Wyandotte County leaders celebrate park upgrades with one major ask: Stop the vandalism
Portable toilets set on fire. Bathroom sinks shattered. Copper wires ripped out. Graffiti spray-painted on doors and benches.
Those are a few examples of a wave of summer vandalism seen across Kansas City, Kansas, and Wyandotte County’s parks. As costs grow and budgets tighten, local leaders have a message for those causing the damage: Stop breaking and stealing public amenities.
And to the community at large: Help protect the public parks we enjoy.
“It takes everyone working together to make sure that we’re keeping our parks clean, we’re keeping them safe, and also we want to make sure that we are being fiscally responsible and maximizing the taxpayers’ dollars,” Angel Ferrara, director of the Unified Government’s Parks and Recreation Department, told The Star on Wednesday.
“And we need the community to help us in some of these areas, even as it relates to vandalism, so that we can do that.”
Since this spring and summer, Wyandotte County parks have seen significant damage to bathrooms and other public spaces within the parks that ranges from run-of-the-mill vandalism to theft of materials for apparent scrap resale. Some places are seeing more attention than others, Ferrara said, including one bathroom hit two times within three weeks.
Earlier this year, the opening of a brand-new splash pad installed at Clifton Park was delayed after $25,000 worth of equipment was stolen. It has since opened, Ferrara said, but the costly expense is one example where parks leaders are spending money on repairs that could be better used on improvements.
“When we’re constantly having to go out and spend money on repairs due to recklessness or vandalism or theft, it’s just not productive,” Ferrara said.
The costs come as the department will see its funding cut by $750,000 next year. Commissioners in June took action to cap property tax revenues collected for Unified Government services, answering calls from residents strained by increased bills.
Cases of vandalism prompted increased investment in security features, such as cameras, heavier locks and additional lighting. But it has remained difficult to catch those responsible, Ferrara said.
A full account of the damage done at the parks this year is not complete, Ferrara said. And looking ahead, the parks director says one goal is to increase community awareness through a newly launched campaign called #EnjoyDon’tDestroy.
The call to action comes as government leaders plan to celebrate a recent $2.1 million investment in three Kansas City, Kansas, parks.
On Friday, area leaders will cut ribbons on the new spray pad at Clifton Park; Kensington Park’s new fence, sidewalk, benches and basketball court; and basketball, pickleball and tennis courts at Klamm Park. All projects were paid for through grants received from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Along with benefiting communities, Ferrara said, local leaders are hopeful the upgrades will increase traffic and help keep eyes on the parks.
The Unified Government is advising those who witness vandalism to contact Parks & Recreation at 913-573-8327 or the non-emergency line for Kansas City, Kansas, police at 913-596-3000.
