Palmerton has been asked to provide more of a police presence in its borough park to help curb acts of vandalism.

Several residents suggested to borough council last week that they believe that would help reduce the trashing of the borough’s community hub.

Raberta Hans asked if there were any plans to put more cameras in the park.

“The kids, they’re just destroying it,” Hans said. “Can we get the police in there?”

Councilman Randy Gursky said there should be more of a police presence in the park.

Mayor William Gallagher said he has given the directive to the police chief to emphasize investigating cameras, which he said would help to identify those who commit the vandalism.

Hans added, “the kids are just absolutely unruly (in there).”

Councilman Andrew Hollywood requested Gallagher to step up the police presence in the park.

Gallagher said that while they can’t keep someone in the park permanently, it would be discussed.

Councilwoman Holly Hausman-Sell said the park is usually packed with kids between 3-4 p.m.

“If I can see it driving by, police can certainly see it,” Hausman-Sell said.

“I think it’s maybe time we need to add some sort of incentive (for police officers).”

Sell then suggested possibly creating an Officer of the Month.

Jared Cebrosky noted, “it is also a community park.”

“It is a changing time, and changing community,” Cebrosky said. “Not only should there maybe be more police presence, but also more adult presence; adults in the park are also the eyes.”

Marj Federanich suggested that during a recent event in the park, she asked the kids if the town could give them any sort of recreation, what would it be.

“No answer,” Federanich said. “They had no clue.”

However, Federanich said she had a possible suggestion.

“With everything being done to the benches and the bandstand with skateboards, can’t we ban skateboards in the park, or make a skateboard park?

“I ask that maybe you look into this and maybe that resolve some of our vandalism issues.”

Hollywood said that while he wasn’t too keen on a skateboard park, he thought perhaps a CrossFit area in the park could be an activity adults and people of all ages could participate in.

Borough Manager Donna McGarry noted that per borough code, bicycle riding and skateboards are among the activities prohibited in the bandstand.

But Federanich said the borough can have all the ordinances it wants, but it doesn’t matter if they aren’t enforced.

Clare Papay said she believes part of the problem is how the park was designed.

“The vast majority of (teens) do not have access to places where these young people can go,” Papay said. “They already want to congregate together in the center of our community.”

Hollywood assured the borough it isn’t the congregating that’s so much the problem.

“We don’t have a problem with congregating in the park,” Hollywood said. “It’s vandalism.”

Hausman-Sell said it may help if they gave them an alternative.

Hans asked if there was a section in the park where rails could be installed.

Councilman Kris Hoffner thanked everyone for their input.

“They will be looked into, as well as alternative places,” Hoffner said.