Mount Vernon officials ask community to report park vandalism following uptick in crime

The city says it is renovating its 17 parks and playgrounds but people have been destroying the properties.

News 12 Staff

Jun 7, 2024, 2:28 AM

Updated 182 days ago

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Mount Vernon officials are pleading with people to take care of the city’s parks after a rise in vandalism in the last two months.
The city says it is renovating its 17 parks and playgrounds but people have been destroying the properties.
Someone set fire to a tube slide at Ben Gordon Playground over the weekend, which cost the city $8,000 to replace it. A plastic picnic table was also burned during a cookout. Dogs have been chewing the new swing sets at the Grove Street playground. Fences at Brush Park and Harley Park were cut, which cost the city another $15,000. Bolts were removed from swings at Howard Street playground.
Mayor Shawn Patterson-Howard says adults are the problem.
"This is disrespectful to the community, this is disrespectful to law-abiding citizens, and it is dangerous for you to take away safety in our park and our playgrounds for our children," she said on Thursday.
Inspections also uncovered $1,500 worth of damage to ADA swings.
Parks officials urge residents to report any vandalism that they may witness.