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After repeated vandalism, Oak Harbor parks board debates restroom access, seasonal hours and cameras
Summary
Following repeated vandalism at Fort Nugent restrooms, staff recommended removing partitions and discussed seasonal park hours, timed locks and camera options; members urged a council report on repair costs and enforcement options.
Parks staff told the board that vandalism at Fort Nugent restrooms has been recurring and that partitions between urinals were removed after recent damage. The board reviewed options including seasonal park hours, timed electronic locks, and security cameras.
"Fort Nugent got hit again over the weekend, and the dividers between the urinals just absolutely got destroyed," Speaker 2 reported. Staff said some restroom doors are on electronic locks and that the department could program them seasonally or to operate with light sensors. Board members debated changing park hours from the current 5 a.m.–10 p.m. year‑round to a seasonal schedule or dusk‑to‑dawn in winter months.
Members discussed security-camera options and connectivity challenges. Speaker 14 said the town lacks fiber in parts of the system and suggested a closed‑loop camera system with a local hard drive as a lower‑cost alternative; others suggested exploring Starlink or other wireless options to avoid running fiber to remote parks.
Several members emphasized balancing access and deterrence. "Good people shouldn't be punished for bad choices of other individuals," Speaker 3 said, urging solutions that avoid locking out legitimate users. Staff agreed to prepare a report for council detailing vandalism incidents, repair costs and possible security investments so the city can weigh options and funding implications.
