Vandals may see playground closed to public

Carterton Palycentre targeted by vandals. Karin Bosch and daughter Ivy, 18 months, with the broken play kitchen and slashed screens. WAG 16Dec15 - VANDALISED: Karin Bosch with daughter Ivy, be

A community playground may be closed to the public after vandals caused thousands of dollars worth of damage last weekend.

Just days before the Carterton Playcentre's Christmas party and the last session of the year, vandals have destroyed several items of outdoor equipment, including a climbing frame, plastic curtains and a children's kitchen.

Carterton Playcentre president Kirsten Earnshaw said it was likely the vandals were teenagers who sometimes hung out in the playground and the curtained area beside the building after hours.

The curtains that were used to provide shelter for the children's outdoor area had been torn in several places, and could cost around $1000 to repair, she said.

Total repair costs could be in the thousands, and came as the centre was fundraising for extensive repair work and an building upgrade.

"It's distressing for our families and unsafe for our children but particularly galling when we are holding our Christmas party here this Thursday and have invited the community to join our celebrations ... it's not really what you want to be focusing on."

Last weekend's vandalism was not the first, but had been "pretty brutal", and had left parents feeling angry and disappointed, Mrs Earnshaw said.

The Playcentre gate was usually left unlocked so that young families could use the playground when the centre was closed.

Playcentre mum Karin Bosch said the centre would be increasing its security, installing CCTV cameras and possibly locking the gate to try to prevent further vandalism.

"It's a real shame. We are just so busy fundraising for the upgrade and then to have to come in and see this -- it's just disappointing ... if they [vandals] are going to do this, we have to do something like put a lock on the gate."

The centre had liked to keep the playground open for families in the community, Mrs Bosch said. "We love that, because we are a community place and if we lock the gates it will stop that, which is a real shame."

Children at the centre on Monday were upset as they could not play on the equipment and had been looking at the broken toys saying "broken, broken", she said. Members would be talking to police, council and nearby residents about ways to make the area more secure.