Extra patrols are being carried out at a sports field after vandals struck for a third time.
The latest incident at Southfield Sports Field in Northampton happened on Monday evening, when part of the £15,000 gym equipment was bent over and pushed into wet concrete.
It has left members of the residents’ association, who helped get the grants for the apparatus, stunned.
On Wednesday, January 25 vandals struck at the Barley Hill Road site between 2pm and 4.30pm.
They upturned a bench, which was setting in wet cement, at a play area which is under construction.
Residents noticed shortly after the incident occurred and were able to turn the bench back round before the cement dried, minimising the damage.
Secretary of the Southfields Residents’ Association and county councillor for Thorplands, Councillor Dennis Meredith, said:
“The equipment was vandalized again on Monday night.
“The contractors were putting in the gym equipment and it was purposely smashed down and bent into the concrete.
“I went over there on Tuesday morning and I began to think is this worth it?
“Vandals have attacked the equipment and the bench on three separate occasions and it has not even been put up.
“I am appalled by what has happened.
“At the end of the day this equipment is for the community and it is just a small minority who are doing this.
“I first had the idea for the equipment when I was in France on holiday.
“I saw equipment like this and thought some could be put on the Southfields Sports Field. The Association managed to get a grant of £10,000 from Love Your Park and I put forward £5,000 from my county councillors empowerment money.
“The bench is ok now as we went up there and used quick drying cement and stayed there until it was dry.
“I am very worried whoever did this will try it again.
“I have been told PCSOs will be doing extra patrols and I will also go over there at 4pm to patrol the area.”
An official opening of the outdoor gym equipment is planned to take place on Saturday
Witnesses should call Northamptonshire Police on 101.
