There’s shock in one Central Coast city, after hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage was caused to a park’s children’s play structure by what a top city official is calling an act of vandalism.
Vandals targeted a popular play structure used by kids. Santa Maria firefighters were called to the city’s Armstrong Park just before one a.m. Monday by reports of a fire. They found a huge play structure burning.
The cause of the blaze is still under investigation, but City Recreation and Parks Director Alex Posada is calling it a level of vandalism they haven’t seen in to decades. The fire caused an estimated $200,000 in damage, and Posada says they don’t have money to replace the damaged 60 foot long structure.
The steel framed structure is designed for five to 12 year olds, and has stairs, walkways, ladders bridges, and slides. No arrests have been made. The structure is closed, but the park remains open. The city is accepting donations towards a replacement structure.
