Police: Teens torched Pelham skate park

Kids don't appreciate anything, do they?

Let the kids pay for it and give them a month of probation

I agree the kids should pay and do probation, let them learn what people went threw to get it in the first place.

"You could easily hit the police station with a rock from the skate park," pointed out Pelham Parks & Recreation Department Director Brian Johnson.
Is it just me, or does anyone else think this sounds like a really stupid thing to say? lol

Billy wrote:

Let the kids pay for it and give them a month of probation

A month? Only a month? How about a year, it's easy to be good for a month at that age, but a whole year is more called for if the judge is looking to make an impression on these kids.

They should spend their summer fixing it. Frick'n punks.

Everyone. Don't move to pelham if you are thinking about it.It's full of filthy hillbillies who don't support anything in town. Schools are a mess. Police officers and firefighters are leaving. If you care about your kids, stay away.

I believe the "kids" who did this should have to rebuild the whole thing and then not be allowed to use it for a year. And all the kids whose park they ruined should line the perimeter and watch them, don't say a thing, just watch.

Marco wrote:

Everyone. Don't move to pelham if you are thinking about it.It's full of filthy hillbillies who don't support anything in town. Schools are a mess. Police officers and firefighters are leaving. If you care about your kids, stay away.

So true. 14K in taxes and no services.

This is awful. We've been in town 4 years now, laying our roots raising a family and things like this happen. Park Dir Brian Johnson says: "We may have to raise some funds to fix it, because we are operating on a default budget," Johnson said. "But we're going to see what we can do about getting it re-opened as soon as possible."
I think the parents of the kids should pay for their mess, not the town taxpayers. It's true we're hurting for services, but this is completely unacceptable! The kids and their parents should take ownership and responsibility for the full cost of repairs.

Pelham resident Cathy wrote:

This is awful. We've been in town 4 years now, laying our roots raising a family and things like this happen. Park Dir Brian Johnson says: "We may have to raise some funds to fix it, because we are operating on a default budget," Johnson said. "But we're going to see what we can do about getting it re-opened as soon as possible."
I think the parents of the kids should pay for their mess, not the town taxpayers. It's true we're hurting for services, but this is completely unacceptable! The kids and their parents should take ownership and responsibility for the full cost of repairs.

I agree Cathy. They should make the kids responsible for the vandalism, responsible for keeping the park clean this summer as part of their restitution as well.

They should have a much stiffer penalty than what they are given, and the town should take away the skate park. These parks cost a lot of money and if this is how kids are going to thank people for putting them in, then simple, no more park, you brought it on yourself punk. period.
Personally I feel you can't just blame the kids, people have to start taking accountability and responsibility for what they are and aren't teaching their children and for the fact that far too many put their careers and material things above their children.

I just read my post and want to make it clear that I'm not saying these kids aren't to blame, because they are, but parents need to look at their part in things too.

I wonder why they did it in the first place. Was it that they didn't like the material that was used to repair the park? I'm not a skateboarder but I don't think I've ever seen a half pipe made out of tar. It's not very easy on the flesh when you fall.

Marco wrote:

Everyone. Don't move to pelham if you are thinking about it.It's full of filthy hillbillies who don't support anything in town. Schools are a mess. Police officers and firefighters are leaving. If you care about your kids, stay away.

Marco, define hillbilly. Your really reaching there. Yes, the town is a mess but hillbilly is not even close. No trailer parks, no moonshine, people don't ride around in donkeys so explain to me and everyone else, what is a hillbilly to you dumb a**

Linda wrote:

They should have a much stiffer penalty than what they are given, and the town should take away the skate park. These parks cost a lot of money and if this is how kids are going to thank people for putting them in, then simple, no more park, you brought it on yourself punk. period.
Personally I feel you can't just blame the kids, people have to start taking accountability and responsibility for what they are and aren't teaching their children and for the fact that far too many put their careers and material things above their children.

Do you really think it's a good idea to take the skate park away because of the actions of a few kids? Personally I don't see how that's fair to those who use and enjoy the skate park. Kids who live in the suburbs tend to be bored and places like the skate park give the kids something to do other than drinking, drugs and petty vandalism.

i think the kids were just being constructive. hahahahaha pelham sucks

Maybe they should create a vandalism park??

These three are old enough to know better, 17 and 18, give me a break! They should all be charged and forced to serve jail time as well as pay for the repairs!

MrMillCity_com wrote:

Maybe they should create a vandalism park??

Ha there you go...set up a small park, have the kids sign a liability waiver and let them smash up and spraypaint some junk cars!