Lifland Skatepark has been an asset for our community for more than a decade and we believe every resident of the city should celebrate plans for the park’s expansion — even residents who don’t enjoy skating themselves.

As we’ve noted in past editorials, Williamsport and Lycoming County need to attract new businesses to create jobs and new families to fill those jobs. Growth is the clearest solution to the challenges that confront our region — the alternative is towns and neighborhoods with fewer people, each shouldering more of the tax burden to meet the needs of our communities.

We believe investment in infrastructure — including diverse choices for recreation — is part and parcel of attracting more jobs and more families.

Beyond the economic arguments — as important as they are — we believe our community should encourage healthy activities for our young people. We hear the concerns and consternation of older residents about young people stuck on video screens, passively consuming entertainment. We believe you’ve heard these concerns too.

Part of addressing this worry is investment in public parks and recreation — projects like the Lifland Skatepark expansion.

The efforts by Lonnie Wilcox and Sally Lifland Butterfield to bring Lifland Skatepark into existance is commendable. We hope their latest efforts to implement an expansion are successful as well.