Fairground's field faces vandalism

BONNERS FERRY — Between the evening of April 3 and the morning of April 4, a driver redecorated the Boundary County Fairground field and parking lot with tire tracks and ruts.

Part of the fairground fencing was removed on the eastern parking lot and deep tire tracks pointed in the direction of the fairground’s field. The disturbance to the grounds was focused on between the tennis court and the “keep off grass” sign. The looping tire tracks upturned large patches of grass.

Tim Petty, maintenance for Parks and Recreation found the vandalism in the morning of April 4.

Petty said that he had just mowed the grass and cleaned up the field from leaves. Now some spots will require more dirt and re-seeding and reworking which will cost more time and money.

There were other deep tire tracks in the parking lot in shapes of “cookies” or “donuts” suggesting someone was driving at a high speed due to the depth of the grooves.

Petty said that he will have to do even more work on the parking lot, which he had just finished doing due to seasonal melt.

Later that day, around 2:30 p.m., Petty was on a tractor working on the infield of the baseball field when he heard honking and then witnessed a white truck drive into the fairground field and around the outfield, Petty said.

He said he believed that he was being targeted since the driver of the vehicle honked at him several times as if to taunt him.

On the morning of April 5, Petty found more tire tracks on the west side of the field and noted that the vehicle came from the direction of the Exhibit hall and drove out of one of the exits, avoiding the exit that has a steel wire.

“He was well informed on the fairgrounds and knew where all the exits were,” Perry said.

Bonners Ferry Police Chief Brian Zimmerman said that the individual responsible had been apprehended on April 4. He confessed to Bonners Ferry Sgt. Willie Cowell that he made two trips to the fairgrounds field.

Zimmerman said that the style of the driving was consistent between the trips.

Zimmerman said regarding the vandal: “He has been given the opportunity to make it right by following through with a commitment of volunteer service at the fairgrounds. If he does not follow through with it, he will be criminally charged,” Zimmerman said.

Nancy Schaffer, sports director for Boundary County Parks and Recreation said that the tire tracks on the fields were at least 300-400 feet long.

Parks and Recreation work on a limited budget with funds from the county, donations, grants and sports sponsorship, Schaffer said. Grant money does not go toward maintenance.

Perry said that vandalism such as this is theft.

“It is stealing from people who want improvements at the fairgrounds,” he said.

“It is a setback,” Schaffer said. “We wanted to improve the fields this year, but now we have to do repairs.”

Parks and Recreation will have to make repairs quickly with Little League baseball starting April 14. The damage to the outfield will have to be repaired for the season to go smoothly.

Schaffer said that since starting her role in November, she has seen a lot of young drivers speeding through the fairgrounds and spinning into donuts in the gravel parking lot.

“It has been an ongoing problem that hasn’t been addressed,” she said.

With the Preschool being on Kootenai street just west of the fairgrounds, Perry has been concerned for the safety of the young children when going out to recess to the playground at the fairgrounds. He fears that a young driver will be speeding through the fairgrounds and hit one of the young children.

“In winter, kids come out on their lunch break and drive donuts in the parking lot,” he said. “It is a free-for-all.”

On Friday April 8, at 10 a.m. there will be a community cleanup party for the fairgrounds field. Participants are welcome to bring wheelbarrows, shovels and rakes if able. All are welcome and encouraged to come help as the timeline for the start of Little League draws near.