BARNSDALL, Okla. -- Vandalism has plagued a local point of pride for a community in Green Country.
For the past two years, town leaders in Barnsdall said they have kept paying to repair damage to a park near Sixth and Main Streets.
"It's just frustration that we're spending money we raise through different events to try and building things, and then some people have no respect for it just whatsoever," Claud Rosendale said. "All they want to do is tear it up."
Rosendale serves as the first vice president of the Barnsdall Chamber of Commerce. He said the vandals have ripped down brochure holders at the visitor center gazebo several times over the years. Someone also damaged what is called the memorial recognition wall, where people have paid to have bricks placed with their loved one's names on them.
Some of the damage has been minimal, but Rosendale said the expense of constantly having to make the repairs is starting to add up.
"Every time I see it, it's just the added frustration," he said, "but to say it's a complete surprise, no, it's not."
The town is now considering the addition of security cameras to the area, especially now that construction is almost complete on a new outdoor stage. The added cost of survellience, however, may affect future development, Rosendale said.
"That's another pretty big chunk of money," he said about the security cameras, "that we're hesitant to want to spend that way, but we may have to. We'd rather to be able to put in some equipment and things being constructed here."
So far no one has been able to catch whoever's causing the vandalism, so town leaders expect to keep paying for repairs because they're unsure what might be damaged next.
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.
Download our free app for Apple and Android and Kindle devices.
Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News, Severe Weather, School Closings, Daily Headlines and Daily Forecasts.
