Municipal Youth Guidance Council Chairman, Gary Iacobacci and First Ward Councilwoman Janice Maly (who is also the Twp. Council Liaison to the Municipal Youth Guidance Council) admire the Ramp Park they helped create - photo by Debbie Galant

Finally,

 

After many years of hard work by numerous entities, the Joseph F. Tiseo II Ramp Park at Memorial Park will be opening next Saturday, November 22, 2008, at 10 AM (rain date Sunday, November 23).

 

The Bloomfield Municipal Youth Guidance Council was the entity that initiated and guided the effort to build the park.

 

By way of background, back in the early 90s, when I served on the Bloomfield Town Council, a group of young skateboarders came to a Town Council meeting to make an appeal to the town for a place to practice the sport that they loved, skateboarding. Bobby Rosetti who is an adult now and still lives in town was one of those kids. During their appearance, the youngsters explained how they were constantly being chased away from every place they tried to skateboard. We researched the matter but unfortunately, back then, insurance regulations prohibited the town from providing such a facility. But those kids left an impression on me and their presentation stayed in the back of my mind.

 

Fast forward to 2003, when the Youth Guidance Council conducted a survey (BMYGC Advisor, Francesca "Frankie" Galioto was a big help in conducting the survey) to determine which activities teenagers would like the town to provide for them. Lo and behold, skateboarding and BMX biking came out on top as the activities the teens enjoyed most. The Youth Guidance Council immediately set out to research the feasibility of creating a ramp park in Bloomfield.

 

Anita Killian, whose son Joe Tiseo (who was a famous professional BMX biker) was killed in a motorcycle accident a few years earlier, passionately agreed to help us in our quest. Subsequently, the Youth Guidance Council found a former miniature golf course in Memorial Park that had been dormant for some 10 years that looked like a good place to build the park. One thing lead to another and due in part to Anita's contacts with professionals in the BMX biking and skateboarding world, my extensive research on insurance liability, injury rates and teen participation rates for skateboarding and BMX biking, Councilwoman Janice Maly's influence with governmental officials and the lobbying efforts of young skateboarders and BMX bikers and their parents (the kids received a great lesson in civics as we made them attend many Town Council and Board of Recreation meetings to persuade the decision makers and support their cause) we were able to convince the Town Council and the Bloomfield Board of Recreation to allow us to build a ramp park in Bloomfield.

 

We then held a series of meetings with local skateboarders and BMX bikers and came up with a design that they liked. And by the way, the final design is not exactly the design that we started with but according to experts and the kids who will be using this park, this park rocks!   We then applied for and won (through our town grants writer Barbara Lawton of the Funding Group and the vigorous lobbying efforts of Councilwoman Maly and Senator Ronald Rice) two grants totaling approximately $330,000 to build the park. One grant was awarded to us by the Essex County Open Space Trust Fund and the other was awarded by the NJ Green Acres program.

 

It makes me extremely proud and happy that through the concerted effort of the youth of this town and their parents, the Bloomfield Municipal Youth Guidance Council, the Governing Body (especially Councilwoman Maly), Anita Killian, various other officials, and the Bloomfield Board of Recreation and its Director, Anthony Nesto the Joseph F. Tiseo II Ramp Park at Memorial Park has finally become a reality.

 

Gary Iacobacci

Chairman

 

P.S.

 

 

RAMP PARK INFO 

The ramp park is open to Bloomfield and non Bloomfield residents. Anyone desiring to use the park MUST complete a liability waiver form (signed by parents if they're under 18) and MUST obtain an ID card. The waiver forms and ID cards are available at the Bloomfield Civic Center, 90 Broad Street Monday-Friday 8:30 - 4:30. However, during the week of November 17, the Civic Center will stay open until 8:30 PM on Wednesday, Nov 19 and until 7 PM on Friday, November 21.  * Users can also sign up during the grand opening Nov. 22, but keep in mind that minors will need a parental signature on the waiver form before they will be allowed to use the park.

 

LOCATION: The Joseph F. Tiseo II Ramp Park at Memorial Park is located in Memorial Park (adjacent to Foley Field), next to the tennis courts on JFK Drive.

PARKING: Use the Lower Memorial lot located on Memorial Parkway (off Belleville Avenue diagonally across from Oakeside Bloomfield Cultural Center). * If this lot is full, use the Upper Memorial lot located off  Spring Street (near East Almira St.).  

 

After Nov. 22, 2008, the ramp park will stay open as long as possible until the winter sets in and will then close for the season. It will re-open in March of 2009.  NOTE:  For now, there will be no charge for use of the facility. However, upon its reopening in March, users will pay a yearly fee, the amount of which has yet to be determined. Check this website for updates.

 

 

1) Users MUST wear helmets, kneepads and elbow pads at all times.
2) This facility is for skateboards, in-line skates and BMX bikes ONLY All other devices are not permitted in the park at any time.
3) Use of the Ramp Park is limited to the posted hours of operation. Any person attempting to use the facility during other times shall be subject to penalty.

4) Users MUST have their ramp park ID card available at all times
5) Use of drugs, alcohol, profanity and vandalism is strictly prohibited and could result in automatic and permanent expulsion from the facility.
6) Glass bottles and food are NOT permitted in the Ramp Park
7) For safety reasons, admittance to the Ramp Park will be limited to the established maximum capacity.

8) Sharing of Ramp Park ID is prohibited. Doing so could result in forfeit of right to use the facility.
9) Failure to follow the rules and regulations can result in an ejection from the facility and possible punishment to the fullest extent of the law.

10) The park will not be open during inclement weather. Call the Weather Update Hotline 973-743-7593 to check for weather related closings.

 

 

                                 

 

 

 

Sunday                  11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Monday                  2:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Tuesday                 2:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Thursday                2:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Friday                    6:00 pm - 9:00 pm 

Saturday                10:00 am - 2:00 pm & 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm 

 

Sunday                  4:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Wednesday             2:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Friday                    2:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Saturday                2:00 pm - 6:00 pm