Prairie Ridge Park Hit With Hateful Graffiti: Park District

MOKENA, IL — Prairie Ridge Park in Mokena was covered in hateful graffiti messages and symbols over the weekend, Greg Vitale, Executive Director for Mokena Community Park District, told Patch.

"[It was] basically everywhere in the park," Vitale said, adding that the spray-paint graffiti included messages and symbols of hate based on race and sexuality.

The park district shared on a message on its social media stating it "strongly denounces the hateful graffiti that took place over the weekend in one of our parks."

Vitale said park district staff spent the better half of the weekend cleaning up the hateful messages.

"The basketball courts were the hardest hit," Vitale said, adding that staff trying power washing the graffiti, but it wouldn't wash off. Staff had to sand down the court, and it was repainted and restriped.

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.

Vitale estimated all the damage would cost $15,000. The park does not have video cameras or surveillance.

The park is located in the Prairie Ridge subdivision, and has access to the Old Plank Road Trail.

Interim Police Chief Tim McCarthy said the matter remains an active investigation, and two detectives have been assigned to the case. Officers have also canvassed the neighborhood and searched for evidence.