Vandals force closure of Naperville skate park

The skate park at Naperville’s Frontier Sports Complex on the city’s south side will be closed until early next week to repair $1,000 in damage caused by vandals who burned graffiti into two of the ramps.

Naperville police Sgt. Gregg Bell said a caustic substance was used to write vulgarities on the surface of equipment in the park.

“This is a case of criminal damage to property where someone is pouring a substance that damages the surface of these items,” Bell said Friday. “Once the surface is burned, it takes a much greater amount of effort to make the property whole again because it will all need to be resurfaced.”

Naperville Park District Recreation Director Brad Wilson said park crews have been unable to remove the graffiti and a private contractor has been called to make the repairs. He hopes the contractor will be able to fix the ramps without replacing boards and surfaces but said it’s too early to tell.

Authorities said the vandals struck the park, located behind Neuqua Valley High School on 95th Street, sometime between Monday evening and Tuesday morning.

Wilson said security camera footage from the park has been submitted to police for their investigation.

In late 2010, Naperville’s Centennial Park Skate Facility was closed for several weeks after youths intentionally set fire to some dried leaves near the Riverwalk and the fire spread to the skateboard ramp and platform.

“We get occasional vandalism at both parks, but not all that often and certainly not to this degree,” Wilson said.

Anyone with information is being asked to call Naperville police at (630) 420-6666 or Naperville Crime Stoppers at (630) 420-6006.