18-05-2025
Police: Charges expected after vandalism in Oak Grove Park
WEST MEAD TOWNSHIP — Burnouts, donuts and other forms of vehicular mayhem that occurred last weekend in Oak Grove Park are expected to result in a criminal charge next week, according to West Mead Township Police Department.
A 19-year-old man who resides in the township will face a charge of criminal mischief with restitution, Chief Chip Brown said Friday. The charge will likely be filed by Thursday, Brown added, and the grading of the charge — whether it is considered a summary, misdemeanor or felony offense — will depend on the cost of restitution, which is still being determined.
Brown declined to identify the suspect prior to the charge being filed but said he was driving a full-size dark-colored pickup truck when the damage occurred.
'He had gone down into Oak Grove Park, spun cookies, did burnouts, sort of ripped up the driveway and parking areas that are gravel and then spun out and left black marks out onto Oak Grove Avenue, leaving the park,' Brown said.
Supervisor John Shartle, who is also the township's roadmaster, was more blunt in describing the incident at the Board of Supervisors work session this week.
'The place got all tore to hell over the weekend,' Shartle said, estimating that 25 to 30 tons of crushed stone would be needed for repairs.
'There's a little bit of damage to the yard, but the most damage is that everything that was in the driveway is in the yard, so you can't even mow it,' he said. 'The No. 1 pavilion was just covered with stones on the inside, on the tables, everywhere.'
Oak Grove Park has been the focus of numerous upgrades paid for by township funds, state grants and private donations from residents over the past decade. A playground installed at the 28-acre park cost about $80,000 and restroom improvements cost another $20,000. Signage and fencing have also been upgraded. At the Tuesday work session this week, the secretary-treasurer offered the latest update on improvements, saying that remaining funds from a local grant would be used to add a sign at the entrance to the park.
'There's been a lot of time, money and resources from the township itself put into upgrading and making the park a family friendly and safe area,' Brown said. 'To have somebody go in and just carelessly tear it up for their enjoyment…'
'I can see their frustration when this type of thing happens,' he added, referring to the Board of Supervisors.
It's not the first time Oak Grove Park has been the site of vandalism, though previous incidents involved all-terrain vehicles rather than trucks.
In early 2023, the supervisors' frustration led them to call for help from residents after the township fielded repeated complaints of ATV users damaging playgrounds, mulched beds, gravel drives and other parts of the park over the course of 18 months.
