WINTHROP -- The town took the lid off skateboarding Monday, dropping the helmet rule for those using the town's skateboard park.

The move came shortly after a dozen skateboarders, half of them toting their boards, heard councilors wrestle with ways to keep downtown merchants happy, pedestrians safe, and skateboarders moving.

In July, the Town Council voted 5-2 to add skateboards to a policy that bans bicycles, roller skates and scooters from the sidewalk along Winthrop's downtown drag.

But councilors held off on a second reading, tabling the item until they could hear from those directly affected.

Councilor Patricia Engdahl then worked with high school students, skateboarders, the recreation director, Police Chief Joseph Young and others and reported to councilors Monday that they had jointly arrived at some proposals for the skateboard park which has been sparsely used lately.

"Helmets are encouraged but not required" was atop the list.

Former councilor Patrice Putman, who facilitated the group, said she had led the charge to require helmets years ago, but was willing to back down now with some reservations.

"Once a nurse, always a nurse," she said. "I still worry about heads."

Putman, who is also heading the comprehensive plan committee, said Winthrop could welcome skateboarders.

"Make Winthrop a friendly skateboarding place," she said. "It would be a way to market us as a place that's friendly to teens and skateboarding."

Toebee Parkhurst, a professional skateboarder who lives in Augusta, asked the council to eliminate the helmet rule for the park, thus giving the skateboarders the opportunity to ride there rather than the sidewalks downtown.

Councilor David Rheaume, who owns a business downtown, said his concerns about skateboarding heightened when he saw a skateboarder run into a woman on a downtown sidewalk.

"During the day when shops are open, get off the boards and walk," Councilor David Rheaume said. "It's only on Main Street."

Chris Peterson, a skateboarder from Winthrop, said most skateboarders are passing through the downtown.

"We're either rolling around trying to have some fun or going to the private skatepark," he said. "I'm usually on the side of the road or in the road. I like to go fast; I stay in the street."

Councilors retabled the ban on downtown sidewalk skating at the suggestion of Chairman Kevin Cookson.

Cookson said the proposal could be amended to ban skateboards on Main Street sidewalks between Morton and Clark streets when businesses are open.

He asked the skateboarders to come back with their ideas about the proposed amendment and with rules for the town skateboard park and ways it could be improved.

Betty Adams -- 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com