The Patterson Park pool welcomed back visitors on Sunday after a disturbing incident of vandalism occurred the previous day, which involved contamination of the water with feces. This event marks the fifth such occurrence at city-owned pools this summer.
According to Erin Smith, a spokesperson for the city's recreation and parks department, the pool suffered significant damage beyond mere aesthetics. Several drain grates had been removed and tossed into the water, necessitating extensive cleanup efforts.
"Our team followed established health and safety protocols, including removing debris, thoroughly cleaning the pool, and completing the necessary water treatment procedures before reopening," Smith stated. "The safety of our visitors is our top priority, and we appreciate the community’s patience as our staff worked to restore the pool to safe operating conditions."
City pools officially opened for the summer season on May 23. Since then, there have been five reported vandalism incidents at various locations, with the Patterson Park pool notably vandalized twice in a single week in early June.
One concerning trend associated with these incidents is known as pool hopping, where individuals trespass to swim after hours. This practice poses significant risks; for instance, last summer, a man nearly drowned at a closed neighborhood pool, prompting a swift response from Baltimore Police Department flight officers.
In an effort to curb this behavior, city officials have installed surveillance cameras at pool facilities and posted signs warning against trespassing. However, these measures have not effectively deterred individuals from continuing to engage in this dangerous activity.
Reported by HarborBeat based on The Baltimore Banner (source).
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