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The bathrooms are located in a building next to the park, located along Highway 20.
Public Services Director Kim Clymire said the suspects attempted to burn down both the mens' and womens' bathrooms by sticking paper on the walls, stuffing it in the drains and setting it on fire.
Gary Nylander, owner of the Red and White Market next door, sold the restroom building and the land for the park to the county. Clymire said Nylander and his staff have helped secure the restroom facility at night, which has kept it undamaged.
However, he said that on Tuesday night the bathroom wasn't locked due to an oversight, and that gave the vandals their opportunity.
The restrooms didn't burn, said Clymire. However, “We have a lot of smoke damage and we're going to have to repaint,” he said.
Clymire added, “This person who tried to burn it down also took a magic marker and drew hearts on the wall.”
He said the restrooms will remain closed while they're pressure washed, repainted and repaired, which he said should take until the latter part of next week to complete.
About two weeks ago, someone broke a mirror that had been in one of the bathrooms, said Clymire.
The Nylander Park restrooms have only been open since November, he noted.
Clymire said the sheriff's office has indicated it will conduct extra patrol of the area. In addition, Clymire said he's trying to get the word out to area residents.
“We're trying to step up the community patrol as well,” he said.
This is the most significant incident for the county's parks recently, said Clymire. The other issues have involved some graffiti tagging at parks around the lake, and recent complaints at Nylander Park of men sitting and drinking 12-packs of beer at the playground where children are trying to play.
“They're not making it comfortable with the parents to use the parks,” said Clymire, who explained his staff has been approached by concerned parents.
With the Parks Department now in its rush to prepare for the summer tourism season, Clymire said
they're having to set aside time from getting lawns mowed to repair the restroom facilities.
Anyone who spots vandals at work should call 911; those with information who want to leave it anonymously can call the sheriff's anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.
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