As city parks crews work to reopen at least part of the Whitehorse Lions Splash Park, local residents are expressing their anger at the vandals who caused the damage which forced the city to close it Thursday morning.

“Terrible that because of some idiots vandalizing jag, no one can enjoy the water park on a hot, sunny day,” notes one of many comments on the city’s Facebook page.

“I hope the punks get caught (in) the act next time.”

Another states: “A few morons ruin a good thing for everyone else!”

The city announced Thursday the splash park next to the playground in Rotary Peace Park will be closed “until repairs can be completed” after crews came across the damage.

As parks supervisor Marc Boulerice said in an interview this morning, it appears that a rock or stone was thrown and broke off the end of the water cannon.

Because of the damage, water is unable to get to other spray features in the park.

Boulerice was able to eventually find the piece of the water cannon that broke off, but it can’t be repaired.

He’s currently pursuing a quote to have a new piece from a supplier shipped to the city. He’s hoping it can come by air in order to get it here as quickly as possible.

In the meantime, Boulerice said, crews have been instructed to pursue “Plan B” in reopening the splash park.

That involves diverting water so that at least a portion of the park can be reopened until the new piece arrives and is installed.

The site is a popular spot for youngsters, their families as well as daycares, day camps and others on warm days throughout the summer.

While many on social media are expressing alarm at the damage to the water park, it’s just one part of the damage that’s been caused by vandals in the downtown area over the last three weeks.

Boulerice said there seems to be a flood of vandalism in recent weeks.

Graffiti has turned up in numerous spots downtown (including the spray-painting of signs along the Millennium Trail, among others).

A window was smashed at the Frank Slim Building in Shipyards Park.

As well, a deck was set on fire near the waterfront.

Vandalism has also recently occurred at the Strickland and Ogilvie Street storm lifts, and a bus shelter was damaged in Copper Ridge.

Footage from a camera at the Frank Slim Building has been passed along to the RCMP and a police file opened, Boulerice said.

The city has also asked the police to expand their overnight presence downtown where possible.

The city’s bylaw department is also working to increase patrols in the area in light of the vandalism, Boulerice said, though shifts for bylaw officers end around midnight.

The damage over the three-week period has been estimated at $10,000.

As Boulerice pointed out, that is likely to rise as work continues to make repairs.

“Vandalism is an ongoing problem that affects all citizens,” the city said in a statement.

“City taxpayers and service users pay for infrastructure and equipment. It is a regrettable waste of resources when city assets are vandalized and need to be repaired or replaced.”

Along with the increased financial cost, there’s also the impact to staff.

Repairing damage caused by vandalism has to be done in addition to the work done every day by staff to maintain city parks and public areas.

Boulerice said crews are working hard to deal with the highest-priority areas first.

Anyone who sees vandalism is asked to report it online at www.whitehorse.ca/contact or to call Whitehorse RCMP at 667-5555 and to call 911 if there’s an incident in progress.