Elkins Parks Commissioner Phil Gainer is battling a problem with a group of area youth that are using Elkins City Park as a place to stage fist fights. Gainer said he is afraid the group is causing families to avoid the park and that the fights are affecting the surrounding neighborhood.
"They (the kids) are not breaking any laws," Gainer told the Elkins Parks and Recreation Commission on Wednesday. "I have tried to encourage the police to be proactive."
Gainer said he has spoken with the Elkins City Police numerous times, who informed him the youth are not breaking any laws.
"I have received numerous complaints from the neighborhood," Gainer said. "It is a community problem. I do not know what else I can do as a park commissioner."
According to Gainer, earlier in the summer the fights were taking place at Bluegrass Park and he locked the park to prevent the problem. The group then moved to the city park to engage in fights.
"At 2:30 p.m. when the kids get off the school bus is when they are gathering," Gainer said. "We need the city attorney to look into this."
Gainer said with cooler weather setting in, the group's numbers seem to have dwindled.
"We need to be proactive this winter to prevent the problem next spring and summer," Gainer said. "One time there was a fight with two girls and there was blood everywhere. The police responded and the crowd dispersed, but when the police left, they (the group) came back and the police had to be called again."
Gainer said the fighting has even attracted youth from out of town to the park to participate. Park board members agreed to invite Elkins Police Chief H.R. White to the next commission meeting to try to come with a solution.
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