Lakemont Park Director Andrea Cohen said four break-ins in the past year have caused more than $100,000 in damage at Lakemont Park.
Cohen said four basketball courts were seriously damaged, go-karts and holiday light displays were also damaged, and two projectors were stolen in connection with last weekend’s Halloween event.
“It’s very disappointing,” Cohen said in a phone interview Wednesday. “It’s very sad that people think trespassing in parks is acceptable behavior.”
Logan County Police Chief Dave Huber said Logan County police are investigating the latest of the three vandalism incidents, which occurred on Saturday, for the person responsible for the incident.
Hoover said damage to the courtroom was caused by vandals using go-karts, bicycles and possibly scooters.
A police department Facebook post shows a photo of curved skid marks on one coat.
He said restoring the court to its previous “original” condition would be expensive, as the surface would have to be stripped and repainted and sponsor names painted on.
Huber said the go-karts used in court during the first incident in April were stored in a pavilion outside the enclosure at the go-kart track.
Huber said the go-karts have gasoline-powered lawnmower-type engines and don’t require a key to start.
Huber said the culprits had access to the keys to the park itself, as evidenced by gates left open after one incident and vandals leaving bicycles and scooters behind after a recent incident. It seems that he has.
The Facebook post includes photos of bicycles and scooters.
Police have a “name” and plan to follow up, Huber said.
Huber said leaving the bike and scooter behind on Saturday indicates the suspect either stole the bike or scooter, or quickly fled the scene for fear of being caught, or both.
Anyone with additional information can contact Cprl. Tyler McClellan (814-949-3364), according to a Facebook post.
Cohen said it is “undetermined” whether insurance will cover the park’s losses.
Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler can be reached at 814-949-7038.