Baltimore's Patterson Park Pool reopened after vandalism, fecal contamination
Patterson Park Pool, one of Baltimore City's public pools, was back open on Sunday after staff found feces in the water, and multiple drain grates were ripped off and thrown into the water.
Baltimore City Recreation and Parks said the pool was vandalized for the second time this summer season, forcing the community pool to close on Saturday.
The city said its initial assessment determined that the damage appeared to be primarily cosmetic. However, the full inspection showed the extent of the vandalism and the cleanup required before reopening the pool safely.
A recreation and parks spokesperson said debris was removed, the contamination was addressed, and the necessary cleaning and water treatment procedures were conducted.
"The health and safety of our visitors is our top priority," a rec. and parks spokesperson said. "We appreciate the community's patience as we worked to restore the pool to safe operating conditions.
Baltimore City Rec. and Parks provided some photos of the vandalism.
On Saturday, June 6, Patterson Park Pool closed after trash and feces were found in the pool and graffiti was found on the property's walls.
Following the incident, the pool underwent mandatory maintenance, including a multi-hour filtration process, to restore its system.
According to WJZ's media partner, The Banner, the incidents are part of a pool-hopping trend where young people trespass and jump into public pools after hours.
Recent city pool vandalism incidents
Baltimore Police say they've responded to at least 12 trespassing and vandalism reports at seven different city pools over the last couple of months.
On June 19, glass was found in the pool at Walter P. Carter Recreation Center, forcing Baltimore Rec. and Parks to shut it down for draining and sweeping.
Following the incident, WJZ spoke to nearby residents who said they weren't surprised to see the continual acts of vandalism.
"I have seen kids throw trash in here before. It's not really surprising seeing glass will be in there next." Simeon Guy said.
Nearly a month later, on July 6, trash, rocks, glass, and even socks were found in both pools at the Towanda Recreation Center in Northwest Baltimore.
In response, Baltimore Rec. and Parks say they've added additional cameras and off-hours security personell at some pools to enhance security.
They are requesting that community members call 911 immediately if they witness any suspicious activity at city pools after hours.