Damaged equipment, coupled with loud music, has garnered attention at several recreational areas in Lehighton.

Councilwoman Autumn Abelovsky mentioned issues at the Grove, as well as the Eighth Street basketball court, at Monday’s borough council meeting.

Abelovsky questioned the status of an incident that occurred at the Grove in which council was sent a picture of the damaged equipment.

However, borough police Chief Brian Biechy declined to go into further detail.

“I’m not going to talk about it at a public meeting,” Biechy said.

After the meeting, borough Manager Nicole Beckett explained what had occurred at the Grove.

“A piece of equipment was damaged, and the borough had to remove it from the park,” Beckett said. “All information had been turned over to the police department.”

As for the Eighth Street basketball court, Abelovsky said she’s heard concerns about noise and foul language.

“Every time we’re out there, everything’s great,” Biechy said. “The guys are there; they’re getting out as much as they can get out.”

After the meeting, Abelovsky said the concerns have come from people who live nearby, as well as others who were bringing their young children to the park.

“That they’re constantly playing really loud music, and the music has a lot of foul language in it,” Abelovsky said. “I’ve noticed that a lot of kids have been playing basketball at the new court, and I’m glad to see that the kids are out there and getting to hang around with kids post-COVID.”

But Abelovsky noted the park should be a place for everyone to feel welcome to visit.

“We just want to make sure that the community is comfortable with the music that’s being played,” she said. “We want it to be a park for everybody.”