MELFORT — The City of Melfort is asking for public information after soccer fields at Spruce Haven Park were vandalized during Easter weekend by motorized vehicles driving over the surfaces.
On Sunday, April 4 there were two motorbikes spotted driving over the wet fields between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Signs are posted on the site explicitly forbidding the use of motor vehicles in the area.
Brent Lutz, Melfort’s director of development, planning and community relations said the city wants the community to be aware that the fields are a public space utilized by everyone.
“I think most the operators of these kinds of vehicles are respectful of the regulations and rules but sometimes you have someone who is thoughtless or they don’t care,” Lutz said.
“Our primary concern is that no further damage is done to the park area and that people are aware if they see someone do that.”
Lutz said the extent of the damages to the field and the costs associated to repair it aren’t known at this time.
The city is requesting that if motorized vehicles are seen in Spruce Haven Park to report it and if anyone has any information they would like to share about this incident to contact Leonard Whitney, Melfort’s facility operations manager.
Whitney can be reached at 306-921-4714.
If the culprits are found, Lutz said that there is a possibility that a restorative justice approach may be taken with the city.
“Certainly if there is a cost or something that can be done to repair the damage,” Lutz said. “Often there is a mechanism through the enforcement process whereby vandals can be involved in repairing the damage to gain a better appreciation of what they have done – that might be done.”
