Columbia Park concerns

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The letter shown above appeared in this morning's Lancaster Intell/New Era.

Comments

Anonymous said…
It's difficult to take a walk through the park anymore. One cannot help but feel intimidated by groups of up to 15-20 teens hanging out. Even though it's our right to be there, we feel as if we must take an alternate route to avoid any confrontation. How sad is that. These kids are loud, rude, vulgar, disrespectful, and freely break rules. There must be consequences for their behavior. Even if there was a skate park in Columbia, there is no room for the type of activity that these punks display. Most of them appear to enjoy destructive activity.
October 6, 2014 at 6:05 AM
Anonymous said…
police need to put them out. haul them in. fine them. whatever it takes. this happened back in the day (the early 70's) & the police were on it 24/7....it didn't take long to stop it.
October 6, 2014 at 6:46 AM
Joe Lintner said…
I've noticed that when an adult walks through one of their gatherings, there's a display of territoriality on their part: yelling, jumping around, showing off for companions, as if citizens are trespassing on their turf.
October 6, 2014 at 7:30 AM
Anonymous said…
The police need to do something I don't care who they say Owens the park the kids should not be allowed to take over the park
October 6, 2014 at 8:48 AM
Joe Lintner said…
The Columbia Public Grounds Company is working on an agreement with the borough to give police more enforcement powers.
October 6, 2014 at 9:01 AM
Anonymous said…
Hopefully soon. These kids have been seen snapping off tree limbs off of the trees that where planted in memory of loved ones that have past away.
October 6, 2014 at 9:22 AM
Anonymous said…
what a bunch of bs..the punks are loittering and harrassing.
October 6, 2014 at 12:24 PM
Anonymous said…
I totally agree with you! I have experienced the same as I was walking through the Park back in August.
October 6, 2014 at 2:18 PM
Anonymous said…
I see nothing wrong here, kids are kids. If you dont like to be seen with younger kids in the park dont walk it! Remember you were young once.
October 6, 2014 at 3:33 PM
Anonymous said…
put a low chain link around the entire park and set up electronic access cards
October 6, 2014 at 5:50 PM
Anonymous said…
I don't know why the police need an agreement from the Public Grounds Company, are you serious they didn't have a problem 30 years ago, we need more police in town, everyone says it starts at home well I guess it does, because the mom and dads are just as bad as the their kids, or our schools wouldn't see such bad behavior, this town needs to start taxing the head count of all section eight apartments, revoke renting permits of apartment owners who has renters who's kids are always in trouble, run them out. Everyone says it's gone to get worse, wake up, It's already worse.
October 6, 2014 at 6:00 PM
Anonymous said…
Wait, why can't the police do something? Please clarify the enforcement issue.... Isn't breaking the law applicable everywhere in the Borough?
October 6, 2014 at 7:05 PM
Joe Lintner said…
From August 25 Meeting of the Whole:
Currently, the borough cannot enforce park regulations, because the property is owned by the Old Columbia Public Grounds Company, which must lease the property to the borough [for $1] for regulations to be enforceable by the borough. He said the Grounds Company is agreeable to the arrangement and must draft a formal proposal and present it to council. He said that under the agreement, the company will continue to perform park maintenance. Former Borough Manager Norm Meiskey advised council to pattern the agreement after that of the Columbia River Park.

http://columbiapa-17512.blogspot.com/2014/08/columbia-borough-council-committee-of_29.html?m=0
October 6, 2014 at 8:20 PM
Joe Lintner said…
Currently, the police can't enforce park regulations without an agreement but should still be able to enforce the laws of the borough.
October 6, 2014 at 8:24 PM
Anonymous said…
What is needed here is some "real", adult, bada$$e$$ to get together and stroll through the park. I'm sure the young punks would mind there manners then!
October 6, 2014 at 8:24 PM
Anonymous said…
It's nothing short of crazy to compare being "seen with kids" to vandalism and profanity. Yes, indeed I was young and NEVER would I have even thought of damaging property, mine or anyone else's. Nor would I have cursed and carried on like a fool, as these kids do. Let's send this gang to the house of the commenter that sees nothing wrong with this, then we can have some peace in the park again.
October 6, 2014 at 8:34 PM
Anonymous said…
Not that i agree with their behavior I do have to say we were all teens at 1 time and the park and the 500 block of Locust has always been a favorite hangout. I don't think the teens now are more or less of the typical teens who've hung there for the last 30 years.
October 6, 2014 at 8:35 PM
Joe Lintner said…
Not a bad idea, as long as they just stroll. We don't want to force a physical confrontation. That wouldn't be constructive.
A group of adults could periodically show up and sit near the "rowdies" for a while. I'll bet they'd soon be discouraged from continuing their antics, and move on.
October 6, 2014 at 8:39 PM
Joe Lintner said…
They're bolder and more disrespectful now. At the recent Fourth Friday event in the park, one of the kids struggled with police and had to be cuffed.
October 6, 2014 at 8:45 PM
Joe Lintner said…
People should be able to walk unmolested on public property.
October 6, 2014 at 8:49 PM
Anonymous said…
Typical teens don't break branches off of trees planted in memory of people. Typical teens don't break park benches that were purchased to honor those that have passed away. This behavior is anything but typical and from what I have observed it will lead to incarceration if they don't straighten out pretty quick.
October 6, 2014 at 8:51 PM
Anonymous said…
Like monkeys do when they feel threatened
October 6, 2014 at 9:38 PM
Anonymous said…
So, the park is like the "get out of jail free" card in our Columbia Borough game of Monopoly!

