Sledding banned in 1 Pa. park, restricted in a 2nd

BEAVER, Pa. (AP) — A western Pennsylvania town has banned sledding in a popular park and voted to lay out a sledding course in another.

Beaver’s borough council unanimously approved the restrictions Tuesday because of liability concerns raised by its insurance carrier.

Under the new rules, sledding is banned in a park overlooking the Ohio River. Sledders can go down a marked course in another park, but can’t go all the way to the top of the hill.

The regulations include a ban on sledding after sunset and a helmet requirement for children under 12. Metal and plastic disc sleds are also banned.

Councilwoman Shirley Sayers says officials are trying to make the best of a bad situation. She says pending lawsuits against the borough for sledding incidents prompted its insurer’s concerns.