Local Town Bans Sled Riding In Community Park

A Beaver County town has banned sledding in a popular park and voted to lay out a sledding course in another.

The Beaver Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to ban sledding in Wayne Park.

Councilwoman Shirley Sayers said officials are trying to make the best of a bad situation. She said pending lawsuits against the borough for sledding incidents prompted its insurer's concerns.

The council also voted in favor of restricting sled riding in Roosevelt Park to people who live in Beaver County only.

The ordinance also requires children 12 years old and younger to wear a helmet and sled riding will not be permitted after sunset. Metal and plastic disc sleds are also banned.

Residents said they don't agree with the decision to restrict and ban sledding in those places.

"They just want to have fun. In a small community like this, you would think we could all look out for each other," said mother Patty Hitchcock.

Council members said they didn't want to put restrictions on the winter activity either, but were told legally to do so to avoid a future lawsuit.

"It was against what I felt was good for the community and the kids," said Beaver Council member Shirley Sayers. "But lawyers told us that we had to modify."

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