108 cases of graffiti, vandalism and thefts have been reported at Lacey parks this year
More than 100 cases of graffiti, vandalism and thefts have been reported at Lacey parks this year, a city council committee learned on Tuesday.
Those totals are much higher than in recent years, said Jamie Oakland, the city’s parks maintenance supervisor.
Oakland, who presented the data to a committee that includes City Council member Lenny Greenstein and Mayor Andy Ryder, said that parks and facilities staff have devoted about 370 hours to addressing the problems. But if you include other city departments that helpout, such as the rapid response team or public works, then the total hours are 690, a 200 percent increase over a five-year average, Oakland said.
“Hopefully, this is an anomaly and not a trend,” he told the committee.
City staff has spent $30,000 so far this year to addressing some of the damage. Oakland expects the cost to grow to $36,000 by year’s end.
So far this year there have been 108 incidents: 84 cases of graffiti, 17 incidents of vandalism and seven thefts. Homann Park, at 1301 Carpenter Road SE, leads the way with 19 incidents, followed by the Regional Athletic Complex with 17 and Rainier Vista Park and Meridian Park with 10 each, according to data shared at the meeting.
Some examples of what city staff have encountered:
▪ During Fourth of July week, fireworks were detonated in a portable bathroom at Bush Park, a dumpster was set on fire at Rainier Vista Park and someone shoved a pocket knife into an electric meter at the Wonderwood Park bathroom.
▪ In September, someone broke into a box that is used to safely dispose of syringe needles and dumped all of them into a Huntamer Park bathroom sink.
▪ Homann Park was tagged with graffiti nine separate times, which prompted the city to close bathrooms to the public.
▪ At a rate of once a month, someone unspools toilet paper and sets it on fire at a Lacey park.
Some suspects have been caught and trespassed from the parks, Oakland said. The city forwards incidents to the police department, who then forward them to the Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office for consideration.
In one case, a middle-school student was caught tagging objects with graffiti, Lacey Police Chief Robert Almada said. But rather than prosecute, he and the city manager have discussed restarting a graffiti and litter abatement program that would pair young offenders with senior volunteers. The offenders would clean up the damage while the volunteers provide some mentoring, Almada said.
Both Greenstein and Ryder expressed support for the program.
Oakland said the city has invested in more video cameras at the RAC and it has helped.
Ryder suggested the city make that investment at all Lacey parks, including signs that “let the public know they are on camera.”
This story was originally published October 26, 2022 at 5:15 AM.
