Vandalism at ballparks sparks outcry
By Wednesday, the dugouts had received a fresh coat of paint and looked almost pristine.
But looking out at the centerfield scoreboard on one of the fields gave people an idea of what had happened to their beloved ballparks.
“It’s just sad that some people have a destructive nature about them,” said North Fort Myers Babe Ruth President Bill Lemmerman. “It’s frustrating to those who put so much time into the league and make it a nice place for the kids.”
At 10:45 a.m. July 27, the Lee County Sheriff’s office responded to a call that vandals had spray-painted on the dugouts, concession stand walls, trash receptacles, and even the scoreboard at North Fort Myers Community Park baseball fields, and did damage to the building at the football fields, infuriating those associated with the North Fort Myers Babe Ruth Baseball League and Pop Warner Football officials, which use the fields.
The park is county-run, so crews painted over the writing. Though on Wednesday, there was more writing on the dugout walls, apparently done in pencil.
The lone obvious sign of vandalism left was on one of the scoreboards, which has the words “I Smoke Pot” spray painted on it.
Adding to the scoreboard issue is that Pepsi sponsors it and it’s the league’s job to maintain it.
According to Dana Kasler, deputy director for Lee County Parks, both parties are expected to replace the scoreboards, as they are now quite old.
Until then, a company has agreed to restore the scoreboard.
“With every bad thing comes a good thing. These guys stepped up to fix it for us,” Lemmerman said. “We couldn’t afford it. It’s not something you budget for.”
Officers said they don’t believe the vandalism is gang related.
It’s not the first time this has happened. Three weeks ago somebody lit a plastic trashcan on fire and throw it into a restroom, causing damage to the walls and the newly epoxyed floor. The rest rooms are now locked when the field is unattended.
The baseball fields are easy to access. There is a six-foot fence around the perimeter of the fields at night, but the fields are accessible in the daytime, and are often used well into the night.
The Pop Warner field also just a chain-link fence.
County officials said the damage included a 4-H sign directing people to the rec center, park signs near the apartments, playground and at the walk-in entrance, a protective box covering the main water line, the pavement, the back of a stop sign near the portable, a parking lot pole near the playground, a bench and trash can at the basketball courts, and the baseball field No. 3 dugout and scoreboard and baseball field No. 2 dugout.
Damage at the football field building included the football building concession side ledges and doors, equipment room door, a wall near the restrooms, the roll up equipment storage door and the wall and down spout next to the roll up equipment storage door.
“It wasn’t major damage. All the issues have been taken care of. There was a little paint on the roadway, but other than that, things are in good shape,” said Kasler.
“Any time there’s vandalism it affects everyone. We’re lucky that it doesn’t happen often and that so many people care,” Kasler said. “We have so many eyes at that park.”