On Friday, a Westside park was affected by vandalism . Visitors over the last few days might have noticed multiple missing and damaged trees while enjoying Lawrence Park.
Some daily parkgoers, like Vanessa Ybarra, tell me they’re unsure about why someone would damage several trees at Lawrence Park, 6777 S. Mark Road. Half of the damaged trees needed to be cut down to stumps because of what happened.
“It’s sad because usually the guys here keep it nice and it’s very calm and safe,” Ybarra said.
Ybarra says she runs at Lawrence Park daily and adds that she’s never noticed anything suspicious. Maintenance crews are on-site at parks until the early afternoon, making relationships with those who frequent it.
“I have to be aware now of my surroundings,” said Ybarra.
Callie Norton, community engagement coordinator for Pima County Parks and Recreation, says six trees in the eastern parking lot were damaged.
Pima County Parks and Recreation “It appears that they used their body weight to break off a lot of the branches and even completely remove some of the trees,” Norton said.