Kennywood introduces chaperone policy for guests under 18
Kennywood Park announced a chaperone policy beginning with the opening of the 2021 season.
Anyone under 18 years of age who enters after 4 p.m. must be accompanied by someone 21 or older, who is also a paying customer.
In the past few years there have been incidents — from fights to other disturbances — where police had to intervene. The most recent one was in July.
“That’s being done to curb bad behavior,” said General Manager Mark Pauls of the chaperone policy. “I have said before I have zero tolerance for disrupting the amusement park experience for our guests.”
For groups such as school picnics or marching band outings, not every person under 18 will have to have his or her own chaperone, as long as there are some adults present, said Kennywood spokesman Nick Paradise.
The policy is one of the changes that Pauls and his staff have been planning for the next season. The park closed Labor Day in a season shortened because of the pandemic.
“We are constantly looking for ways to improve operations,” said Pauls, who took over in June. “Our team has been upbeat about next year, and we will continue to enhance our covid-19 policies. We can’t wait to have everyone back at the park. We’ve got a lot of plans, but right now most are on hold because we are waiting to see how the winter goes because of covid-19.”
Pauls said the Steel Curtain, the park’s newest roller coaster, will be back in operation when the park reopens. It was closed this past season. He said The Steelers Experience, an interactive exhibit that was supposed to debut in 2020, most likely won’t be finished, at least not next year, because it will be difficult to social distance.
He said it was a tough decision to retire the Kangaroo, Paratrooper, Bayern Kurve and the Volcano. Cost to maintain those rides was a factor.
“I know how passionate people in Pittsburgh are about those rides, and that shows their love for Kennywood,” he said.
Brenton Asti, a Crafton native who lives in Dallas, worked at Kennywood from 2003-2012, and operated the Kangaroo. His first job was a zombie for Kennywood’s Phantom Fright Nights.
“What about Kenny Kangaroo?” Asti said. “That ride is his home. That is sad.”
He said guests weren’t able to say farewell to the Kangaroo like they were able to before the Log Jammer was retired. Asti, who has visited 70 amusement parks, said there are 20,000 signatures on the petition to save the Kangaroo.
“Kennywood needs to be more transparent with Pittsburgh about why it wants to retire these rides,” Asti said. “There are a lot of emotions involved. Kennywood has done a good job of blending the old with the new but the Kangaroo is the last flying coaster of its kind. It is part of Kennywood’s DNA.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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