Vandals spray paint vulgarities in local park

August 10, 2011 - Vandals struck a Mt. Juliet park overnight Friday and spray painted vulgarities on much of the equipment and surfaces.

The Mt. Juliet Police Department has offered a reward of an unspecified amount for tips leading to a conviction related to the South Mt. Juliet Dog Park vandalism. The park is located on South East Springdale Drive. 

"Almost every surface and the toys were covered with an array of obscenities," said Mt. Juliet Parks Director Jay Camelli. "On the floor of the pavilion, on every sign, on the concrete tubes and play equipment."

A citizen alerted the MJPD about the vandalism, which Camelli said was most likely not gang related with just one or two "tags" intermingled with the obscenities. By Monday afternoon, most of the graffiti had been cleaned up. Camelli said the damage cost a couple hundred dollars to fix. However, he said the fact that the crime was senseless saddened him. He said the park is very popular.

"A lot of children use that park and people take their dogs there," he said. "It's sad to have that kind of damage to a place people take pride in. We have limited sources to put into the parks here, so it's discouraging to see something like this."

Managing Editor Laurie Everett can be reached at 754-6397 or by email at mtjulietnews@tds.net