'Disgusting': Parents hit out after new playground 'ruined' days before school holidays
Parents in WA have vented their anger after a brand new play area was set on fire just one week after opening in time for the school holidays.
The state-of-the-art play area at the new Alkimos Vista development, 40km north of Perth, which was part of a $3 million park development, was vandalised over the weekend following its grand unveiling on April 6.
One of the slides connected to a two-storey play structure was destroyed by fire while significant damage was caused to the structure itself, meaning site management had no choice but to cordon off a sizeable section of the area.
A swing and barbecue area had also been damaged.
Furious mother Kirsty Williams told Yahoo News Australia the “disgusting” damage was extremely upsetting for the community due to the site’s popularity.
“[I’m] very, very annoyed,” she said.
“We were there on Wednesday and the kids loved it. It’s very upsetting for this to happen right before the school holidays.”
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services confirmed to Yahoo News Australia firefighters were called to the park off Marmion Avenue over a small fire in the play area about 6am on Sunday morning.
Site management informed crews they believed the start of the fire was “deliberate” and estimated around $5000 worth of damage was caused.
While local police had no new information on the incident, officers had been called to the area on Saturday after reports of a disturbance involving several teens.
One mother said a “gang of youths” on dirt bikes were present in the area on Saturday, “scaring” the children present.
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WA Police’s Neighbourhood Watch for the area took to Facebook to appeal for information.
“Any information regarding the destruction of one of our new playgrounds is urgently needed ,” they wrote.
Corey Skelton, who worked on the construction of the play area, said it will now likely be out of use “for months”.
Anyone with information over the incident can call 131444.
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