The Mosquito Creek Boardwalk at Howland Township Park could be on the chopping block in the next couple of months as township officials search for solutions to vandalism issues that have plagued the 14-year-old structure 

 

"This place used to be, like you would turn the corner and it would be breathtaking," said Emma Williams of Cortland

 

Graffiti displaying foul words, phrases, and drawings across many stretches of the walkway.

 

"Yesterday I was walking towards here and everything, and so was a lady and her two kids...they ended up turning around as soon as they saw the graffiti," Williams added.

 

Safety is the might be the biggest concern with sections of boards missing along the 14 year old structure.  Howland Township is well aware of these issues.

 

"It's in a state of disrepair that we are in the process of getting some quotes to see what it would cost.  I'm sure it's going to cost tens of thousands of dollars,"  said Howland Township administrator, Darlene St. George.

 

"The kids rip them off.  We replace them, they rip them off," she added.  

 

Darlene says simply throwing money at these issues is just a band-aid on a big wound, but that more steps need to be taken such as installing cameras to monitor the boardwalk area, and imposing hefty fines for those caught vandalizing the property.

 

Investing money into repairs, a project that ARP funding could be used for, is one alternative. The other would be tearing down the structure.

 

"It's not the first time in the township in that area where we've had to take something away," Darlene says, referring to the removal of basketball hoops years ago.

 

"It was meant for recreation, and then kids were fighting and it became a hazard, and then people were afraid to go the park," she added.

 

The township is evaluating the costs of repairs and will make a decision on the future of the boardwalk in the coming months.  Darlene adds that an attempt to make repairs would be the final attempt to salvage the structure.