Nicollette Waterhouse and Amber Hoyt weren't skating, carried no boards and didn't have a bike nearby, but they were still drawn to the Newtown skate park where they hung out with friends.

"We've been here every day," Hoyt, 20, said on Wednesday as the two sat on benches at Dickinson Park socializing.

Around them dozens of teenagers and other youths rode the ramps and tried out their tricks on the guardrails and elements at the newly opened skate park.

"Even though it's freezing, they're still coming," Hoyt said of the youngsters.

In the week or so it has been opened, the skate park has drawn dozens of skateboarders and bikers as well as onlookers.

The skatepark, which is open to skateboarders, rollerbladers and bikers, according to posted signs, is a much needed gathering place for town youth, particularly after the skate park in Brookfield, Vertigo, closed its doors for good a couple of months ago, Waterhouse, 18, said.

"Since Vertigo closed, this is the only thing around," she said. "It keeps kids off the streets."

While skateboarders – including those who wore no helmets or other protective padding – will occasionally take a spill on the hard surface of the skate park, having a crowd at the park helps keep the scene safe, the youngsters said.

"Everybody keeps an eye out for each other," Waterhouse said. "People are there to help at least."

Posted safety rules and regulations advise, "Proper use of safety equipment (helmets, knee pads and elbow pads) is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED! In accordance with State of CT helmet laws, it is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED that all skaters wear a helmet while riding in the park."

Hanging out with Waterhouse and Hoyt was 16-year-old Sam Malloy, who said he has headed to the park straight from school every day this week. He said he and his friends were even talking about coming out to the park in the dead of winter to help maintain it in case of snow.

"We'll probably come and shovel it out," he said.

The park has earned rave reviews, including from skateboarder, Reed Carter, 16, who described it as the "best park I've ever seen."

Among the biggest attractions at the park were the low guardrails that allow skaters to try out tricks.

"That's why we skate street – for the hand rails," Carter said.

While the park was packed this past week, the skaters said the crowds will eventually die down, particularly once the novelty of the new park wears off and the weather turns colder.

"They slow down," Carter said of skatepark traffic. "This is just the first couple of weeks."