ATHENS, Tenn. — A new city park was supposed to keep skateboarders off the streets and private property in downtown Athens.

But some city officials believe problems with skaters have increased since the park opened last December. City Council members are expected to discuss a complete ban on skateboarding downtown at their December work session.

At a council meeting last week, City Attorney Chris Trew said the park apparently created more interest in skateboarding, and that “they have gotten bored.”

Councilman Dick Pelley said most downtown skateboarders are adults, not young teenagers, and that some of them are belligerent.

Councilman Hal Buttram said he was playing tennis on courts next to the skate park when skaters began using the courts and interrupting the game. When the tennis players objected, the skaters turned off the court lights, which are on a timer and couldn’t be restarted for 10 minutes.

Councilwoman Ann Davis said a visitor during the USS Ware convention in October nearly was hit by an errant skateboarder.

Council members until now have rejected proposals to ban skateboarding downtown. They have urged business and property owners to post their property so skaters can be cited to court.

But recent reports of skateboarders using factory and downtown building roofs show that policy isn’t working, members said.

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