Vandalism Damages Multiple City Parks

Several city parks were damaged during a series of vandalism incidents in the first week of January, prompting repairs, police reports, and increased security efforts.

Parks and Recreation officials say the incidents included graffiti, broken donation boxes, a vehicle crashing into a park gate, and a restroom fire that caused significant damage.

The most severe incident occurred early New Year’s Day at Oxbow Nature Study Area, where surveillance video shows a vehicle driving into the park’s closed access gate around 3:35 a.m. The impact bent the gate frame and damaged its locking mechanism.

Crews discovered on January 1 that someone had forced open a locked restroom at Double Diamond Park, followed by a break-in at a clothing donation box in Horseman’s Park the next day.

Later that week, Park Rangers found fire damage inside a restroom at Teglia’s Paradise Park. Meanwhile, Barbara Bennett Park and Idlewild Park suffered damage from graffiti.