KENNYWOOD ASSESSES SECURITY

Kennywood officials weighing methods to thwart further mischief

Officials at Kennywood Park will sit down today to discuss plans to prevent group disruptions like the one that prompted the early closure of the amusement park Saturday, its first day of operation for the season.

Several large groups of teenagers caused concern in the West Mifflin park when they ran around, pushing and shoving, shortly after 8 p.m.

While some reports referred to the event as a riot, Kennywood spokesman Nick Paradise said that description was an exaggeration, that there were only four minor injuries to people who were treated at park first aid stations and that there was no damage.

Several local police departments were called to help Kennywood’s internal security force with the crowds, including West Mifflin, Allegheny County and Duquesne.

Kennywood is located along Route 837.

West Mifflin police said there were no arrests.

“Our public safety department is in regular communication with the West Mifflin Police Department. But after what we’ve seen [Saturday night], we will want to discuss how to prevent those things and keep things from escalating further,” Mr. Paradise said.

“Kennywood, first and foremost, wants to continue to provide a family-friendly atmosphere where people can enjoy themselves.”

After the park closed Saturday, crowds of young people moved across the street, where a McDonald’s, Long John Silver’s and A&W are located. They were dispersed by 10 p.m.

The incidents inside the park were reported shortly after 8 p.m. and the park was closed at 9.

Mr. Paradise said most of Saturday was uneventful until the incidents with the teens started to occur. While some reports said hundreds of teens were involved, Mr. Paradise said he had not received any information on how many young people were involved.

Groups in the park that day included school picnics for Shaler Area, North Hills and Butler Area school districts, but there were no indications that students from those areas were involved in the unruly crowds.

A group of roller coaster enthusiasts also was at the park.

Mr. Paradise said he and park officials were monitoring social media to make sure it was not being used to entice young people to the park for any reason.

“We were monitoring social media and didn’t see anything that would indicate that this was coming. There was nothing out of the ordinary that people were putting on Facebook or Twitter about coming to Kennywood,” he said.

Kennywood’s internal security staff includes off-duty police officers from area departments, retired police officers and security guards, he said.

On Sunday, Kennywood’s Facebook page had about 100 comments about the Saturday night incidents, some from people who were in the park.

The comments indicated the initial problems started near Kiddie Land, the area that houses rides for small children.

The park is closed, as was scheduled, until Saturday when it reopens for the weekend. It closes again on May 11 but opens for the season on May 15.