Vandalism closes skate park for six days

By Amolak Dhillon

Skateboarders lost their park on Lesperance Road for six days due to recent vandalism.

The skate park was vandalized in the last week, disappointing many skaters who use the park on a regular basis.

Councilor Andrew Dowie represents Ward 1 where the park is located.

“Public investment has been a heavy part of the skate park from the designing of the structure to the community of trusted individuals that surround it,” said Dowie. “A lot of hard work has been put in to it over the years.” This is not only shocking but also very upsetting”.

According to Dowie he said this vandalism had an impact on the community.

“It gives the town a bad image and it stops the youth using the park who keep it busy every day of the week, that isn’t usually the case with public parks around the area,” said Dowie.

Dowie said he believes the Tecumseh Police Department will use all evidence gathered to find out who was behind the vandalism and would like to see some safety precautions put in place.

“I think they should consider more surveillance cameras to be put in place around the park,” said Dowie.

Councilor Rita Ossington also represents Ward 1.

“It may have been someone who was from out of town because when the park was originally opened to the public it was agreed with the young people involved that it would be a graffiti free skate park,” said Ossington. She also said she was upset that someone would come and vandalize the skate park.

“I worked downtown and would see the graffiti work on Ouellette off of Maiden Lane, it was gorgeous artwork,” said Ossington.

Tecumseh town officials had fenced off the whole area of the park to stop people entering and to figure out the best way to remove the vandalism.

Town officials have since reopened the park to the public as of Oct. 17.

“This incident combined with others over the last two years at Tecumseh facilities left my council colleagues and I feeling that enough was enough,” said Tecumseh Major Gary McNamara.

Town officials also say if anyone has information on who could have caused the damage to call the OPP or crime stoppers.