Homer Glen officials said there has been a rash of recent vandalism in area parks and on their bike trails, including graffiti, broken signs and streetlights, damaged playground equipment and someone who set a fire inside a portable toilet.
Mayor Christina Neitzke-Troike said vandals have spray painted picnic tables, garbage cans, signs, sidewalks and trails with obscenities and vulgar drawings.
Streetlights that also hold the village’s veterans banners were broken with rocks, and rubberized play surfaces designed to improve a park’s accessibility for individuals with wheelchairs or walkers were burned out with electric bikes or dirt bikes, she said.
The village also received reports of children blowing up fireworks in a park.
“This is going to take a village,” Neitzke-Troike said. “Parents need to step up and have a conversation with their kids.”
The rubberized playground surfaces are an alternative to mulch and benefit children with different abilities, Neitzke-Troike said. They also allow grandparents who have limited mobility to take their grandchildren to the park, she said.
More Top Picks Mats Outdoors
Village manager Joe Baber said the vandalism has been widespread.
It has cost at least $2,000 for each time the village has had to patch the accessible playground surfaces that have been damaged, he said. The broken park sign at Evlyn’s Gate is about $6,000 to replace. More than $12,000 has been spent recently to repair damages, he said.
Village officials are planning to survey other neighboring communities to see how they deter park vandals, Neitzke-Troike said. They are also looking at whether installing cameras will help.
Cameras are located in Heritage Park, the village’s large destination park behind Village Hall.
Neitzke-Troike said she is starting to survey residents to see if they would be interested in cameras to monitor parks and assist in identifying park vandals, and early survey results have been supportive of cameras in the park.
Several residents have voiced their opposition to Flock license plate reader cameras. If the village opts to set up cameras in the park, they would not be the license plate reader type, Neitzke-Troike said.
In the meantime, Neitzke-Troike urged parents to talk to their children about respecting public property and notifying the village if they have any information.
Several parents have provided the village with tips and videos, Neitzke-Troike said.
She said she is hoping those involved take responsibility for their actions.
Village funds used to fix the vandalism as well as employees’ time and energy could be invested elsewhere in the community, she said.
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
More Top Picks Best Flicker Free Led Bulbs For Migraines