Vandals strike Powell Pool, swastika reported on trail at nearby park
Damages - broken doors, mirrors, and spray paint - ‘costly’
The Powell Pool, a privately-owned outdoor swimming facility, was vandalized over the weekend, and a swastika was painted on a trail at a nearby park.
On its Facebook page, the Olentangy Swim Association reported “extreme vandalism” at the pool facility at 245 Adventure Park Drive and said they are working with police and an insurance company on “costly” damage.
Megan Canavan, Powell spokeswoman, said additional damage occurred at Adventure Park nearby and included a swastika painted on a multi-use trail. A police report was not immediately available for the park incident.
Broken restroom doors and mirrors, emptied fire-extinguishers and spray paint were among the initial reports at the pool, according to association officials. The pool did not appear to have any damage visible from outside by Monday afternoon.
The vandals likely struck Saturday evening into early Sunday morning.
Canavan said that both incidents were being taken seriously and that hate messages “would not be tolerated.”
Bill and Mindy Saunders were walking their dog, Nellie, around the park Monday and noticed the markings, which had been painted over by then. Told what they were, they said they were disappointed, guessing that the perpetrators might be kids who don’t understand antisemitic hatred.
“I find that annoying-like vandalism rather than threatening, like a hate crime, because I don’t know that it was a hate crime,” Bill Saunders said.
Joel Marcovitch, chief executive officer of Jewishcolumbus, said, “It’s upsetting to hear that individuals would use a symbol of hate in a public area for an undefined purpose. Antisemitism continues to be on the rise, especially here in central Ohio.”
Marcovitch said he would like to see mandatory Holocaust education in Ohio’s schools and urged people to speak to up to combat “one of the world’s oldest forms of hatred.”
“We hope that those who did this act are found and punished to the fullest extent of the law,” he said, noting that the intent of those responsible is key. dnarciso@dispatch.com @Deannarciso