Vandals continue to devastate parks in Marinette

MARINETTE, Wis. — Marinette’s mayor hopes surveillance will help deter would-be vandals from targeting Marinette’s parks after a recent increase in incidents at parks citywide.

• There has been a recent increase in vandalism in Marinette’s city parks, said Mayor Steve Genisot
• Some of the cases included broken windows, a burnt-out portable toilet and a vandalized bathroom
• Watch the video to see images of the vandalism at the Marinette Police

Marinette’s city parks offer natural beauty.

But recently there have been more man-made problems: windows have been smashed, a portable toilet has been set on fire and bathrooms have been vandalised.

These are just a few of at least half a dozen cases of vandalism in city parks in recent months.

Police said charges have been filed against three juveniles in some cases. Suspects are still being sought in other cases, said Brad Bayerl, Marinette police spokesman.

NBC 26 spoke with Ann Holmquist at City Park on Wednesday.

Holmquist said family gatherings at the park were a part of her childhood.

A reporter told Holmquist about the recent vandalism.

“This is ridiculous,” Holmquist said of the vandalism.

“(The vandals) need to find a hobby.”

Marinette Mayor Steve Genisot said repairs to the vandalism cost the city money it did not want to spend.

“We don’t put money aside to fix things that we hope will be maintained, and then when kids or other people come in and damage them, all that means additional time and money,” Genisot said.

The mayor said the city is trying to use surveillance measures to prevent new vandalism and identify suspects in new incidents.

According to Genisot, there are problems of this kind throughout the country, and in Marinette the situation has become much more frequent recently.