Arnold reopens Roosevelt Park as city officials grapple with how to handle vandalism

While a spate of vandalism prompted Arnold officials to close Roosevelt Park this month, it won’t deter the city from moving forward with plans to improve it, officials say.

The park, completely fenced in with gates on Drey and Rankin streets, was closed for about two weeks after teens dumped garbage cans, damaged the amphitheater and pavilion, and tried to tip over a portable toilet, Mayor Shannon Santucci said.

“We had to close it down until we could figure out a way to curb this vandalism,” she said.

The closure prompted calls from parents of younger children who were upset that the park was closed, Santucci said.

“I never wanted to close that park,” Councilman Aaron Moore said. But, he said, “it has to be safe.”

The teens also were crossing Drey Street and harassing workers at a convenience store, Santucci said, prompting the city to lock the gate on that end of the park before closing it entirely.

The doors to All Season Mini Mart display several signs warning that only two kids or teens are allowed in the store at a time and that customers’ faces cannot be covered. Those violating the rules will be banned, the signs warn.

Store co-owner Tom Tyborowski said young people have been unruly and disrespectful, and he has had some theft. He’s seen fights spill onto busy Drey Street.

“We try to limit it to so many at a time,” he said. “They won’t listen. They do what they want.”

Kids damaged and “terrorized” the park, Tyborowski said.

“Nobody really knows the answer. The answer now is close the park,” he said. “It’s a shame because the people who abide by the rules get punished.”

The vandalism started the last week of May just before the June 2 Rockin’ Roosevelt concert, Santucci said. City crews spent hours getting the park back in order for the annual event.

None of the vandals have been identified or charged, the mayor said.

She has asked city police to walk through the park hourly when possible.

Moore said the city is looking for residents willing to volunteer as park monitors. However, during a recent council meeting when Moore showed off donated vests the city has for volunteer park monitors, it was clear from the audience’s reaction that there were no takers.

A paid park monitor quit after being threatened, Santucci said.

“It’s a community park, and I’m hoping people will want to step up and volunteer,” Moore said. “It’s not just leadership. It takes all of us to do our part to make sure our community park is free of vandalism.”

Moore said the park monitor had been punched in the face.

“We surely don’t want to put an armed guard in there,” he said. “That’s extreme.”

Moore said the vandalism won’t jeopardize plans for improving the park, which the city has grant money to pay for. They include putting in pickleball courts and a full basketball court and a new pavilion.

If grant money allows, Santucci said they also want to resurface the play area at the Drey Street end of the park and get new equipment such as swings.

Moore said he would like to get the basketball and pickleball courts in this year, and the pavilion next year, but will do whichever comes first.

The park now is open from dawn to dusk Wednesdays through Sundays, with access only from Rankin Street. It is closed Mondays and Tuesdays to allow for maintenance.

The park will remain open “as long as we can maintain it without them destroying everything,” Santucci said.

“At the end of the day, it’s a community park for everyone,” Moore said. “We can’t let a few vandalizing the park mess it up for everyone. We want it to be an attraction for people from Arnold, New Kensington and surrounding areas and not let that deter us from moving forward with plans to make it even better.”