By Elizabeth Baumeister

ebaumeister@civitasmedia.com

The Borough of Clarks Summit reminds residents skateboarding and rollerblading on any street or sidewalk located in a business district is prohibited.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_ABJ-Skateboarding.jpg.optimal.jpgThe Borough of Clarks Summit reminds residents skateboarding and rollerblading on any street or sidewalk located in a business district is prohibited.

CLARKS SUMMIT — With summer vacation in full gear and many students taking to their skateboards to pass the hours or simply get around town, the municipality recently released a public service announcement on behalf of Mayor Patty Lawler, reminding the community, “It is a violation of a borough ordinance to skateboard or roller-blade on any street, or any sidewalk located in a business district.”

According to the official ordinance, those who violate this law are subject to a $15 fine.

The ordinance reads, “It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in roller-skating, skateboarding, rollerblading or to ride or propel any coaster or other toy vehicle upon: A. any street except in order to cross the roadway; or B. any sidewalk located in a business district.”

It concludes, however, that nothing prohibits pedestrians from “pulling” a “coaster or other toy vehicle” on a sidewalk, with or without a rider.

Police Chief Chris Yarns has an appreciation for skateboarders, but also believes they sometimes need to be more respectful.

“Kids would skateboard down the Summit Hill, and that’s where it started from, and they’d skateboard on people’s property and over at the school,” he said. “If you go behind the school, the curbing back there is concrete, which is normally a light gray/off-white. Now it’s all black, because the skateboarders are back there chipping away at it.”

The main concern, however, is in regard to safety.

“I think what’s happening, is sometimes they come down from Clarks Green, East Grove Street, and they skate down Winola Road and they come across Linden Street,” he said. “And, of course, the cars are going around corners and they’re almost hitting them.”

Reach Liz Baumeister at 570-704-3943 or on Twitter @AbingtonJournal