Council to have hearing on moving skate park

June 21, 2012 at 12:00a.m.

By jeanne starmack

struthers

Struthers council decided Wednesday to have a public hearing on moving the city’s skate park instead of closing it.

The council’s decision in May to close the skate park at the corner of Stewart and Elm streets prompted an outcry from many city residents.

The 5-year-old park, which residents helped build with donations from families and businesses, was a community project to keep kids from skateboarding in the streets, people told council members at a meeting earlier this month. They asked the council to reconsider closing it.

Two to three Stewart Street neighbors across from the park have complained over the years that kids using the park fought, swore loudly and littered.

The council talked Wednesday about other locations.

The company Republic Services offered to move the park, which consists of ramps on a concrete pad, to Mauthe Park, but residents there objected. Mill Creek MetroParks, which leases Struthers’ Yellow Creek Park, does not want it there. The Fifth Street Park has no restrooms.

But Nebo Park at the end of Haywood Avenue has the room, council learned Wednesday.

There is even an old restroom building that could be rehabbed, said city Safety Director Ed Wildes.

The city leases the park to the Little Wildcats football team.

“The park sits idle, other than the football,” said Councilman Robert Burnside.

The park is in Burnside’s 3rd Ward.

The council also discussed moving the park from its location near the city street department garages to the other side of the city building, where there is a parking lot.

“If we’re going to move it, let’s do it right this time,” said Councilman Tony Fire. He said he is not in favor of moving it to another location where there are houses close by.

“It should be in a park,” he said.

Councilwoman Carol Crytzer said she would talk to Republic Services again about moving the park.

She said she’ll set a date for the public hearing “with people of all wards.”

“None of us really wanted to close [the park],” she said.

The skate park remains closed for now.