Manager: Surveillance camera at the tot lot will ‘nip’ vandalism in the bud

YARDLEY BOROUGH – In an effort to deter vandalism, a surveillance camera has been installed at the Tot Lot in Buttonwood Park, which is located between South Main Street and Penn Valley Drive.

“We want to nip it in the bud,” said Yardley Borough Manager John Boyle. “There is vandalism going on there and over time, it gets costly.”

The Tot Lot, which is located across the parking lot from the community pavilion, is a place where juveniles tend to congregate.

“Big kids go in there, but it’s just not meant for them,” he said. “It’s only for little ones.”

Things get broken. “Part of a bench was damaged,” Boyle said. “The gate itself was broken.”

He said it is not known whether the damage is being done maliciously or “if it is just bigger kids being bigger kids.

“We don’t want the little ones’ toys broken,” Boyle said, noting the children, who are only a couple of years old, could get hurt on broken toys.

He said a sign has posted notifying users that the tot lot is now under surveillance.

Junior Councilmember Austin Johnson had asked council members for their input about posting two signs at the playground.

One sign reads, “Playground is under 24-hour video surveillance.”

Another sign reads, “This playground was designed for young children. All those entering must be accompanied by an adult.”

Photograph by Petra Chesner Schlatter A surveillance camera now overlooks the Tot Lot in Yardley Borough.

Photograph by Austin Johnson Parents must accompany their children in the Tot Lot.

Photograph by Austin Johnson This sign was recently posted at the Tot Lot near Buttonwood Park in Yardley Borough