Kid's skating at the new park that was vandalised on Tuesday night- a car was burnt. Photo: Carlos Furtado
burnt out car at skate park in Freeman Street, Lalor Park
PARENTS and their young children have flocked back to the new $250,000 skate park in defiance of some vandals who burnt a stolen car at the ramp in Lalor Park last week.
They praised Blacktown Council for letting them return by quickly removing the burnt car last Wednesday morning and cordoning off the damaged area at Freeman Street.
A Blacktown Council spokeswoman said they would monitor the situation in the coming months and review security arrangements at the skate park facility.
The ward councillor, Leo Kelly, two park-committee volunteers, Danielle Rawnsley-Galistan and Meg Bell (who fought for the establishment of the facility opened only about four weeks ago), and a parent, David Charleton, are very angry about the vandalism.
They were adamant the vandalism was the work of strangers or visitors rather than locals who have been fighting for the recreational park for several years.
Cr Kelly called the hoodlums scumbags saying they should be caught and locked up by police for disgracefully depriving young residents of the facility.
Ms Rawnsley-Galistan, also a community artist in an anti-graffiti campaign in the area, said the skate park was very popular with the community since it opened.
"We're very pleased many parents have brought back their kids so soon after the incident in defiance of the shameless vandals," she said.
Ms Bell, who works at the nearby Common Groundz Community Cafe, said the incident shouldn't cause residents to surrender the park to the vandals.
"We can fight them by using the skate park at all times," she said. "Such a facility will help bring together Lalor Park residents."
Blacktown police appealed to anyone with information about the incident to call 9671 9199.