A dozen teenage boys appeared before Northampton Borough Council at the May 14 meeting to express concern with the future of the Smith Lane and Lerchenmiller Drive skateboard park.

With only one large skateboard ramp remaining, the teen boys made a strong plea to the borough to permit the facility to remain in place. Alternative skateboarding, the boys said, takes place in areas of the town not suitable for the youth to use.

Council agreed the facility, at the location for more than a decade, could remain, but rules need to be in place.

Councilman Anthony Lopsonzski Sr. told the group's leaders there are three important individuals they must keep informed: police Chief Ron Morey, borough Manager Gene Zarayko and council President John Yurish.

"Keep us in the loop," Yurish said.

Should the group want to construct ramps or other projects at the site, permission will have to be granted before moving forward.

Yurish said the park has fallen into disrepair. In addition, foul language, graffiti and tacking items to a utility pole were other issues raised.

Nate Buschi, 19, who doesn't frequent the site as much as he did when younger, said the group present at the meeting is not responsible for the current issues. He said a few other young individuals are to blame.

"There were people taking advantage of it," Buschi said.

Zarayko said the borough became upset with what he called piles of "junk" there.

"We cleaned it up," he said. "I like the way it looks. I don't want to see it get bigger."

Yurish said people holding picnics at the nearby Municipal Park do not need to be subjected to foul language and the teens misbehaving.

Morey also mentioned that he has received reports that some teens throw stones into the street.

Brandon Cenchitz, another teenager, spoke during the meeting.

"We don't like that," he said, noting that everyone should respect the skateboard park and the community.