Police will be asked to step up their patrols of Sidney’s Iroquois Park after someone uprooted trees and bushes overnight Monday, Sept. 24.
Town of Sidney superintendent of parks Brian Coward says three trees and five bushes were torn out of the ground and thrown into a pond in the park. The water was also littered with empty beer cans.
Workers, he said, used a net to fish the plants and detritus out of the pond and the trees and shrubs were replanted.
“Hopefully, the plants will all be fine.”
No other damage in the park was noted.
“Unfortunately, there are people who drink and hang out in the park, especially near the public works yard,” said Coward.
“I’m not sure if any of those people are responsible, but will will ask the RCMP to keep an eye out.”
Sidney’s director of engineering Rob Hall said the incident was more of a nuisance than any large vandalism event.
“But we have experienced a lot of that lately,” he said.
Last month, one of the buildings in the park was targeted by vandals, who managed to get onto the roof. Some damage was done at the time and Hall added it was quite noticeable, as Iroquois Park was recently upgraded.
A refurbished park was re-opened to the public in July of this year, said Coward.
When town staff notice vandalism, they clean it up right away, said Hall.
“We get to it ASAP,” he continued. “It has been shown if it’s left (vandalism) gets worse.”
The town, said Hall, has introduced in recent years anti-grafitti screens on power boxes and other structures.
“It seems to be working.”
To combat vandals in Iroquois Park, Coward said staff are considering installing surveillance cameras around the building.
Staff, he clarified, are looking into the matter and would present any proposal to the town council for consideration in their budget deliberations.