Coeur d’Alene eyes cameras as restroom vandalism persists

City workers were busy this past week mitigating up to $1,750 worth of vandalism inflicted upon a public Coeur d’Alene bathroom.

“We had more vandalism again today,” City Parks and Recreation Director Adam Rouse said during a Monday meeting. “One of the restroom facilities where people chose to do some things that are not so fun to clean up.”  

Rouse did not reveal the specifics of what was done or where. Parks Superintendent Barry Porath said, however, that bathroom facilities at Memorial Baseball Field, the bandshell at City Park and McEuen Park have been common targets of vandalism.

The city is responding by exploring ways it can deter further vandalism at public restrooms. Options include closing restrooms earlier than normal and, potentially, adding more security cameras near facilities.

Rouse also said the city will work with the police department and code enforcement to see if they have suggestions on how to enforce anti-vandalism measures.

“It’s costing us a ton of money every season for vandalism stuff,” he said. 

Mayor Dan Gookin recently told the Coeur d’Alene Press that vandalism around the community has been a problem for years.

“Sometimes, it gets real bad,” he said. “The toilets will be broken off the wall and water is flooding.”  

Gookin also supported installing cameras around more public facilities.

“We caught a kid that was setting fire to the playgrounds that way,” he said.

According to the U.S. Justice Department, willful destruction of private and public property accounts for more than $15 billion in damage nationwide each year. 

Coeur d’Alene City Council member Christie Wood said last week that “parks capital doesn’t have enough money to address” constant vandalism.

Wood also said that workers have been closing some bathrooms in the northern part at 4 p.m., which has helped prevent further vandalism.

“They're closing them when staff leaves at 4 p.m. and that has reduced the vandalism and the amount of money being spent to replace things,” she said.

The Coeur d’Alene Parks and Recreation Department alone manages landscape maintenance across 587 acres. This includes 32 city parks, two cemeteries, 210 acres of natural open space, 39 miles of pedestrian/bike paths and 9 miles of hiking trails. Its budget for fiscal year 2027 is $3.3 million.

Coeur d’Alene City Council member Dan English suggested the city provide education opportunities or encourage a block watch to address vandalism.

“There’s got to be a way we can do better,” English said of ongoing vandalism. “I think we owe our people that.”