Page 8 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch May 10, 2013 . . Committee To Study Skate Park FROM PAGE 7 ities they can come to the skate park that is pretty accepting and an open atmosphere.” Durkin furthered the skate park has become a part of Ocean City families’ everyday life where parents can trust dropping their children off to spend the day. “The older kids … keep an eye on the younger kids and keep them out of trouble so they don’t get involved in something destructive where they don’t have to be out wondering the streets of Ocean City all day, possibly getting into trouble or possibly not, but if we can eliminate the risk that is great,” Durkin said. Durkin pointed out while the Dew Tour is in Ocean City contractors are building the skate park near the country’s oldest continuously operating public skate park, which is a big marketing tool and helpful for the Dew Tour. To close it in the winter, Durkin said Ocean City would lose that title of being home to the longest continually operated skate park. “It is a great idea to have a Skate Park Committee like the Surfing Committee that did have a lot of success,” he said. “Leaving it open until then, if that is not practical in the budget maybe we can start looking for other solutions to balance the budget now so that we can attentively keep the skateboard park as open.” Anne Cook, whose family holds two annual skate park passes, also supported the notion to form a Skate Park Committee. “Something needs to be said about the employees of the skate park and how much they mean to the kids there. They are oftentimes babysitters to the kids, watching over them, which really isn’t in their job and they need to be commended for that,” she said. “I really appreciate you guys being open minded and I think the committee is a step in progress in working with the community.” Ocean City resident and “skateboarder advocate” Jim Solomon also supported the Skate Park Committee. “I know that the committee is going to see in the summertime the employees are doing a great job over there, there is going to be a lot of the same kids that have season passes coming there on a regular basis, along with a lot of tourists that come to Ocean City knowing there is a skate park here and they are paying a daily basis to go to the skate park and go to the events,” he said. “Now, in the wintertime it is a different story. … it is a pretty large group of kids that are there every single day. I have seen these kids since they were little tykes and it is unbelievable what these kids have learned over the years from the skate park and they wouldn’t be able to go without it. Taking that away from these boys can be life changing for them.” ✝❜¤✝❘❘✡✮✌✮☛✘✆✆✆✆ ✬✗❜¤✬✡¤ ✮✡✒ ✘✡✝✙✏✏✠ ✬✏✒✡✗✿ ✮✏✒ ✏❘✡✮ ✼¤✠✝❜✘ ✝¤✒✡✡✎✿ ✌✮✡¤✣✮¤✏✮✠✡✗✙❛¤✏✏✠✘¤✳¤✌✮✡¤✌✮✡✘ Featuring Seafood From The Docks • Aged Steaks Lamb • Crab Cakes • Bouillabaisse Oysters From Icy New England Waters • Chef’s Nightly Specials Monday-Thursday: $5.00 Off All Entrees Sundays: All Entrees $19.00 ✝✎✡¤✫✏❛✗¤✥✡✘✡✗✑✝✬✌✏✮✘¤✏✗¤✏✬✡✗’✘¤✝❜✿ ✣¤✚✏✙✡✗✘✿¤✫✏❛’¤✢✏✑✡¤✧✌✘¤✝✟✡✿ In The Taproom... Happy Hour 4-7 p.m. A Great Restaurant With A Very Cool Taproom, Close To All The Courses! Just North Of O.C., Just South Of Bethany ✡✮✒✌✟✎¤✘✝✮✠ 302.539.2607 • 800.362.DINE • www.nantucketsrestaurant.com ALL SPECIALS GOOD THROUGH SUNDAY, MAY 19TH