NORTH PROVIDENCE — The town’s newly relocated skateboard park officially reopened yesterday amid rave reviews from at least some of the teenagers who were once among Mayor Charles Lombardi’s strongest critics.

On a relatively warm autumn day that allowed him to go shirtless, 16-year-old Joey Castello said that after trying out the park over several days, he could say that it was truly “awesome” and far better than the previous site, on the other end of Capt. Stephen Olney Park, at the bottom of a long hill off High Service Avenue.

“We really need cops to patrol a place like this, which they really didn’t do very well at the old location because it was so out of the way. This is a more open and we don’t feel like we’re skating in the forest, like we did before,” Castello said. “There are also fewer mosquitoes eating us up.”

Fellow skater Tyler Smith, 14, agreed. “It does seem like a better idea than being over there in the dark where people would sometimes start fights. It’s safer here. We’re closer to houses, and if one of us gets injured — which doesn’t happen very often — they’ll be able to bring a rescue truck right here.”

The gathering at the new site, near the park’s Smithfield Road entrance, brought together nearly two dozen skateboarders, along with almost as many police, fire and town officials. Lombardi assured the young people that the facility had been moved for their benefit and for them to enjoy.

“We are here today to ask you to work along with us, because we need for this to be a partnership,” the mayor said, suggesting that the skateboarders will need to do their part to clean up potential litter and curb graffiti.

“We think that by relocating to this area, police will be able to monitor it and keep out all those individuals that shouldn’t be here,” he said before going on to introduce the person who would be most involved with the skaters, Community Police Patrolman Paul Vittorio.

Really and truly, said Vittorio, “We want you guys to have a blast, as long as it’s at a respectable level.”

“This is your place, like the mayor says. All we ask is that you pick up the litter and don’t graffiti. Believe me, I’m your friend, and I’m here to help you anytime. No need for me to give you any type of attitude. I want you to come to me with any problems you have. There’s no need to be embarrassed. We can keep it confidential.”

Lombardi acknowledged that he was a bit disappointed at seeing some graffiti on one of the trash barrels — one youth said it had been there when the park was at the other location — and on one of the rails.

“This is your park, but I guarantee you that if you are not going to help take care of it, we’ll have to close it for a day or two when the litter piles up,” the mayor said. “Do I have your agreement on that?” to which there was an affirmative reply.

Not everyone yesterday, though, thought the park was a good thing.

A Link Street resident, who declined to give his name, said that since the park opened unofficially a week or so ago, his once quiet street has been overtaken by constant noise.

“My feeling is that the park should have stayed where it was,” he said. “That was a good spot. Now it’s here and it’s aggravating.”

The man said it got so noisy at 10 p.m. Monday night, long after the supposed curfew, that he called the police.

“Let me clarify that,” said Sgt. Joseph Sanita. “Yes, there was a call at 10 last night, but when the officer arrived on the scene, there were a couple of male juveniles sitting quietly talking among themselves. They weren’t using the facility. They weren’t causing a commotion. Was the complaint valid? I would say no.”

One parent who was pleased with what he saw was Ron Zeigler, who said he brought his 7-year-old daughter, Christina, to the event to see what the skateboard park was like, knowing that it’s something she might one day want to use.

“You don’t see many girls doing this, but she is not afraid of anything. She’s only 7, but she’s very adventurous.”

rdujardi@projo.com