Parks, trails and other public outdoor spaces in The City of Fredericksburg have been vandalized or otherwise damaged to the tune of more than $7,000 since June, the city said in a news release Tuesday.
Since the beginning of June, thousands of people have accessed the City’s parks, trails, playgrounds, athletic fields, and other amenities for many different forms of recreation, the release states. During that same timeframe, the Parks, Recreation & Events Department provided 75 camps and oversaw more than 45 special event permits, while running various community events including Picnic in the Park, Play All Day, Day of Play, 4th of July Festivities, and many others.
The Doris E. Buffett Pool saw over 14,000 visitors (79% percent of users being city residents), while the Saturday Farmer’s Market has grown to over 1,000 weekly shoppers.
However, parks and facilities were repeatedly misused and damaged. According to the release, natural resources served as the blank canvas for graffiti, and destructive behavior in restrooms led to the need for fixture replacements and lengthy, unplanned closures. Vandals have damaged athletic fields and stolen personal belongings from people’s cars.
The city has used over 65 hours of staff time for mitigation of what it called “criminal acts.” The Department reallocated funds reaching over $7,100 to cover materials, equipment, and contracted services.
“If it weren’t for these costly repairs, that time and money could have been invested into much more positive efforts such as providing more summer camps, adding a piece of playground equipment, park improvements, natural resource restoration, new sports leagues, or even new community events,” the release states.
The city asks that residents let the Parks, Recreation & Events Department know if you see anything that is not working properly, any vandalism or damage, or any misuse that can put the park and its users in a harmful situation.
To make a report or find out more information, visit the website at FXBGparks.com or call 540-372-1086. Do your part to help take care of everyone’s parks.
