Vandalism rising in Coeur d'Alene

One of the reasons Patrick and Melanie Browder bought their home on Lunsford Avenue about seven years ago was because of its proximity to North Pines Park. 

With plenty of trees and green grass, a playground, covered picnic area and basketball court, the 3.5-acre park seemed a peaceful piece of paradise within a busy city.

"It was a big draw of why we moved here,” Patrick Browder said. “We wanted to be able to walk to the park with our kids.” 

But a year or so ago, things changed.

A group of teens began hanging out at the park. Then slides were damaged. Picnic tables dragged to the basketball court and overturned. Loud music with profanity-laced lyrics boomed out. And one day, a child was locked in the porta potty. 

Going to the North Pines Park no longer felt fun. It didn’t seem safe, the Browders said. 

On their last visit, Patrick Browder said teens were there, so he pretty much stood guard over his children. In response, the teens cranked up inappropriate music and shouted racial obscenities. 

“Hey, you guys can’t be talking like that,” Browder told them. “We have other kids here.” 

The teens ignored him. 

The Browders are disappointed. They said they don’t see many families at North Pines Park anymore and they’re staying away, too, deterred by bullying and cursing. 

‘It’s a really nice park but our kids don’t want to go to it,” Patrick Browder said. 

Coeur d’Alene Parks Director Bill Greenwood said they have had several recent incidents of vandalism and bad behavior at North Pines Park, as well as other parks. 

The city just opened the restrooms at Bluegrass Park for the season, but already had to lock them because sinks and toilets were so badly damaged. 

“That's happened over and over,” Greenwood said.  

Graffiti is a common problem, as is destruction of city property. The gazebo ceiling has been broken, signs ripped from walls and dugout benches at Memorial Field destroyed. Someone even took a baseball bat to facilities at Ramsey Park. A few years ago, fires were set at Bluegrass Park.

Greenwood said he’s seen his fair share of vandalism over the last 20 years, but not to the scale and frequency it’s happening now. 

“It comes and goes,” he said. “All of the sudden, it’s back again.” 

The city is being forced to use hundreds of manhours and spend thousands of dollars to repair the damage, which it often does so quickly the public never knows it happened.

But it's struggling to keep up. As fast as the city paints over graffiti, it's tagged again. 

“We open up a restrooom again only to have it vandalized again,” Greenwood said. 

Sometimes, kids are caught and may be required to do some community service for the city, but they generally don’t seem remorseful, Greenwood said. 

To help catch those responsible, the city may install security cameras at parks. 

Coeur d’Alene Police Capt. Dave Hagar said they do what they can, but without surveillance camera footage or witnesses, it’s difficult to catch those behind park destruction. 

Unfortunately, vandalism of public and private property is all too common.  

“We have kids every year that get into this,” Hagar said. 

In cases like the one at North Pines Park, residents are encouraged to report it if teens are trashing things or being loud with foul language and music. Hagar said it helps police determine where they should have patrols and if called soon enough, they can respond in time to speak with those causing problems. 

“If you see something, say something,” Hagar said.  

The Browders said they have called police and officers have stopped by, but the teens are usually gone.

They don’t intend to give up.

“The best thing would be for our neighborhood to have our park back," Melanie Browder said. “I think a lot of our neighbors feel the same way.  We want to protect this place. We don't want them to take it over.” 

    North Pines Park is peaceful on a sunny Thursday afternoon.