Park vandalism an issue in Grand Coulee

Located along SR-174, Grand Coulee City Park, also known as Shane Proctor Park, has experienced incidents of vandalism this spring and the mayor would like citizens to keep an eye out for that type of destructive behavior and report it.

This spring, someone smashed the seats of the teeter-totters in the park, and in a separate incident someone crammed the toilet full of toilet paper, a plastic jug, and other garbage.

“It’s just a shame,” Mayor Paul Townsend told The Star on Tuesday. “I don’t even know what’s wrong with people. It makes me sick.”

Earlier this year, the city of Grand Coulee applied for a $162,000 grant from the Ephrata-based Paul Lauzier Foundation to make improvements to the park, including new playground equipment and playground surface, a half-court basketball court, and to make the park compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“We’re getting a grant to redo the equipment and is this what we’re going to face, these jerks coming in and destroying stuff?” Townsend asked.

He’s encouraging citizens, if they see or hear vandalism at the park, to contact the Grand Coulee Police right away at 509-633-1411. 

“It’s the citizens’ property,” he said. “Step up, and if something doesn’t look right, say something.”