Struthers officials discuss skate park’s future

Several in the audience suggested moving the park to Yellow Creek, where it would be better supervised.

STRUTHERS — For three years, Steve Morgan has seen his share of profanity, littering and damage at a skate park across the street from him, and he’s tired of it.

“It’s turned into a hangout for hoodlums,” Morgan said after a city council meeting Wednesday night to address ongoing problems at the fenced-in park. “It’s become a really big hassle.”

Morgan, who lives about 50 feet from the park at Stewart and Elm streets, also said he’s had rocks tossed at his Stewart Street residence by some youngsters who use the facility. The constant loud noises by those who strike the ramps and fence also are a constant headache, he added.

Morgan was one of a few dozen residents who attended the hourlong session, which was designed to allow attendees to voice their concerns about the situation and come up with possible solutions.

The park was built in 2006 and funded mainly by private donations. Since it opened, however, the facility has had a history of problems, including people overturning trash cans, urinating and damaging benches and other equipment. Most recently, the park was closed Aug. 9 because several neighbors had complained about youngsters’ swearing.

Morgan also made his frustration known by posting in his front yard a sign that reads “Welcome to Struthers. Profanity Park, home of the F-word.”

He and several other people supported moving the skate park to Yellow Creek Park, where, they said, supervision would likely be tighter.

Often, police are too busy to deal with problems at the park, said John, a Stewart Street resident who didn’t want his last name used. Yellow Creek has police presence 24 hours a day, as well as other activities for youngsters that the skate park doesn’t, he noted, adding that some kids who get tired of skating become bored, which leads them to cause trouble.

Other residents cited problems that aren’t confined to the park, such as youngsters cutting through their yards and climbing their fences. One man said he recently found broken glass on his driveway.

A few residents, on the other hand, said they have seen only minor problems.

One woman told officials that the worst she’s encountered are some teens’ profanity. The woman also said she has policed the park by confronting those who swear and by picking up trash.

A handful of residents disagreed that moving the facility to Yellow Creek Park would solve the problem, saying that such a move wouldn’t necessarily lead to increased supervision or fewer incidents.

A Stewart Street man who works as a corrections officer said he doesn’t know the answer to solving the park problems, while expressing doubt that ubiquitous signs stating rules and consequences would serve as a deterrent.

Conducting the session was Councilman Mike Patrick, who said the park was needed to give skateboarders a safer place than streets, sidewalks and public parking lots.

Mayor Terry P. Stocker told his audience that he plans to reopen the skate park Monday, with two or three signs clearly prohibiting bullying, littering, fighting, smoking and profanity. Violators will be prosecuted or banned from the park, he said, adding that surveillance cameras on a next-door building record illegal activity but don’t have audio to capture those who engage in profanity.

The mayor said he also plans to reduce the park’s hours, which had been 8 a.m. to sunset. New hours will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and 4 to 6 p.m. school days; the park will be closed Sundays, he explained.

Stocker noted that he hopes to conduct a feasibility study with Mill Creek MetroParks officials to explore the viability of moving the skate park to Yellow Creek.

Police Chief Bob Norris advocated organizing a structured monitoring program and asked attendees to volunteer for such a task. It’s also important for citizens to watch the park and call police at the first signs of trouble, he said.

“It’s only a few bad apples; not all of the kids are bad,” said Ed Wildes, city safety service director. “Hopefully we can work through this.”