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- Vandalism continues to be a problem at Mona City Park
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By Mryna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Vandalism continues to be a problem at Mona City Park.
"Kids play night games at the park," said Frank Riding, council member. "In some cases, the parents drop the kids off to play."
Young people have been getting up on the roof of the pavilion and have been tearing off the shingles.
A tree has been broken.
In general, the young people have been doing all sorts of deliberate damage to the park. The definition of vandalism is the deliberate destruction of someone's property.
"The only way to protect the park is to light it up," said Greg Newton, mayor.
Several of the bulbs are burned out in the overhead illuminating lights that make the park much brighter and would discourage the mischief taking place.
"The bulbs cost $50," said Riding.
Newton said that the money would be a good investment because it would prevent the damage taking place. That damage would be more expensive, in the long run, than the cost of replacing the burned out bulbs.
Damage is occurring, however, both day and night.
Youth coming to the park for the free lunch program provided by the school district are also coming to the park at 8 or 9 a.m. to play as they wait. A few of those young people are also involved in vandalism.
The young people need to be supervised but the city cannot provide the needed manpower to do the policing job.
Perhaps parents would volunteer to serve as park guardians.
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