Pittsburgh dumped sand into the bowl of a skateboard park in its Polish Hill neighborhood to thwart repeated break-ins by kids, the Department of Public Works director said.

Director Mike Gable said he got the idea after seeing sand used to deter people from congregating during the coronavirus pandemic at skateboard parks in California.

“We don’t take any pride or pleasure in doing this,” Gable said Thursday. “The park is closed and we kept the gate locked, but they cut the lock or the chain or they hopped over the fence. People have to listen to what the directive is and the directive is social distancing.”

Pittsburgh last month closed playgrounds and basketball courts and Mt. Washington overlooks because people were failing to observe social distancing guidelines and remain at least six feet apart.

Gable said crews removed basketball rims and netting from tennis courts to stop people from climbing over fences and playing.

He said the city would take similar action at the city’s other skateboard parks in Sheraden and Beltzhoover if problems occur there.

“When its all good and better again we’ll take the sand out and they can skateboard again,” he said.

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