BATAVIA – The Batavia Park District's skate park on Route 25 remains closed until further notice after the park received extensive graffiti damage last weekend.
Vandals caused an estimated $800 in damage to the park, park district executive director Mike Clark said. The vandalism occurred between Saturday night and Sunday morning.
Clark said the park will remain closed until further notice. The park is not supervised.
"I feel bad for those who follow the rules and take care of the park," he said. "We are not in the business of locking up our parks."
The nearby BMX bike park also will remain closed, Clark said.
Park officials have removed the graffiti from the ramps and other equipment at the skate park. The park has been vandalized several times since opening about five years ago, but Clark said this latest incident was one of the most severe.
The park district is now looking at the possibility of installing surveillance cameras at the skate park, Clark said. The police department also patrols the park on a regular basis, he said.
Clark said the district would have to charge an admission fee if it was to supervise the park. The park is part of the Clark Island Recreation Area on Route 25.
"I'd have to charge to cover the staff salaries," Clark said.
He said the park district counts on patrons to self-police the district's parks.
"We rely on community pride," Clark said.
Those who have any information about the incident can call the park district's tip line at 630-879-5235, ext. SAFE, or e-mail bruce@bataviaparks.org. Names are kept confidential.
Those with information are eligible to receive up to a $500 reward if it results in the arrest and conviction of the vandals.
