East Greenville officials are looking at transforming the Colonial Village clubhouse property into an action park where local teenagers will have their own spot to hang out, skate, and participate in other outdoor recreational activities.

        The move comes in response to residents' complaints about area youth congregating in back alleys and committing vandalism.

        "The weather is breaking and the kids are coming back out to spend more time outside. We're going to see it as they're going to loiter on borough's streets. It's just a matter of doing everything to can to try to control it," Councilman Timothy Huff said.

        The borough-owned clubhouse property would be outfitted with equipment donated by the Upper Perk YMCA from its Kistler-Bitting skate park off Tagart Road in Upper Hanover Township. Borough officials said additional pieces of skating equipment would be moved into the recreational area including a bike rack, quarter pipes, half pipes, rails and ramps.

        The current 10 ft. drop will be removed so that the rest of the equipment meet the requirement of 6 feet and lower for elements.

        The estimated value of the donated equipment is roughly $10,000.

        Mayor Ryan Sloyer said borough council is expected to give the final okay to move on with transferring the equipment from the Kistler-Bitting Park to the East Greenville location between Valley and Morris roads.

        The mayor said because the park is under municipal control it would be operating at no additional cost to taxpayers.  The action park's only expense, the mayor noted, will be for the insurance purpose as required by the law, at an estimated cost of $400-700.

        Currently, the Upper Perk Community Life Center, at 104 Main Street is the only venue in the borough where adult and young residents alike offered a chance to socialize, play games, and work on projects together, officials said.

        Activities like urban gardening, bicycle recycling, and robotics engineering are held at the center every Friday and Saturday evenings, according to Scott Roth, executive director of Project Haven, which heads the community center. Project Haven, a religious community engagement organization, purchased the Peace Mennonite Church property three years ago and renamed it Upper Perk Community Life Center.

        The local YMCA plans to donate its skate park to Roth's organization as part of his regional youth initiative. Roth, who has a close partnership with Sloyer, said that he plans on helping East Greenville officials by outfitting the clubhouse with the donated equipment for its own skate park in hopes that it will draw the youth away from public streets. Sloyer publicly praised Roth for his plans in helping transform the clubhouse facility into an outdoor recreational center.

        "Right now that space isn't being utilized so if anything, it will be a benefit to the community because it will bring something for students to be able to do after school and give them space, instead of loitering," Roth said.

        The clubhouse facility is already equipped with the upgraded surveillance system and no adult supervision would be required during use. Councilman Josiah Pierson had voiced his concern at April 6 borough council meeting about having an unsupervised park. 

        According to Jim Fry, the borough manager, the municipality has a mandated youth curfew in place that states children under 18 years of age must be off the public street by 10 p.m. on weekdays and by midnight on weekends. A fine of no more than $1,000 may be imposed on those who are caught deliberately violating the ordinance.

        Upper Perk Police Chief Michael Devlin said his department is working closely with the East Greenville officials in curtailing the borough's loitering problem. He voiced his support for the leaders and called for close cooperation between both.

        "This endeavor will take a team effort and I have the utmost confidence in the borough and the community center representatives," Devlin said.