Vandals target Rexburg parks

Rexburg city officials say fun and games are leading to the destruction of some parks in town. Parks Director Greg McInnes said people are taking advantage of a nice area.

“It happens about once a month,” said McInnes.

City officials said people are coming to the park with spray paint and flour. They believe that these vandals are taking nylon stockings or socks and filling them with flour before running around hitting each other, as some sort of “sock game” or “flour tag.”

As the vandalism is an ongoing issue, city officials said they are no longer surprised when they see it. Layers of flour smother the grass and trees are usually painted, but after the vandals spray painted the park grounds with what seemed to be a giant Twister board, McInnes said enough was enough.

“That was kind of the straw that broke the camel’s back,” he said.

It may seem like harmless fun, but these games are killing the grass on city property, an offense that the city of Rexburg and police are taking seriously.

“If a person is charged (with vandalism) then it will probably be a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the issue,” said City Clerk Blair Kay.

Although city officials know who is committing these crimes, they said they are not pressing charges at this time. It will be a different story if the acts continue.