Vandalism at San Francisco Park Totals $100K

Park renovations are expensive enough as it is. Add vandalism into these costs and the total price can skyrocket, which those working on renovations at Dolores Park in San Francisco know all too well. Construction at the park has already experienced delays and minor vandalism, but nothing like what occurred several days ago when two teenage vandals allegedly broke into the construction site and caused about $100,000 worth of damage.

According to the San Francisco Examiner, the vandals’ first stunt included hot-wiring a construction vehicle and subsequently doing donuts on fresh sod, which not only destroyed the sod but also damaged newly installed drainage infrastructure. The vandals then moved on to a different section of the park where they tagged the roof of a new storage and maintenance shed and proceeded to light a fire in this structure, over which they cooked s’mores. Police found marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers that had been left behind. 

The two vandals have since been arrested, and the opening of the park, originally slated for June 2015, has been pushed back to late fall because of the repairs that need to be made. 

“We want people to enjoy the park. But don’t trash it. Don’t vandalize it, don’t demolish it. Don’t disrespect it,” recreation and park department general manager Phil Ginsburg said. 

To prevent future vandalism, San Francisco police recommend that contractors remove the green fences that surround the construction area. This makes it easier for people to see if there is suspicious activity happening in the construction zone or if there are people who have entered the zone who should not be there, and to stop them before serious or preventable damage occurs. 

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