Vandals douse slides, swings with motor oil at Springboro park

City asks residents to report any suspicious activity.
Vandals pour motor oil down slides and douse swings and play areas at North Park in Springboro over the weekend, city officials announced Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. Residents are urged to report suspicious activity. CONTRIBUTED

Vandals pour motor oil down slides and douse swings and play areas at North Park in Springboro over the weekend, city officials announced Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. Residents are urged to report suspicious activity. CONTRIBUTED

Vandals poured motor oil down slides and doused swings and play areas over the weekend at North Park in Springboro.

All playground equipment has been cleaned and all parts of the park have reopened following the vandalism at the 39-acre park at 195 Tamarack Trail, said Maureen Russell Hodgson, community relations director.

Crews were hard at work since Monday cleaning the equipment, with parts of the playgrounds cordoned off. The portable restrooms affected were replaced Tuesday, she said.

Vandals pour motor oil down slides and douse swings and play areas at North Park in Springboro over the weekend, city officials announced Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. Residents are urged to report suspicious activity. CONTRIBUTED

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“First nice weekend of 2025 and vandals poured motor oil down three slides and targeted two of our temporary restroom units, creating a hazardous situation for children and causing damage to our facilities,” the city posted on social media.

Photos posted by the city showed nearly a dozen empty containers of motor oil left by the vandals. There were nine by the playgrounds and another two elsewhere in the park.

The city just removed security cameras during demolition for the new restroom facility and is urging residents to report any unusual activity at the park around the playground or portable restroom areas to the Springboro Police Department at 937-748-0611.

Vandals pour motor oil down slides and douse swings and play areas at North Park in Springboro over the weekend, city officials announced Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. Residents are urged to report suspicious activity. CONTRIBUTED

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