The Parks and Recreation Department is working to find ways to deter vandalism at parish parks, after several incidents at Rathborne Park and Ormond Park in recent months.
Grayson Touchard, a spokesperson for the department, said the department is focused on identifying and implementing ways to better monitor parks.
“This includes evaluating our existing practices and exploring additional strategies to strengthen oversight and visibility across our facilities,” Touchard said.
On Tuesday, the department posted a photo online of vandalism in the Rathborne Park restroom. Photos showed a toilet paper dispenser ripped from the wall and dirt in the sink. The vandalism occurred a week after the restroom was professionally cleaned. The park’s restroom was also vandalized in December, with Silly String on walls and through the restroom stalls.
“This kind of damage impacts our entire community and takes away from the safe, clean spaces we work hard to provide for our residents,” the post read. “We ask everyone to take pride in our parks and help us keep them clean, safe, and enjoyable for all. If you see something, say something.”
At Ormond Park, a trash can was intentionally burned in January and that same month, a visitor drove an electric bike through the baseball fields. While the spray park was closed, visitors hung on park fixtures, risking damage to the equipment.
Last December, slats of a wooden park bench were cut off, requiring the parish to repair the bench.