🚨 NEW PARK IMPROVEMENTS DAMAGED ACROSS SOUTH RIVER 🏀⚽🛝
South River officials are asking for the public's help after vandals damaged new equipment at three local parks just days after installation. Basketball rims, soccer goals, and playgrounds were affected, leading police to request that residents report any suspicious activity.
📍 SOUTH RIVER, NJ — Three borough parks have been damaged within days of new recreational equipment being installed, prompting local officials to ask residents for help protecting South River's public spaces.
According to a joint statement from South River Parks & Recreation, the South River Police Department, and the Borough of South River, vandalism and misuse were reported at three parks over the past week.
🏀 Sheinfine Park: Children were reportedly observed climbing and jumping on newly installed basketball rims in what officials described as an apparent attempt to break them.
⚽ Varga Park: Most of the new soccer goals were found damaged less than a week after being installed for the borough's recreation soccer program.
🛝 Volunteers Park: Children were reportedly found riding e-bikes on the new playground within a week of its opening.
Officials emphasized that the improvements were made for the entire community and require significant time, effort and taxpayer funding. Damage to the equipment means money that could be used for future improvements may instead have to be spent on repairs.
👨👩👧👦 Officials are asking parents and guardians to speak with children about respecting parks, playgrounds, athletic fields, basketball courts, soccer equipment and other public facilities.
👮 Residents who witness someone intentionally damaging public property are encouraged to report it to the South River Police Department using the department's non-emergency number. Officials say information from residents could help identify those responsible and hold them accountable.
🏘️ “Protecting our parks is a community responsibility, and it takes all of us working together.”
Officials said they want to continue investing in parks, recreation facilities and programs for South River children and families, but are asking the community to help protect the improvements already in place.