Wilkes-Barre skate park sees upgrades, but does it pose a danger? [The Citizens' Voice, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.]

Sep. 4—WILKES-BARRE — The city's new skate park recently became more attractive, with a renovated and freshly painted clubhouse, but at least one woman believes it poses a danger to passersby.

Jamie Pesotski, of the Parsons section of the city, was driving by the park on North Washington Street on a recent Friday in August when, she said, a scooter flew off a ramp, dropped from the sky and landed on the road in front of her vehicle.

With oncoming traffic, Pesotski said, she couldn't swerve to avoid it, ran it over and blew out a tire.

"I'm all for the skate park, but it's only a matter of time before this happens again," Pesotski said. "Maybe they could put up nets, like at the golf course, or raise the fence."

Pesotski said she reported the incident to the city and was told that it was considered an accident and that she could submit a claim to her auto insurance company. But, she said, her deductible is higher than the cost of the tire.

City officials are aware of Pesotski's claims, but, "upon information and belief, the scooter did not fly from the park to North Washington Street," city Administrator Charles McCormick wrote in an email.

"It was a scooter, not a skateboard. It's just not plausible" that it flew over the fence, McCormick said in a follow-up phone call.

The Mayor's Office referred Pesotski's claim to city attorney Tim Henry, whom McCormick said determined that "in the event something does leave a city park and causes damage, the City would not be legally liable for any damages."

McCormick said there does not appear to be any design flaw with the park, and the City is not taking any action at this time.

Park upgrades

Since the park officially opened on Aug. 6, it's been seeing some heavy use all throughout the week, Councilman John Marconi, whose district includes the park, has said.

He had asked Mayor George Brown at an August council meeting about having a food truck stop by on weekends or possibly selling food from the clubhouse.

Brown had said there was still work to be done at the park, and plans were in the works, including improvements to the roadway near the skate park.

Brown had said his administration was also considering opening up and leasing the clubhouse for concession sales as well as possibly renting out skateboards, scooters and BMX bikes for use there. The city also might sell advertising space on signs along the fence.

Since the grand opening, McCormick said, the city Department of Public Works improved the roadway with crushed stone and renovated the clubhouse.

Artist Vincent Bonitz painted the clubhouse, incorporating a skateboard and scooter theme as well as honeycombs and bees, reminiscent of the city's beehive logo. And the City hired American Landscaping to provide landscaping work, Joyce Morrash Zaykowski, director of the Office of Economic and Community Development said.

Contact the writer: [email protected]; 570-821-2110; @MocarskyCV

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