Mokena Park Hate Graffiti: 2 Juveniles Involved, Cops Say

MOKENA, IL — After hate graffiti was spray-painted at a Mokena park, two juveniles have provided written statements outlining their involvement, Mokena Police said in a release.

Local charges are pending against the two juveniles, according to police.

Prairie Ridge Park in Mokena was spray-painted with racist and "sexually oriented" graffiti, and was discovered March 20, police said.

The playground and the tennis courts of the park weren't touched with graffiti, but the bike path was spray-painted, and the baseball field and dugout was damaged, Park District Executive Director Greg Vitale told Patch. The basketball court at the park was the hardest hit with graffiti, and had to be sanded and completely repainted.

Mokena Police Department investigators found the spray paint can, identified where it was purchased from, and identified the juveniles, according to police.

In a release from police, Interim Police Chief Tim McCarthy commended the work of Mokena Police officers and detectives "to resolve this matter in such a short time and ensure the community that we did not have an insidious group in our midst but just two kids making a very serious mistake for which they will be held accountable."

Patch reached out to the department for more information about where the juveniles lived or their age; police would not provide that information as it could lead to identifying information about the juveniles.