Vandalism remains a problem at Kenosha’s Dream Playground, the community-built, million-dollar, handicapped-accessible facility.
At one point earlier this week, three pieces of playground equipment were out of commission because vandals had cut straps or done damage in other ways.
The vandalism comes even with volunteer Playground “ambassadors” being stationed on the grounds each day until nightfall.
Tammy Conforti, the original driving force behind the project, told a city council committee this week that she thinks the damage is occurring at night because an ambassador overheard a couple of teenagers talking about the need to avoid parking in the nearby lot at night. "The young teenagers are parking in the neighborhoods to avoid being seen by police while they're in there after hours," she said.
The repair work falls to the city Parks Department. Director Jeff Warnock says Petzke Park, where the playground is located, already has one security camera but he's thinking about adding two more along with lighting. "You have to illuminate it so you can see what's going on in there," Warnock said.
Warnock said he sort of figured from the start that the city would be dealing with vandalism, including cases of graffiti.
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