Romps threat to park

[rainbowgirl28]

This is in New Zealand


http://www.hbtoday.co.nz/storydisplay.c ... ubsection=

TOP STORY: Sexual romps threat to park
10.11.2005

ANENDRA SINGH
Hastings' Nelson Park has become the site of sex romps and vandalism that are slowly destroying the venue and costing the Hastings Athletic Club thousands of dollars a year.

Club officials say they are fed up after vandals last week slashed tyres on the portable pole-vault cover, wrecked the corrugated iron of the cover and destroyed high-jump mats, costing the club close to $1500.

And skateboarders and cyclists are wrecking the $1 million all-weather track.

Murray Andersen said the vandalism had become steadily worse in his 15 years on the club's committee.




"They jump up and down on the cover that protects the pole-vault and high-jump pads from the weather. They jump on them until they bend and break the iron, allowing the sun and rain to damage the pads. It's mindless, stupid vandalism," Mr Andersen said.
The vandals also slashed the landing mats, and excrement had been found in the water jumps and pole vault slot. Condoms had been found around the tracks and on the grandstands.

In the past couple of years, people had been found sleeping in storage sheds and a couple had been living in an operations caravan, which had since been condemned.

Metal and rope cages around the field event areas for javelin, shotput, discus and hammer throwing had been cut and bolt cutters used to break locks.

Mr Andersen said the club was predominantly made up of children, so money from subscriptions was light, and the club struggled with funds.

Club chairman Allan Potts said the club didn't need the stress and expense. The Hastings District Council owns Nelson Park and the club leases it.

"We try to provide a service to the community by running an athletic club," Mr Potts said.

Fire hydrants on the grandstand were often turned on and left running, he said.

"Safety is an issue now because there were three or four hydrants and now we are down to one. They were just vandalising them and causing a mess."

Mr Andersen said burn marks on the track were putting athletes in danger of injury.

"Someone set the track alight just near where the pole goes into the slot before the pad.

"The community has to be made aware of the problems." Mr Andersen said offenders scaled fences at the facility along Caroline Road, in the heart of the industrial area. Security lights had been installed on the grandstand but if vandals sneaked in before dark and hid in the stand, the lights were rendered useless.

If the council improved security then the rates would likely be increased.

The club has looked at installing razor wire but the council is unlikely to do anything substantial until the facility's future is decided after a public referendum in March/April next year.

For now, the club is content to act as bodyguards.

"If I hear anything suspicious then I come around to see what's happening because I live only a few hundred metres from here," Mr Potts said.

[LHSpolevault]

that's really sad to hear.... that's just plain wrong.


people are so stupid and disrespectful these days.