It's a shame troublemakers are descending on Riverwalk's wildly popular skatepark, mostly nonrecreational visitors who clog up the concrete runways by sitting down and hanging out. Skateboarders and bikers apparently get frustrated at the obnoxious misbehavior.

But the Bradenton Police Department has no authority to break up the obstructionists. Last week, Officer Tony Cerniglia asked the City Council to grant police the power to issue trespassing citations on city-owned property and ban violators from the park for a certain amount of time. Repeat offenders could be arrested, too, a stronger deterrent.

That should help solve the problem.

Police commend the skateboarders and bike riders for their courteous and responsible conduct, with some even cleaning up the park after incidents with troublemakers as hundreds of people gather on Friday and Saturday nights. Officers have been forced to close the skatepark on several occasions to disperse crowds after fights broke out.

Police have stationed an observation tower with a camera across the street to discourage misconduct but that's not a permanent solution.

Bradenton's Downtown Development Authority is considering placing cameras at Riverwalk with a recent bid coming in at $39,000. While that's expensive, the city's investment in this new crown jewel must be protected.

Empower police, too, with an ordinance establishing strict rules for the skatepark to prevent bad people from ruining a wonderful place.