Playgrounds Under Attack In Lufkin and Nacogdoches, Texas

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• Lufkin Park slides damaged
• Nacogdoches Park playground burns
• Are these just coincidences?

For the second time in as many weeks, we have another incident at a playground in Deep East Texas. This morning the City of Nacogdoches released information about the wooden playground structure at Maroney Park that is now closed due to damage from a fire overnight.

Nacogdoches Fire and Rescue responded to the fire around 2 AM on Friday, September 29, 2023, after being called in by a concerned citizen. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but playgrounds don't just spontaneously combust in the middle of the night.

The new Maroney Park pickleball courts, restroom, and Splashadoches Splash Pad were not affected by the fire. Splashadoches will remain open as usual this weekend before being closed for the season on Monday, October 2nd.

They ask that people using the park do not cross the barriers or caution tape that was put up after the fire was extinguished.

Slide Vandalized In Lufkin's Grace Dunne Richardson Park

Authorities in Lufkin believe that someone is taking a hammer to slides in their parks. The most recent incident involved a slide at Grace Dunn Richardson Park.

The slide was likely damaged on Thursday, September 21, 2023, to early that Friday. The park vandalism is not the first time that park slides in Lufkin have met a similar fate according to citizens eye witness accounts.

Not only is this act very disappointing for children who show up to use the slides at local parks, but it is also very costly for the city. Slides like the one vandalized at the park can cost more than $10K according to the city.

Anyone with information on who is responsible for these acts of vandalism in Lufkin and Nacogdoches should call their local police department or crime stoppers.