Palmerton continues to ponder ways to diminish instances of vandalism in its borough park.

Borough council revisited the topic at Thursday’s meeting one month after Councilman Cory Kepner addressed the situation.

“We’ve been having a lot of issues over there,” Kepner said. “We’re trying to come up with a way to mitigate the damage.”

Kepner wasn’t alone in his thoughts, as borough Mayor Don Herrmann attested the situation is a real problem.

“There’s definitely a lack of respect going on over there,” Herrmann said.

Kepner noted the wear and tear on the recently renovated bandstand in the park, and added the vandalism is “an ongoing problem.”

He said there’s been some consideration to closing the bandstand to general access, with use only allowed by permission of council, and that council has considered looking at new camera systems.

The borough’s recreation committee plans to look at other alternatives as well.

Joe Federanich, Palmerton Bandstand Committee, stated there is indeed a “problem with vandalism.”

In a related matter, council denied a request for bathrooms in the borough park.

Last month, Kepner said that a large amount of vandalism was done recently to the bandstand.

More specifically, Kepner said there was bicycle damage done to the bandstand, and it’s believed the perpetrators who caused it are from outside the borough.

Borough police Chief Tim Kromer noted that per the borough’s ordinance, bicycles, skateboards or scooters are not allowed in the bandstand.

Kromer said that anyone who witnesses vandalism or someone causing damage to the park should call the Carbon County 911 Comm Center.

Previously, the newly remodeled bandstand had been damaged within days after the iconic structure was rededicated during a ceremony in the borough park in September.

Federanich said at that meeting that one board inside the bandstand was broken.

The Donald and Mary Behler Foundation stepped in with all of the funding for the construction costs of the project.

Before that, Federanich said it had been over 30 years since any improvements had been made to the bandstand.