Skateboarders take park appeal to council

WILKES-BARRE – Saying they were “blown off” four times by Luzerne County Commissioner Chairman Greg Skrepenak, two local skateboard advocates took their cause to City Council Thursday night.

James Gidosh of Wilkes-Barre and Kevin Pizzano of Dallas addressed council for the second time to ask for support in their effort to have a public skatepark built in Wilkes-Barre.

“We were supposed to meet with Commissioner Skrepenak on Monday, but he cancelled for the fourth time,” Gidosh said. “We did meet with two county employees, but we really wanted to see if Skrepenak was really interested in helping us get a skatepark built.”

In July, Skrepenak said he recognized the need for a skatepark because of the increased interest and high participation in the sport. Gidosh and Pizzano estimate that some 13,500 skaters live in Luzerne County alone.

At that time, Skrepenak said he felt a skatepark would provide a safe venue for boarders by getting them off the streets and parking lots and to a place designed for the sport.

“You have made it illegal for us to skate in certain areas of the city, but you haven’t given us a place where we can skate legally,” Pizzano told council at last night’s work session. “We’re trying to do as much as we can, but we need help.”

Council President Bill Barrett advised the two to formulate a plan, complete with ideas for financing and maintenance. After the meeting, Gidosh and Pizzano wondered why they need to provide that information for council.

Gidosh said the city has plenty of other recreational facilities for sports like basketball, baseball, football, tennis, softball and soccer, as well as many playgrounds. He said he didn’t think participants in those sports who use city facilities were required to come up with plans and financing.

“I guess we want to know if you want a skateboard park in Wilkes-Barre,” Pizzano asked council.

Mayor Thomas Leighton said several obstacles still need to be overcome. He said a skatepark would require a large land area, possibly an acre or more. He said financing must be found because the city couldn’t afford to use taxpayers’ dollars.

“That’s why Mr. Barrett’s suggestion of looking throughout the county could be a better idea,” Leighton said. “He referred to the county’s facility near the Forty Fort (Wyoming Valley) Airport. There’s a lot of land there.”

Gidosh said he and other members of the NEPA Free Skate Park Association will circulate petitions to present to city and county officials to show the popularity of the sport.

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Advocates ask for city’s help saying county commissioner has failed to meet with them.

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