In an occasionally heated two-hour discussion Monday night, the Portsmouth Town Council heard from supporters and opponents of a skating area in the Island Park playground and referred the matter back to the community for further work. At issue are plans to add a dedicated skateboarding area to the park, which currently includes baseball and soccer fields, a basketball court, and a play area for young children. A prior effort by an ad-hoc committee tasked by the Council with developing a solution fell apart over the past month.

Full disclosure: I am a member of the leadership team of the group supporting the skate park.

"You're a neighborhood," said Councilor Jim Seveney. "Go back and talk to each other." He also noted that the Council was being put in a position where any decision would anger one side, and urged both sides to compromise. "The real losers here are the children."

"I don't want neighbors to be upset," said Councilor Jeff Plumb. "A compromise is what we're looking for. Let's come up with a square footage."

Lori Rinkel and Cheryl Augistine, representing the supporters of the skate area, sought clarification from the Council on their prior votes. Town Solicitor Andre D'Andrea advised the Council that their vote in February granting approval to apply for a Community Development Block Grant could be "interpreted as a vote to support" the building of the park, and that nothing changed in subsequent meetings.

While this appeared to settle question of the Council's historical approval, several Councilors indicated they might change their minds in light of new evidence. At least three — Karen Gleason, Huck Little, and Peter McIntyre — expressed some skepticism about the location.

Island Park resident Brian Whittier spoke against the proposed facility, arguing that abuttors were opposed, and that there was already an "infiltration of people from outside the neighborhood," given that the police had "seen new faces" there.

Trying to get a sense of the scope for compromise, Plumb asked, "Would you be opposed to [a skate area the size of] 100 square feet?"

"Yes," Whittier replied.

Portsmouth Police Chief Lance Hebert rose to clarify his position. "I am not to be put in the middle," he said. He reported that the Island Park area had seen increased calls to the police, "due to the conflicting sides. Obviously, a serious problem." He said that any large skate park should not be located in a residential area, and reiterated that his original approval had been for an area "small enough for the kids of Island Park."

Without pointing a finger at either side, Councilor Plumb expressed concern that the police were being called without good reason. "Please stop doing that," he said.

IP resident Bev Kelly showed the Council a Newport Daily News article on the playground dating from its opening in 1996 which she said mentioned a skate park as a future enhancement. She also told the Council that during the ad-hoc committee meetings, a compromise had been proposed comprising a flat concrete slab half the size of the basketball court and removable equipment subject to a probationary period. "If problems arose," said Kelly, the equipment could be removed and, "the kids can play hopscotch."

Gleason pressed on the location and the earmarking of donations raised to fund the skate area. "Are you willing to consider using [the money raised] elsewhere in the community?"

Rinkel said that she would rather go back and ask donors, and stressed that the money had been raised for a specific purpose. "The kids in Island Park were promised a skate park back in February," she said.

"Go below 800 square feet," said Gleason. "Then come back with a real plan."

Opponents were not happy with the evident lack of progress. "It appears that we're back to square zero," Whittier said.

"The amount [of people] against is obvious," said resident Gary Hahn. "They were never really informed."

Lisa Whittier, an officer of the Island Park Crime Watch Committee, spoke to the Council about the funds raised for the park, currently in the Crime Watch bank account. She questioned why the Council should ask about the money given that they were, "a private committee."

Seveney noted that the grants were applied for "under the auspices of the town." Turning over the money for the town to hold in escrow, he said, was "the right thing to do."

"It's up to the committee," Lisa Whittier replied. "It's the committee's money." She said they would need to put it to a vote at their January 25th meeting.

Asked for his legal opinion, Town Solicitor D'Andrea said, "There's already one lawyer involved." He noted that the expense of resolving the question might well be more than the $7K at issue and said, "Only a court would be able to intervene."

Chief Hebert urged the Council to separate the Crime Watch committee from responsibility for the playground, and that the two had been mingled as a historical accident. "The crime watch group doesn't need any money," said Hebert.

The council asked representatives from the two groups to schedule a meeting and involve the whole community.

At this point, Andrew Kelly and I rose to suggest to the Council the formation of an official Island Park recreation committee. However, while there seemed to be some interest in considering for a Town-wide committee addressing recreation, there was no support for the approach at this time.

In subsequent e-mail exchanges among the leaders of the two groups and members of the Council, the community session was scheduled for January 27, 7pm at Town Hall.

Editorial note: This is story 3 of 4 on Monday night's meeting. Coming up: The Portsmouth Economic Development Committee's annual report.

Update: Sakonnet Times coverage. Check out the "Support the Island Park Skate Park" page on Facebook.