128-year-old amusement park tightens its rules after violent teen takeovers hit rivals

Kennywood, a astir 130-year-old amusement parkland extracurricular Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is tightening its summertime chaperon argumentation arsenic parks astir the state acquisition convulsive brawls and unruly teen crowds heading into the bosom of the season.

The fashionable Pennsylvania amusement venue said guests ages 15 and nether indispensable beryllium accompanied by a parent, guardian oregon different supervising big during each operating hours, effectual June 12. The updated argumentation volition use done Sept. 7, according to a institution statement.

The determination follows respective high-profile incidents astatine amusement parks successful caller weeks, including astatine Six Flags St. Louis connected opening day, erstwhile aggregate brawls involving arsenic galore arsenic 100 radical prompted a constabulary effect and forced the parkland to adjacent early. 

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Kennywood’s quality besides follows an opening-day brawl astatine Hersheypark successful Pennsylvania, successful which 55 radical — including 52 minors and 3 young adults betwixt ages 12 and 19 — were charged aft a ample combat broke retired connected April 3, according to police.

"This was a proactive measurement and portion of our ongoing committedness to preserving the welcoming, family-friendly ambiance that has defined Kennywood for astir 130 years," a institution spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

Historic amusement parkland Kennywood successful Pennsylvania is tightening its chaperone argumentation arsenic parks astir the state grapple with convulsive brawls. (iStock)

In a caller Facebook post, Kennywood wrote, "We are alert of societal media posts circulating regarding a imaginable unauthorized gathering astatine the park. We person zero tolerance for disruptive behavior."

Kennywood said its updated argumentation is intended to "enlist the practice of parents and different adults liable for children" and assistance the parkland supply a harmless and enjoyable acquisition for guests. 

Guests who cannot amusement impervious they are astatine slightest 16 volition not beryllium allowed to participate without a qualifying chaperone. 

The parkland besides noted that work for children attending Kennywood rests with parents, guardians oregon assigned chaperones — not parkland personnel.

Under the caller rules, guests who cannot amusement impervious they are astatine slightest 16 volition not beryllium allowed to participate without a qualifying chaperone. The chaperones indispensable beryllium astatine slightest 21 years aged and contiguous a valid government-issued photograph ID. 

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Each chaperone whitethorn travel up to six guests ages 15 and under.

When the radical enters the park, the chaperone indispensable beryllium contiguous — and the chaperone indispensable stay wrong the parkland for the full visit, though Kennywood said the big does not request to physically enactment with the minors astatine each times.

Under the caller policy, chaperones indispensable beryllium astatine slightest 21 years old. They indispensable beryllium capable to amusement a valid government-issued photograph ID. (iStock)

Guests 15 and nether indispensable beryllium capable to interaction their onsite chaperone passim the visit.

The parkland said the caller argumentation extends its erstwhile summertime chaperone rules from a 4 p.m. commencement clip to all-day enforcement, portion lowering the property request from guests 17 and nether to guests 15 and under.

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Recently, alleged "teen takeovers" person disrupted parks, beaches, malls and different nationalist spaces successful respective cities. Authorities person said immoderate gatherings, often organized oregon fueled by societal media postings, person escalated into fights, arrests and exigency crowd-control responses, arsenic Fox News Digital antecedently reported. 

Hersheypark aboriginal implemented photograph reentry verification aft fights betwixt teens disrupted its opening weekend, according to Fox 43.

The updated argumentation comes amid increasing interest passim the state astir alleged "teen takeovers." Kennywood said it was taking proactive measures. (iStock)

The parkland said astatine the clip that information was its apical precedence and that guests who violated its policies would nary longer beryllium welcome.

Kennywood said its updated chaperone argumentation volition beryllium enforced astatine the entranceway and passim the parkland by absorption and security. Any impermanent 15 oregon younger recovered wrong the parkland without a qualifying chaperone could look removal. 

Organized and ticketed radical events — including school, church, corporate, summertime campy and sports groups outings — are exempt due to the fact that they already person existing chaperone policies and practices, according to the park.

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Online, galore radical praised the owners for taking decisive action.

"Good connected them for getting up of immoderate imaginable issues," 1 Reddit idiosyncratic wrote. 

"This is not mean kid behaviour anymore that's being cracked down on," different idiosyncratic said. "This worldly has go mode excessively common."

"Love this idea," a 3rd idiosyncratic said. "Just privation they’d bring backmost a non-rider introduction interest oregon different discounted walk for chaperones who don’t program to ride."

Located successful West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, Kennywood is 1 of lone 2 amusement parks successful the United States designated arsenic a National Historic Landmark. (iStock)

Kennywood is located successful West Mifflin, astir 10 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. 

Opened successful 1898, it is 1 of lone 2 amusement parks successful the U.S. designated arsenic a National Historic Landmark. (The different is Rye Playland successful Rye, New York.) 

The parkland said each guests indispensable besides walk done a weapons detection strategy astatine the beforehand gross during the summer, and lone bags 15 inches by 15 inches by 15 inches are permitted — with exceptions for aesculapian and diaper bags.

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The occidental Pennsylvania staple has been known for generations for its classical rides, including the Jack Rabbit roller coaster, arsenic good arsenic its fashionable Potato Patch fries.

Sean Joseph and Stepheny Price, some of Fox News Digital, contributed reporting.