News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Several acts of vandalism committed at Cookeville City Parks over Labor Day weekend.
Dogwood Park had a sun screen dispenser destroyed. The perpetrator then smeared the sun screen on playground equipment, walls, and the sidewalk. The sun screen dispensers were donated to the park and just installed last week. Also over the holiday weekend, someone threw a rock through a window at the Depot Museum. At Cane Creek Park, someone broke into the TVA Substation.
Cookeville Leisure Services Director Rick Woods said he is disappointed someone would destroy equipment at the park that is designed to help the public.
“Its just mischief,” Woods said. “There’s no purpose. There’s no reason for it. It happened after dark on a Monday evening on Labor Day, and it’s just really disheartening and sad. It’s very disappointing. It’s very sad that people come along and do things that don’t need to be done, that serve no purpose at all. They destroy nice things provided to the community and make it unusable by the community.”
Vandalism has increased in the last several weeks. The Dogwood Park memorial to the 2020 tornado, the Tree of Hope sculpture, was vandalized in recent weeks. A bird was removed from the sculpture. In addition, bathrooms at both Dogwood Park and the Cookeville Skate Park were vandalized.
Woods said the city police have been very helpful, but cannot be there all the time. Woods said he hopes the community will rally around the parks and help.
“We would love to have the communities help. If you know anybody that’s doing those actives or if you see someone who is doing those kinds of things,” Woods said. “If you are in a position to speak to them, say something. Give us a call or give the police a call. Please help us get this stopped.”
