By Ben Orcutt -- Daily Staff Writer

FRONT ROYAL — Councilman Thomas H. Sayre says it's time that one of Front Royal's landmarks be made safe again for the public.

"Let's take the gazebo back for our town citizens," Sayre said this week.

Sayre told his colleagues on the Town Council that on his way to their Monday meeting he passed the gazebo area, bounded by Main and Chester streets, and saw a young man with his face bloodied. Sayre said he called 911 to report the incident.

"It looked like it was at least two or three solid blows to the face, and that concerns me," Sayre said Tuesday, describing what he believed caused the young man's face to be so bloody.

"I think the town council needs to delve into this issue, and we need to get some hours [that the park is open]," Sayre added. "We're going to have a work session this coming Monday to discuss the hours."

Monday's work session is scheduled for 5 p.m. in the conference room of the Town Hall, at 16 N. Royal Ave.

Sayre said he also thinks signs need to be posted in the gazebo area explaining a code of conduct.

"I'm open to any suggestions that might help solve this problem," Sayre said.

Town Manager J. Michael Graham said Monday that the town is taking steps to make the gazebo area safer.

"We have intensified the police activity in this area," Graham said, noting that youths from surrounding jurisdictions have been congregating at the park in addition to town youths. "We're on top of it, and we'll do the best we can."

Front Royal K-9 officer Jason Bates said Tuesday that he is assigned to patrol the gazebo area on his 10-hour shift. Bates said that over the weekend while he was off there were three fights.

"It just seems like it's getting worse," Bates said. "We want to be proactive and keep the peace down here, so the citizens can use the park. We don't want citizens to be afraid to come down here."

Bates said he thinks limiting the hours of operation is a good idea, as is posting a code of conduct. Bates said that, though he doesn't want visitors to feel uneasy about his being there, it's his duty to enforce the law.

"I have a job to do," he said. "If you break the law, you're going to get cited for it."

Others are pleased that police are taking steps to make the area safer.

"I'm happy with the police presence," said 36-year-old Shoana Riccio, of Warren County, who comes to the area on Tuesday afternoons in conjunction with the Old Europe Folk Dancing Troupe.

Julie McGough, 41, of Woodstock, organizer of the dance troupe, said two families with children who had participated in the program recently stopped attending due to safety concerns.

"They didn't feel their children were safe here," McGough said. "I'm hoping now with the police presence they'll change their minds and come back."

McGough said the reason the two families will not allow their children to participate is that some youths who hang out at the gazebo threatened to take the dance troupe's equipment and play their own music.

Amber Snead, 16, a rising senior at Warren County High School, said most of the youths who hang out at the gazebo seem to get tainted by the problems that the minority cause.

"There's only a few people that cause trouble," Snead said. "Most of the people just hang out."

Like other youths in the park on Tuesday, Snead said there should be more alternative activities, such as a proposed skate park.

"We need a place where teenagers can hang out," said 16-year-old Brandon Nuckles, a rising junior at Warren County High School. Contrary to what some may think, Nuckles said, just because a teen is young and hang outs at the gazebo doesn't mean he or she is into drugs or other bad behavior.

Some youths said they don't like the idea of having a police officer stationed at the gazebo. Others, like Dominic Smyth, 21, said it all comes down to having a place to go.

"If there were more places to hang out," Smyth said, "there'd be a lot less people here."

* Contact Ben Orcutt at borcutt@nvdaily.com