CUMBERLAND — City officials will consider ways to prevent vandalism in two remote parks.
A motorist recently drove “like they were nuts” and damaged the field area near the skate park in the Gene Mason Complex, where driving is prohibited, Councilman Rock Cioni said.
“I think we’re gonna have to put a fence up,” he said. “Cameras are fine, but that’s after the fact to catch them.”
The city needs to take action, Cioni said.
“We’re gonna have to do something,” he said. “It’s so isolated out there.”
Cumberland Police Chief James Pyles said the department is investigating the situation and has photo footage of a vehicle allegedly involved in the incident.
Cumberland Administrator Jeff Silka said city officials will explore possible solutions.
“We’ll take a look at some alternatives … something aesthetically pleasing rather than chain link (fencing),” he said.
Silka spoke of trouble at Jaycee Field, formerly known as Pogey Field, on Furnace Street.
“We’ve suffered another vandalism event,” he said. “They basically took every bit of copper, they took the hot water heater, they took everything out of it,” he said.
Silka said the city had stopped “putting any more money” into the facility due to prior acts of destruction. Dugouts have been removed, and the city will collect bids to raze a concession stand. “We’re basically turning it into a flat field.”
He said the area will be all grass and the city will explore use possibilities.
“Whether it be a practice field … a dog park, something like that,” Silka said. “It’s isolated.”