Alternative Memorial for David Gentile Planned

The skatepark bearing his name may soon be gone, but David Gentile's name will not be forgotten.

Members of the public beseeched council Monday not to bulldoze Gentile's memory when the township takes down the skatepark in the near future. Gentile was paralyzed from the neck down in a Moorestown football game in 1979.

Family friend Sandra McGuire explained to council how supporters of the family came together after the accident to raise money for Gentile's future. Following his death in 2001, Gentile's mother returned the money to the township, with $120,000 going toward the completion of the skatepark.

She ended up giving back more than $500,000, McGuire said, which also included $136,000 for the purchase of a new ambulance.

"The only memory of David now ... is a little gold plaque on the door of the ambulance," said McGuire. "I hope you will provide some kind of memorial to David."

Mayor Stacey Jordan reassured McGuire, and others who echoed her sentiments about Gentile, that the Recreation Advisory Committee had begun discussions about what to do with the space once the skatepark was demolished, and that those plans would involve a memorial of some sort.

"He will be remembered," Jordan said. "It's not just going to be like a bench."

Town council approved a $413,000 bond ordinance last month for projects at Wesley Bishop and Memorial Field. Part of that money will be used to remove the skate park.

Recreation director Theresa Miller explained the wood at the skatepark is rotted to the point where it's unsafe, and repairs are no longer an option, and replacement is too costly.

What kind of memorial do you think would be fitting? Share your thoughts in the comments below.