Vandalism as parks are prepared for busy season

SHELBY -- As the warmer weather takes hold in the region, Shelby’s park system is preparing its facilities for the increased use and dealing with vandalism, too.

During its first meeting of spring, Parks Superintendent Jerry Marshall updated Shelby’s Board of Park Commissioners.

“We are not free of vandalism in the spring,” he said April 12. “A concrete (drinking) fountain at Rabold was tipped over.”

A vehicle may have been involved, Marshall said.

“I think it’s about 3 feet high with a good 4 inches of concrete all of the way around it,” Marshall said of the fountain. “It probably weighs 200300 pounds, breaking a water line. It caught the water line and the drain line, as well.”

Problems were also reported at the Veterans Park skate park.

“It’s been an ongoing thing out there,” Marshall said. “They insist on tearing the wood off the side...our guys are a little frustrated. It’s a yearly project, really.”

The item involved is described as covering the exposed steel that is structurally supporting the skateboarding ramp.

Officials asked about taking off the backing, though Marshall does not think it would look as nice.

“Take a picture of it now, and take a picture after you take the backing off it,” park board member Ralph Rosinsky said. “Ask the residents what they like better. It’s sad, but that’s what you’ve got to do.”

Marshall reported that elsewhere in Shelby, a young person broke a parks’ picnic table.

“He was jumping up and down on one of our picnic tables at the (Seltzer) north pavilion and went crashing through,” Marshall said. “I’m surprised someone doesn’t get hurt doing that sometimes, getting (caught) between 2x6 boards.”

In his opening remarks, Marshall

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detailed the parks’ work that was completed in March.

“We continued with the updates to the restrooms with touchless faucets in all restrooms and dryers in South Seltzer, North Seltzer and Mcbride,” he said.

“We need to do some other electrical work in some of the other restrooms

A look at a concrete drinking fountain that was toppled in an act of vandalism at Rabold Park in Shelby as shown in an April 15 photo. Earlier in the week, Shelby’s Board of Park Commissioners was notified of the vandalism.