Glass found among the bark at Susan St playground. Photo/Stephen Parker
Glass found among the bark at Susan St playground. Photo/Stephen Parker
A Rotorua playground is at risk of being torn down after being repeatedly vandalised, including having broken glass deliberately buried in its bark.
The Susan St playground has been plagued by vandalism for months, forcing Rotorua Lakes Council to "consider its future", on the grounds it poses a community safety risk.
The issue was noted in the agenda for last week's Operations and Monitoring Committee meeting, saying "staff are looking at options ... following ongoing issues with vandalism and deliberate placement of broken glass in the playground which has created major safety issues".
The council's sport and recreation manager Rob Pitkethley said the vandalism had been happening since at least November, when the council reported it to the police.
A separate police report was filed by the council's security fencing contractor whose equipment was damaged.
The Susan St playground is at risk of being torn down after ongoing vandalism issues. Photo/Stephen Parker
"The council has received four calls from the community about vandalism concerns at Susan St park and we urge people to continue contacting us.
"Since November, we have undertaken extensive work there on several occasions including repairing equipment and removing glass by replacing all bark in the park, which on the last occasion cost the council more than $15,000 to clean up.
"The council is currently considering the future of the park. Vandalism at the playground appears to be more problematic than other playgrounds where there are issues with graffiti, broken equipment, trampled gardens and rubbish being dumped."
A council spokeswoman confirmed pulling the playground down was one of the options being considered.
In the past five years, the council has taken down two playgrounds as a result of repeat vandalism. They were in Sanatorium Reserve near Marist St Michaels Rugby and Sports Club and at Homedale Street Reserve.
Speaking to the Rotorua Daily Post, some local residents were in two minds about it, saying children loved the playground, but the park was often used as a meeting ground for unruly teens and adults.
One, who wanted to remain anonymous, said she did not let her own children play at the playground.
"It's just not safe. I do feel sorry for the genuine kids that just want a place to play, it's a few ruining it for the rest.
"The vandalism seems to be happening late at night or in the early hours of the morning, smashing glass everywhere, doing wheelies on the grass, damaging the actual playground."
The resident said she did not think removing the playground would solve the bigger issue.
"Yes, removing the playground would mean young children weren't at risk of getting hurt, but it's still leaving an empty lot for these teens to come together."
Another resident, who also wished to remain anonymous, said he had noticed the vandalism had escalated in recent months.
"I would want to keep a place like this, I used to play there when I was a little boy so it would be sad to see it torn down. But safety has to come first, I wouldn't want to see kids getting hurt there."
Rotorua police crime prevention manager Inspector Brendon Keenan said without CCTV footage or good eye witnesses, it was difficult to catch the culprits.
"The likelihood is that it's bored or unoccupied youth causing the damage. There are methods we use to keep an eye on a particular area if it has been flagged as somewhere vandals are targeting."
