By Jeanette Pauer
contributing writer
Meadowbrook Park experiences vandalism
Share
Tweet
On Friday, Feb. 16, Tehachapi Valley Recreation and Park District discovered extensive vandalism at Meadowbrook Park.
Meadowbrook is a regional park that is owned and maintained by the Tehachapi Valley Recreation and Park District. TVRPD has 11 full-time employees who maintain over 110 acres of parks, each park unique and one of a kind. Additionally, they provide youth athletic programs and family events for the Tehachapi community.
Corey Torres, manager of TVRPD, was disappointed by the malicious vandalism and reached out to Greg Garrett, manager of the City of Tehachapi, to see if they experienced vandalism. Garrett volunteered assistance, providing two employees from the City of Tehachapi Public Works Department, with chemicals and equipment. The vandalism was extensive enough that it took six people working for 8 hours to remove all of the paint, Several buildings will need to be repainted this spring from the damage.
"We are blessed to have such a strong partnership with the city. Their willingness to lend a helping hand during our time of need is truly commendable. We were able to get the park cleaned up within a day as a team," Torres said.
Parks are an integral part of our community and we are fortunate to have them throughout Tehachapi. Meadowbrook Park is used every day by the entire Tehachapi community for sports, walking paths, the dog park and so much more. Parks are expensive and labor-intensive to maintain and as a result, several cities in California have lost their parks and have replaced trees and grass with asphalt jungle gyms. Parks play an important role in our economic stability and health.
"When it comes to attracting and maintaining businesses in a community, public parks play a vital role. Green spaces that are manicured and maintained attract residents and business, increase revenue for cities, spur private investment and increase job opportunities," said Clare Scotti, president of the Greater Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce.
According to the National Recreation and Park Association, "84% of U.S. adults seek high-quality parks and recreation when choosing a place to live." As a community, we need to protect and nurture our park, vandalism of any kind cannot be tolerated. If you see anything or have questions please contact TVRPD at (661) 822-5228.
