Mokena basketball court defiled by racist, homophobic graffiti

Mokena police are searching for the vandals who spray-painted racist and homophobic words and a swastika on the basketball court of Prairie Ridge Park.

About 10 a.m. Saturday, Mokena resident Rebecca Howey’s 12-year-old daughter and her friend were playing at the park at 21431 Coneflower Drive when they discovered the basketball court had been spray-painted with racist and homophobic epithets, a drawing of male genitals, and a swastika.

“It’s mortifying to be honest,” Howey said. “It is something that as a parent, you never want your children to have to go through.”

Howey took photos of the graffiti and contacted Mokena police.

Mokena Interim Police Chief Tim McCarthy said several detectives are investigating the incident.

“We are working it hard and we have made progress,” McCarthy said.

He said it didn’t appear Mokena had any hate-related crimes over the past several years that may be related to the graffiti incident at the park.

“It is hateful. We all agree it’s very hateful and vile,” McCarthy said of the graffiti.

Greg Vitale, executive director of Mokena Park District, said crews spent the weekend cleaning up the graffiti at the court and the nearby baseball field. He said home plate and the dugout were also defaced.

“We deal with graffiti at times. Nothing to this extent,” Vitale said.

Vitale said crews Monday morning had to sand down the basketball court to bare asphalt in order to get rid of the graffiti. He said the basketball court will need resurfacing work.

“Essentially making it brand new again,” he said.

Vitale said the Mokena Park District have assisted the police with the investigation.

“The park district and village do not accept this type of activity,” Vitale said. “We’re aware that this happened and frankly we’re disgusted that this happened at one of our parks.”

The park is located in the Prairie Ridge subdivision and also includes a tennis court, a sand volleyball court and access to Old Plank Trail.

Howey said more than 100 children live in neighborhood by the park and “there are plenty more that visit the park.” She said that her neighborhood “does not tolerate racism or homophobia in any way.”

Howey said she was shocked, disgusted and saddened by the graffiti.

“There’s really no place for it in society,” she said.