Panther Hollow residents say concrete poured at informal Oakland skatepark without permits

A speaker reading a letter to Pittsburgh City Council said unauthorized construction at the Oakland DIY skatepark in Panther Hollow has escalated and demands enforcement action.

Carlino Giampolo, speaking on behalf of the Panther Hollow community, read excerpts from a Sept. 20 letter by Anthony E. Colombo Jr., identified in the reading as a board member of the Italian American Civil Rights League. The letter alleges that “Over 10 yards of concrete have been poured into the park in direct contravention of city law. Specifically, no permits were obtained as required in the Pittsburgh code. No inspections were conducted as mandated under city building and safety regulations.”

The letter criticizes what it described as a small, self-appointed group converting public property to private use and urges Councilmember Bob Charland to enforce zoning and permitting laws. “If the city fails to act, it will not merely be turning a blind eye to unlawful conduct. It will be complicit in it,” the letter reads, and warns that residents may pursue judicial remedies that would compel disclosure of city records.

The speaker directed council members to a public website for the full letter (pantherhollowplayground.com) and called on Charland to “summon your courage and shut down the illegal skate park.” The standing committees did not take any recorded enforcement action during the Oct. 1 session.

Council staff or members did not respond on the record during the meeting. The matter, as presented, centers on alleged permitting and inspection violations and a threat of litigation if the city does not enforce its code.