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Panther Hollow residents urge council to remove what they call an 'illegal' skate park and investigate process
Summary
A Panther Hollow resident asked council to remove a recently constructed skate feature, saying no neighborhood notice or permits were issued and requesting an investigation into council member involvement and park naming.
Carlino Giampolo, a resident of Panther Hollow, told Pittsburgh City Council during public comment that a large skate park was built at Panther Hollow playground without resident notice or city permits and asked council to take three actions: remove the skate park, close the playground to stop skateboarding activity and order an investigation by Councilman Bob Charlin into the skate park’s development.
Giampolo alleged the construction broke Sunshine Law notice expectations and said no permits were issued for the structure. He also objected to the playground being re‑named without local notice; he said council member Bart Warwick persuaded fellow council members to rename the site "Oakland DIY Skatepark" on June 17 without informing Panther Hollow residents. He warned of injury and liability for the city and requested a thorough examination of how the skate feature was approved and built.
Council did not take immediate action during public comment. The resident said he would submit additional documentation and asked the council to pursue the three items he listed. The transcript does not record responses from the named council members during the public comment period.
Giampolo’s request asked for follow‑up by council staff and suggested referrals to the city’s legal department or the district attorney if the investigation uncovers legal violations. No referral or motion to investigate is recorded in the meeting minutes for July 15.
