The Village of Sloatsburg’s Skate Park asphalt slab had fallen into disrepair due to storm flooding since its 1980s installation — the slab’s surface had undergone repeated flooding and cycles of freezing and thawing. The asphalt slab was recently removed and the field was graded and seeded for a youth field, which should be ready in the spring.

Precisely one year ago, in October of 2017, there was a public conversation about what could be done with the old Village of Sloatsburg Skate Park, built in the 1980s. After much discussion and investigation, the Village tore down the old rink and moved on.

In its place is a new field set for use as a youth sports field in the spring. There’s already a group of Sloatsburg families that hope to organize a half-field soccer league for area youth in the spring. Once the new field’s grass is established, younger kids will have a field to play in, away from bigger kids and established league players who often occupy portions of the fields for impromptu games.

The Skate Park and new youth field was supervised by Deputy Mayor and Village Trustee Peter Akey, who has taken an aggressive approach to preserve the Village’s common properties. “I’m on a mission to rebuild all of Sloatsburg’s infrastructure,” Akey joked but was serious about his intent and the need to keep Sloatsburg’s common properties in shape.

He works with the Village to maintain the Community Pool and grounds, and also led the effort to remake Brook Street Park, now closed and getting ready to undergo extensive refitting and revitalization. Akey recently red flagged the basketball court at the Community Fields as in need of repair. With new cracks appearing, the court could face a significant repair cost in the next few seasons if not addressed.

The Sloatsburg Community Fields are used both by local residents and are also popular for league rental … which, as the saying goes, helps keep the lights on. One of the most popular features of the Community Fields is the approximately .6 of a mile walking loop

Next up …

The basket court at the Community Fields should be on the radar of residents who like to shoot the rock. Tucked back near where the former Skate Park used to be, the basketball courts have undergone some cracking — the very process that eventually did in the Skate Park.

If the basketball court is not repaired in a timely manner the costs could escalate rapidly. A new asphalt covering could cost the Village some $100,000 versus addressing the damage now.