Those who continue to pile up the trash in Palmerton’s largest gathering venue may want to reconsider.

Resident Clare Papay told borough council recently the amount of trash continues to accumulate in the borough park.

Papay said that while there are some good people who take it upon themselves to clean it up to make it look nice, that doesn’t address the problem itself.

“But it’s very frustrating that we have to do this,” Papay said, adding that they should be looking at “ways to prevent this, instead of how we can start bringing the amount of trash down.”

Papay said trash cans are located throughout the borough park, but added the school gives students free breakfasts as part of a school breakfast program, and that the trash cans are filling up.

Councilman Andrew Hollywood told Papay he agrees 100%, and that it’s getting ridiculous the amount of trash that’s in the park.

Further, Hollywood said it gets “demoralizing” seeing the trash every day that accumulates in the park.

“It’s a waste, and it’s disgusting, and I’m going to try to make it stop,” Hollywood said. “I believe the solution is more police presence in the park, maybe issuing fines, (or putting) signs (that say) if see you see something, say something.”

Hollywood said he would like to see the police handle those matters, and that with the signs, his intent is to get more involvement.

“Something has to change, because the way the park looks right now, it’s embarrassing,” he said.

Councilwoman Holly Hausman-Sell said it would be good if some pictures could be taken to get the identification of those responsible.

“I think there’s a small group of kids who are running amok in the park; a small group of troublemakers, or misguided youth,” Hausman-Sell said. “This is not every kid who is in the park; there are a lot of kids using the park appropriately.”

Hausman-Sell said she believes there needs to be a safe spot for them to be, and that they need to start checking into who is starting fights, who is using profanity, who is vandalizing.

Further, she said she believes it may be time to start paying some moms and dads some visits, as that may be the only way.

Hausman-Sell said she agreed with Hollywood about possibly getting signs asking that those who see things, they need to call and report it.

“Maybe we need to make an example out of (them),” she said.

Hausman-Sell said she also believes it’s important for police officers to establish trust and a relationship with the youth.

She said she believes a lot of what they are seeing now is a result of the pandemic.

Mayor William Gallagher said he would talk to the union to see what can be done, adding that he can’t put police officers in the park for eight to 10 hours.

Resident Jared Cebrosky reiterated his stance from last meeting that “it’s a community park.”

“You don’t just want the police in there; it’s a community effort,” he said. “We’ve got to work together.”

Resident Joe Federanich said cameras are being installed inside the bandstand as part of an improvement project.