Thank you for the info - does the right of our local government even know what the left hand does?
October 6, 2014 at 10:28 PM
Anonymous said…
Cole, I wonder how they would respond to you showing up and just video taping them? Would it make them move on? Behave better? Or become more aggressive. Just curious...
October 6, 2014 at 10:33 PM
Joe Lintner said…
That would be an interesting experiment. It is legal to use cameras in public places.
October 7, 2014 at 8:11 AM
Anonymous said…
ok - so why is this agreement taking so long? it has been a month!!!
October 7, 2014 at 9:56 AM
Anonymous said…
don't understand why the police can't do anything????? it's a public park, and next to an elementary school. makes no sense.
October 8, 2014 at 6:29 AM
Anonymous said…
Yesterday around 4 pm there where at least 30 of these teens in the Park being loud and rude.
October 8, 2014 at 7:21 AM
Anonymous said…
Park regulations are not "laws", per se. At least, not yet. As such, Police cannot enforce Park regulations as they would a law. For instance, Park regulations prohibit skateboards in the park. However, at this point Police cannot arrest someone for failing to obey this regulation. Police can enforce Boro ordinances and State statutes (Public Drunkenness, Disorderly Conduct, etc) in the park, but Park regulations, at this point, are not enforceable by arrest.
October 8, 2014 at 7:58 AM
Anonymous said…
I saw that yesterday! More teens, all through the park, they were loud, hostile, and glaring at everyone.
October 8, 2014 at 8:04 AM
Anonymous said…
look up Ordinance # 832- Section 1. They are also loitering/gathering to mob levels.
October 8, 2014 at 10:03 AM
Anonymous said…
yes i agree the police CAN do something. why they are not makes absolutely no sense and IS positively UNACCEPTABLE. hear that Mayor? disorderly conduct...harrassment...to name a few.
October 8, 2014 at 12:19 PM
Anonymous said…
littering, loitering, noise, skateboards, to name a few more!
October 8, 2014 at 12:40 PM
Anonymous said…
This is probably a code enforcement issue, so nothing will happen.
October 8, 2014 at 2:18 PM
Anonymous said…
yes could be an interesting night on October 23rd with the parade is passing by the park.
October 8, 2014 at 2:47 PM
Anonymous said…
Who is on the Columbia Grounds Committee??
October 8, 2014 at 3:34 PM
Joe Lintner said…
Past members have included Nook Lively, Andy Ohrel, Bill Kloidt, Mark Zeamer, Jeff Seibert, and John Meshey. I don't know the current makeup of the board.
October 8, 2014 at 8:41 PM
Joe Lintner said…
Could be very interesting.
October 8, 2014 at 8:42 PM
Joe Lintner said…
That ordinance does seem to apply.
October 8, 2014 at 8:53 PM
Anonymous said…
Do they own the park?
October 8, 2014 at 9:03 PM
Anonymous said…
this is ridiculous. the police can't do anything???? so if i'm on my private property i can harass, disrespect, ride skateboard, curse, yell, scare, etc to all the elderly or whoever and the police can't do anything???? WTH????? something is EXTREMELY WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE.
October 9, 2014 at 12:34 PM
Joe Lintner said…
I don't know, but I'll find out.
October 9, 2014 at 8:51 PM
Anonymous said…
Put up a public web cam and make a public web site so that anyone an watch it, it's legal. www.ilovecolumbia.com
October 11, 2014 at 8:24 PM
Anonymous said…
why isn't the police chief and the mayor addressing the residents of this town about the punk gangs hanging and destroying the park and intimidating and disrespecting residents on a daily basis AND the break ins, robberies, etc. How in the hell are you getting the word out to the majority of the elderly??? they don't use computers. there is NO paper. I hope every neighbor is looking out for each other AND leaving OUTSIDE lights ON ALL NIGHT and MOST IMPORTANT....CALL 911 IF YOU SEE ANYONE SUSPICIOUS LOOKING....NOSING AROUND, HANGING OUT, ETC. at alll times of the DAY AND NIGHT!
October 12, 2014 at 9:13 AM
Joe Lintner said…
Yes, the Old Columbia Public Grounds Company owns Locust Street Park.
October 12, 2014 at 8:16 PM
Anonymous said…
I have been trying to follow this situation but moving away it's hard to get up to Columbia, I made it a point to take a ride up there and saw first hand what this is all about and I am absolutely appalled with what I observed, the Mayor of this town should be tarred and feathered for ignoring this situation, but then again the Mayor does not seem to want to get involved with any kind of issue's unless it concern's his agenda, wake up people, Columbia should be the pride of Central Pa....back to why I am responding to past member's, Mr Kloidt Mr Zeamer and Mr Meshey are outstanding Citizens who contribute out of loyalty and not their pocketbook or Status,a big problem with Columbia for year's are people who seem to get voted in office and have no clue how to run this Town, I hope the people of Columbia some day clean's house and get a young group of people in office to put the Boro back on track, Greed is a terrible thing but fear of change is holding this great town back, I hope this situation get's resolved ASAP.............
October 12, 2014 at 8:23 PM
Anonymous said…
"Public Safety" my a--.
October 14, 2014 at 7:17 PM
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