City tackles vandalism at Lakeside Park

9OYS Problem Solver

CREATED Feb. 8, 2013

  • Print

  • Graffiti-covered slides and smashed playground equipment isn't exactly a neighborhood dream. One Tucson mom made it her mission to get a neighborhood park cleaned up and fixed. Video by kgun9.com

    video

  • Graffiti-covered slides and smashed playground equipment isn't exactly a neighborhood dream. One Tucson mom made it her mission to get a neighborhood park cleaned up and fixed.

Reporter: Stephani Ruiz

TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - For Shelley Dubrava, a day at the park with her son is an ugly reminder of what vandals are up to in her neighborhood.

Lakeside Park is covered in graffiti and vandalism. Dubrava said the destruction is worse than an eyesore- it's a real safety concern.

"My concerns are the park is not age appropriate, it has a lot of graffiti, and also boarded up areas where the kids could possibly get splinters or climb over and hurt themselves," Dubrava said.

By the time 4 month old Camden takes his first steps, Dubrava wants the park safe, clean and graffiti free.

9 On Your Side Reporter Stephani Ruiz asked if the damage deters Dubrava from visiting the park.

"We actually stopped coming to this side of the park because the graffiti and of the boarded up areas," Dubrava said.

Punks are targeting Tucson parks in a big way- vandalism 9 On Your Side has been following.

Back in October, vandals smashed a slide at Lakeside Park. We went back and that's been fixed. But Dubrava said the plywood chained to the playground structure- and graffiti etching the slides- still puts a damper on her day at the park.

Ruiz asked Jim Conroy with Tucson Parks and Recreation to show us the damage at Lakeside Park.

"We know that it can be really unsettling when you come in, especially when you're coming in with small children," Conroy said.

He said crews are constantly playing catch up. When they see the vandalism they're just as offended as you are. That's why when 9 On Your Side took Dubrava's concerns to the parks department, they moved quickly to replace chains and plywood with safer playground parts.

It's a temporary solution until a more permanent fix arrives.

"For that one day or two days that you're in the area, it's affecting your visit to the park and as a result of that we'll continue to be as vigilant as we can," Conroy said.

But it's not without a price. In the next few weeks, crews will put up a permanent bridge, which has been on the schedule to replace. And it doesn't come cheap. It's a $5,700 fix.