Trent Thompson, director of the Aurora Parks Department, has spent part of the week assessing damage in the city’s parks.
In the recent snowfall, vandals decided to drive through two parks in areas not designed for traffic.
“It’s an aggravation not knowing the damage until the snow melts,” said Thompson. “The money to fix this is going to come from an extremely stressed budget.”
Vandals made what looked like a circle of the bases on the softball field in White Park. Tracks indicated the driver entered the park near the pool shelter, followed the circle drive to the west, and drove down the steep embankment, crossed the waterway and entered the field.
Thompson noted fields in the park had already suffered damage during heavy rains in the fall. Dirt for field repairs is not available locally, but comes from Muskogee, Oklahoma. Four loads at $900 a load will be required to fix water damage on the Legion Field alone. He estimated needing 24 tons for repairing that field and noted the lack of funds available.
Vandals also struck at the South Tot Lot on Porter Avenue, where they damaged two trees planted a short time ago.
Anyone with information about these incidents should contact the Aurora Police Department (678-5025) or Thompson (678-5121 extension 33).
“We want people to enjoy the parks. By no means, do we want to keep them from having fun, but, please, use some common sense -- don’t drive on park land, ball fields or off-road through ditches,” said Thompson. “This ends up costing everyone money to fix somebody’s few minutes of fun.”