BEND, OR -- Bend Parks and Recreation has seen a big increase in damage to public restrooms, including from drug use, "Finding drug paraphernalia, needles," according to Park Stewardship Manager Jeff Hagler. He says general vandalism has also gotten worse, "Either writing inappropriate stuff on the walls, to breaking the sink or the toilets, or just leaving it a mess. You know, those type of things."
He's has been with the district 10 years. "It’s slowly increased over that time," says Hagler, "We’ve always had some vandalism, some graffiti. But over, particularly this last year, it just seems like it’s really increased in both the amount of vandalism, and certainly the amount of drug use, and having to close restrooms because of that." According to district staff, there have been 35 incidents of "inappropriate restroom use" so far this year, which is an 84% increase over last year.
Hagler says reports come in from park custodians and stewards, but also from the public who discover sometimes dangerous drug paraphernalia. In addition to the public health and safety concern, the damage is expensive to fix. "It’s several thousand dollars this year, for sure," Hagler tells KBND News, "Two weeks ago, Alpenglow Park was vandalized. Damage was estimated at about $1,050 in materials and labor. Through this last summer, we had to close a number of restrooms to repair from vandalism." And, he says, those closures are happening more regularly, "We are starting to put up signs in front of the door saying ‘closed for 24 hours due to vandalism and drug use.’" Repairs range from pressure washing graffiti or drug residue to repairing damaged infrastructure.
Parents are urged to supervise children in public restrooms, to reduce the chance of touching an unknown substance or hazardous object. BPRD partners with Bend Police and Park Stewards check restrooms regularly.
Fourteen of Bend Park and Recreation’s 85 parks have permanent, full time restrooms. Hagler says the biggest problems have been at Pioneer, Juniper and McKay parks.
