Responding to several near accidents that might have caused injury, The Gettysburg Area Recreational Authority (GARA) Board of Directors is considering a ban on the use of electric bicycles, skateboards, and hoverboards in the park.
GARA Executive Officer Erin Peddigree said park guidelines do not allow motorized vehicles, and that after talking with GARA’s insurance company she was ready to make signs saying the vehicles would be banned.
“They move pretty fast,” said Peddigree.
Board member Steve Niebler said some electric bikes can go up to 28 mph. But he also said they can be used without the motor.
Niebler asked the board to wait for a final decision until he was able to confer with cyclers in the community. “Maybe we can figure something out,” Niebler said.
Peddigree said the new bicycle pump track next to the skate park was getting a lot of use. The track was installed over the past weeks by volunteers from the community. There will be an official grand opening for the track and an official thank you to those who contributed. A sign with pump track guidelines will be placed near the track.
The idea and execution of the pump track came from board member Jimmy Phelps.
Peddigree said GARA was in about the same place financially as last year and that the park had received a $10,000 donation. But she said the Typical Life Corporation has stopped renting the assembly room and might not start again until March 2021. Peddigree said this change was resulting in the loss of $1750 per month revenue for the rec park.
Peddigree said the park was being heavily used, including church services in the amphitheater, yoga in the pavilions, baseball and softball, as well as dog park, skate park, and pump track activity.
Peddigree said baseball and softball were operating under appropriate health guidelines, which are she said are “mostly being followed.”
The board agreed to create a “Friends of the Dog Park” group that would help coordinate donations and other aspects of the dog park.
Peddigree expressed concern about continuing graffiti and other vandalism at the skate park. The vending machine has been damaged and moved, and the utility shed, which has been repeatedly damaged, now has to be torn down or moved.
Peddigree said there had also been more vandalism at the amphitheater.
“We think we know who’s doing it, but we can’t catch them,” said Peddigree.
Peddigree said a skate park user has donated $200 to help repair and maintain the skate park.
Peddigree said GARA made about $600 on parking fees at the July 4 fireworks event. “The playgrounds were packed – we couldn’t keep them apart — but otherwise people spread out pretty well,” said Peddigree.
Six fire and EMS teams were at the park for the Fourth of July evening. GARA will make a donation to those companies.
Overall the board was happy the park had reopened and was being used, and thanked Peddigree for her work.
“There are kids on the playground all day. People walking, It’s great to see park being used,” said board president Steve Toddes. “We’ve come a long way in the past seven years.”
“Things are going well.” said Niebler.
“It’s good to see everybody back at the park,” said Phelps.
Charles (Chuck) Stangor is Gettysburg Connection's Owner, Publisher, and Editor in Chief. I would like to hear from you. Please contact me at cstangor@gettysburgconnection.org.