Due to the opposition by borough council and a few vocal residents, Tyrone will have to go a little longer without a skate park facility. Despite the setback borough council member Bill Latchford has not abandoned the effort and still hopes to convince skeptics on council and in the community that a skate park would be a positive addition for the youth and the community of Tyrone.

Latchford has organized a meeting for those who support the project this Friday, May 1 at the Joshua House from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm.

“I think that if we come up with a good group of people, work out some of the differences that were seen that could be an issue, we could get this project moving further,” said Latchford.

“I’m just hoping for a good turnout. This skate park is still going to be a reality.  I’m determined and I’m not going to stop,” said Latchford, “We provide a lot of facilities within our borough in regards to recreation. Parks, pools, in-line hockey, basketball courts, the school district has tennis courts and playgrounds. I really feel that this would be an asset to our community. We just need to find it a home.”

Latchford and his supporters have proposed two locations to borough council.  The first is near the corner of 10th street. Several members of council were not in favor of that location because of its proximity to the street and traffic. The second is beside the Neptune Firehall in Fireman’s Field.  The field is mainly used for youth football practice at this time, but according to Latchford, it should be large enough to devote about one third of the land for the skate park.

“The Neptune Firehall site still seems like a viable site,” said Latchford.  “There was a concern from two citizens, one that lives pretty close to it, who was worried about maybe not as much noise and [not enough] parking. [But] most kids that utilize a skate park are not driving to it. They are either being dropped off, or they skate to it. I think it’s about 30% [of people] that may actually drive there. So if you have 10 kids using the skate park, you possibly have three that drive to get there.”

According to Latchford, with the youth football teams practicing in that area, lots of cars are sometimes parked along the street currently. Since a facility is being put in, a handicap parking space would also have to be provided. Latchford thinks that it would be of no problem whatsoever to install a handicapped space.

The noise may also be a concern to local residents, but Latchford thinks that it wouldn’t be any louder than football practices.

There were also concerns from people at the fire hall about not having a bathroom next to the skate park, resulting in people “defecating” on the side of their building.

“Right down the street is Sheetz and all of the other eateries in town. I don’t think that anyone will have to worry about people pooping on the fire hall,” said Latchford regarding the issue of no restroom facility at the field. “It’s not like there’s going to be 100 kids there from dawn to dusk everyday. I imagine when the novelty wears off a little bit we’ll probably have 10 kids a day playing on it. There will be different kids here and there, and there’ll be adults as well,” said Latchford.

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However, the biggest concern that Latchford has heard from residents is that a skate park might cause an increased amount of crime and drug use in the area.   Latchford believes that there is a general misunderstanding by some residents about the youth who would use the facility.

“People seem to be really worried about that neighborhood and say that there’s going to be an element of drug users, and gangs and things like that there. And although there is a drug issue in town, I do not foresee this skate park enhancing that problem. It’s right along Lincoln Avenue where the police department can drive right up, so that should be a benefit to its location. I also believe that the kids and the adults that have been waiting for this for all their lives will help self-police the area,” said Latchford.

“If you drive through Reservoir Park, once in a great while I bet the police have run into people [doing drugs]. It’s not uncommon to find drug paraphernalia in certain areas. But Reservoir Park is a huge place, and we don’t have any sort of major problem.   I really don’t think we would have to worry about creating a new drug hang out with a skate park. Kids or adults aren’t hanging out in our public facilities doing drugs,” said Latchford.