‘Really causing havoc’: Nassau County parks face rising vandalism, making for potentially dangerous conditions

NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. – Park leaders raised concerns about a troubling trend of vandalism at Nassau County parks.

Officials reported incidents of profanity spray-painted on walls, sinks and soap dispensers ripped from their fixtures and even tire tracks left on playing fields.

On a sunny day at Tributary Regional Park, the beauty of the outdoors was scarred by signs of destruction. Patched circles left by vehicles doing donuts on the field served as a stark reminder of the damage inflicted on these community spaces.

“We had about four or five instances within about six or seven weeks of somebody getting access with a motorized vehicle and doing donuts, really causing some havoc for us,” Jay Robertson, director of the Nassau County Parks and Recreation Department, said.

Robertson said his team has managed to repair the damages with minimal disruption to athletic activities.

“Just to allow for a safe level playing field, we’re going to have a lasting impact on the aesthetic look,” Robertson said. “But you want to make sure that it’s safe and playable by the next time someone touches the field.”

In response to the donuts, the department has installed over 400 feet of fencing at Tributary Regional Park.

The department has faced a range of vandalism incidents, including broken toilets and sinks, which Robertson said has diverted resources away from maintaining the parks.

“It can be deflating because our time is really best served on the preventative side,” he said. “We operate a little over 200 acres of park land throughout the county footprint, and it takes our guys pretty much all their time and effort.”

He urged anyone involved in any of the incidents to take a different approach to enjoying the parks.

“Instead of finding some ways to be destructive, let’s try and find a way to be proactive and really help,” Robertson said. “If you want time to do stuff, we’ve got plenty of volunteer opportunities to get out into the park.”

The county has also taken to social media, asking residents to stay vigilant and report any suspicious behavior.

“Quality of life is a huge building block for the board of county commissioners, so having regularly available park space is a big part of that,” Robertson said.

In an extended post on Facebook, the county asked residents to be vigilant.

“If you see suspicious behavior, please report it right away to Nassau County Parks & Recreation at (904) 530-6120 or by calling the non-emergency line at the Sheriff’s Office at (904) 225-5174, particularly if it’s after hours (after 5pm or on weekends).” the post said. “Residents are reminded to not approach suspected vandals directly for safety purposes but are encouraged to get a description of any suspicious person(s) or vehicles and report this information right away.”