Ephrata skate park remains open

EPHRATA - The city council decided to keep the Ephrata skate park open at their meeting Wednesday night.

The skate park, located next to Splashzone, experienced a spike in vandalism recently, said Ephrata Recreation Director Ray Towry. This comes after a similar spike last year. People have unbolted the blocks from the ground and moved them. This might open the city to lawsuits if someone hurt themselves.

About 15 skateboarders and a couple of parents came to the meeting, City Administrator Wes Crago said.

"They were incredibly professional and well spoken," he said. "It was very impressive to the council … We had a great discussion."

All of them agreed the location and the amenities around the park are part of the problem, Crago said. Enforcement in the area is difficult because the location doesn't have any neighbors, who can watch the area at night, he added.

The council decided to spend the money to fix the damage as it happens.

The city is working on a plan for its parks, which may include moving the skate park to a safer area.

Both Towry and Crago said the problem wasn't with the skaters, but with vandals who own skateboards.

"Incidentally, (the skaters) are the ones who are the most upset," Crago said. "They're the ones who are out there brushing the gravel off so they can use (the park)."