From the Mayor’s Office –
“Let’s Have Fun!”

From the Mayor’s Office
October 18, 2025
“Let’s Have Fun!”

The following speech was read by Mayor Newhard on October 18, 2025, at the Warwick Skatepark Grand Opening –

Good afternoon, and thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate the opening of the Robert J. Newhard Skatepark. Many of you probably didn’t know its name or who he was. He’s my dad, but most importantly he was a remarkable athlete. He was a five-letter athlete at Highland Falls High School — basketball, football, track, baseball, and tennis. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he became a star player on the Navy West Coast Basketball Team. When he left the service, he was recruited by the Kingston Dodgers, a farm team to the National League. Instead of pursuing baseball, he chose a career in pharmacy and started a family. I guess that’s why I stand before you today.

The story of this skatepark began when a group of young men came to my dad, who was a Village Trustee and liaison to Parks and Recreation. They had been harassed by police and property owners for using spaces never intended for skating. Among them were Keith Zackowitz, Mike Yungman and Family, Chris Tomzak, Todd LaPenna, Nick Zucconi, Chris Papas, Luke Motejl, Brian Potter, Homer Horowitz, and the Linguanti Family, who all came to him in earnest with a passion and vision to build a skatepark, and they were hoping for support. My dad quickly became their ally, and that was the spark that began it all.

Sadly, that same year my dad passed away. I was appointed to finish his term, which included inheriting this group of young men and their vision. The next three years became a battle with insurance providers and fundraising. Those young men started the project as freshmen in high school, and it finally opened during their senior year. That was in 1999 — the first municipal skatepark in the Hudson Valley. The park was named for my dad by Mayor Anthony Portelli, a wonderful gesture for me and my family. It was a great day. For over 25 years the park withstood the ravages of time, many fixes, and countless skaters.

Now we are here today at this remarkable facility — truly a labor of love on all accounts. The Warwick Skatepark Initiative grew out of Project Knomad, Game of Skate, and a memorial to Ian Sharp. We can thank Donna Hirsch for her love, strength, and commitment — ten years of fundraising. There was momentum with the help of the Vernon Skatepark members who joined forces with us, but then the wet towel of COVID seemed to dash our hopes.

My son said to me back then, “We’ll never see a new skatepark in my lifetime.” A lament, but also a challenge!

The stars aligned when the Kosuga Foundation announced it was closing its books and seeking significant projects to support with its remaining funds. By then, we had plans in hand, cost estimates, a location, and Village Board approval. We were shovel-ready — and nervous. Every group needs leadership and an advocate, and Bill Lindberg has been that and more. His positive nature and attention to detail guided us through legal issues and the construction process. Every member of the Skatepark Initiative Team also contributed their time and talents.

This has been a collaborative effort on every level. On behalf of the Initiative, I would like to thank the Kosuga Foundation Board and Polly and Vince Kosuga; Mark Potempa; Chris and the crew of Ground Control Excavating; David Getz Engineering; Jonah Mandelbaum; CN Wood; Jimmy Smith of Advance Testing; Jones Chemical; Kurt Kozial of the Greenwood Lake Skatepark Project; the Newhard Family; the Foster Family; Kennedy Associates; Mind Frame Therapy; Mountain Creek; Merrill Lynch – Chris Shell; Adam Emmerich; Chris Daubert Landscaping; Degraw and DeHaan Architects; Supervisor Jesse Dwyer and the Warwick Town Board; Town Recreation Director Samantha Walter; Village Park liaison Carly Foster; the Village Board of Trustees; the Clerk’s Office; and the Village Department of Public Works — especially Mike Moser, Jason McCutch, and Tony Rivera. A special thanks to the design company, Pillar Designs and finally the Artisan Skatepark Crew, who spent over five months here creating this amazing facility.

I was quoted in the Warwick Advertiser at the first skatepark ribbon cutting in 1999, and the prophetic words ring true today: “This is just the beginning. So let’s have fun!”