whole lot of hassling could be ended simply and inexpensively. Give the kids a place to nag out!!

Kids can't "hang out" anywhere but their own home. They can't get together anywhere out in the open where they can be SEEN what they are doing... asked to move on from school, gazebo, municipal lot. I guess it's better when they are hanging out hidden on the Duncan Trails where we can't see what they are doing.

Ask Washingtonville how their skateboard park is going!

Why should the town pay for a park that can only be used by a few?

D Peters

I don't swim in the town pool.
I pay taxes here.
I don't use munger cottage.
I pay taxes here.
I don't play basketball. I pay taxes here.
I sure as heck don't do the infernal torture that is little league.
I pay taxes here.
I don't use the playground.
I pay taxes here.
After this year my kids will no longer have to suffer the school district.
I pay (big fat)taxes here.
I pick up my dog's poo, I remind the local 10-85s to pick up their trash when they are hanging out, I patronize local biz whenever I can, I support and participate in community events...Gee - I guess it's called being part of a community filled with different kinds of people. There has never been a place for kids to just "be". The police are always making them 'move along'. For chrissake, give them a place to hang out without being looked on as criminals.

Like I said, ask the other towns how their parks are going...

Kate, just because you remind the local 10-85's to pick up their trash doesn't make it right and doesn't mean they do it. The police are not doing this because they "feel like it". The community- which includes businesses - call the police on these kids. Nobody said they are criminals - just you.

I forgot to add my name

Denise Peters

THANK YOU MRS. PETERS A THOUSAND TIMES!!!!!!

Denise, I would like to address a couple of items. First, I responded to your question about why we should have an area that may be used by only a portion of the community. You ignored that and went directly to the second part of my response. Let me clarify - I, me, personally, I do not call them criminals, I call them teenagers. Sometimes they can be a pain in the butt, that is the nature of an adolescent. Hoever, if you read what I wrote you will see that I said they are 'looked on' as criminals. And, they are very often *treated* like criminals. And, as far as who calls them what, a certain member of the local police force has referred to them as "worthless piece of sh*#",
"f^@&ing juvenile delinquents", "idiots", and "a$$#*le". And please pardon me for not censoring that slop, but that IS what was said.
This is NOT how I want a person with the power and authority of the state, and a gun, referring to my children or any one else's children. I am on record as having made a complaint about this, but I have a feeling it was never 'officially' noted in any file anywhere. And when you say telling them to clean up after themselves "doesn't make it right" what "it" and "right" are you referring to? When I see kids behaving badly, I speak to them about their role as a community member, and what my expectations are as a community member. What makes sense to me is if you have a problem with the kids you speak to them, but the fearful and critical run to the police first instead of speaking directly to the kids or the parents. Yes, teenagers can be tiresome, but they are human beings, our children, and it seems that a small minority of the local constables relish an opportunity to harass, demean and bully, when instead they should be building a relationship of trust and respect. And this is apt for both sides of the coin; a small handfull of jerks always seems to spoil it for the rest of the folk.

what, no rebuttal?