Written as a letter to the editor of the Lincoln News Messenger, by Bill Plumb, Creek Week Coordinator.

When I arrived at Markham Park on Saturday, April 9th to prepare for the final day of the MRNC week-long Creek Week events I came upon some significant vandalism. Many of the park's newly installed sprinkler heads had been broken off. The watering system valves had been turned on creating a flood of water and mud. It is sad that such destruction  has already befallen the newly expanded Markham Park, even before it has officially been open to the public. I have been told that vandalism has increased significantly during the past year in Lincoln. I guess I should expect that with growth comes such an increase. Perhaps I can now suggest some methods for reducing vandalism beyond the obvious means of increased City patrols.

Neighbors can immediately report the sighting of vandalism. One of the neighbors in the Markham Park area reportedly saw kids on the evening before looking like they were messing with the sprinklers and attempting to get into the newly installed locked bathroom. It was not reported. Parents can talk to their kids about property destruction and the values of protecting their community assets. Vandalism has been an age-long problem and will probably continue to be so. But it might be lessened by some degree with increased parental and neighborly involvement. Let us all work together to protect our community assets or we might lose them altogether.