Gary Johnson is now the city’s zoning administrator. Back in the day, however, he was involved in that initial effort — but not as a skateboarder. He was a musician — and he and some musician friends put together an organization called “Musicians for Skaters” to raise money for skate parks by putting on concerts.

“We went to city councils at Greenville, Oil City, Titusville and Meadville,” recalled Johnson, who was a Greenville resident at the time. “Meadville was the only one that was receptive.” Once Stearns and Hampton got involved, he added, the idea really took off.

“I think a fundraiser would be great,” Johnson said, noting that a concert his group staged at the Academy Theatre was a great success. “It worked before — and maybe it can work again.”

Stearns is confident something will work. The skate park is a project he’s always believed in because it kept a majority of the kids off the streets in the city, but that’s not all. A city ordinance prohibiting the use of skateboards except in the skate park doesn’t leave skateboarders any other option. “As long as the use is high, I’m willing to try to save it,” he said.

As for whether the physical state of the ramps is some sort of a violation, the ramps are considered to be equipment and therefore aren’t covered under the building code, Johnson said, slipping on his official hat.

Mary Spicer can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at mspicer@meadvilletribune.com