Offensive playground graffiti under investigation in Glenside, Pennsylvania, police say

Many in the Abington Township community are calling antisemitic and racist graffiti found in the Glenside Weldon Playground concerning and cowardly.

"I was horrified and I was alarmed," said Samina Daurov, who brings her children and grandchildren to the playground. "We have to really talk to our children and explain to them what those things mean and how they affect other people."

Police say they were notified Saturday morning after several swastikas were found spray-painted on some of the playground equipment and on the blacktop, and the N-word was painted on the playground sign.  Police say they also found toilet paper in a tree, as well as beer cans and trash in the grass, and they believe the vandalism is likely the work of teenagers.

"We do believe this is an isolated incident. We have no other calls for this type of activity in our township in any recent timeline," said Abington Township Police Sgt. Troy Hummel.

Police say they have not ruled out the graffiti could possibly be a hate crime.

"This was very devastating. Our community's heart is hurting right now, but the best of us came out," Krystn Kuckelman said.

Kuckelman is the president of the Glenside Civic Association, and she helped design the playground. She says after word spread a team of volunteers mobilized quickly. They brought cleaning supplies and worked together to remove the offensive messages.

"This is a loving and welcoming community, and this type of behavior and graffiti is not going to be tolerated," Kuckelman said.

The Abington Township Human Relations Commission said it strongly condemns the vandalism. In a statement officials said in part, "Hate may have been written in one of our public spaces, but it does not define that space, and it does not define Abington."

Kuckelman said she's now hoping something good can come out of this disturbing experience.

"We're going to have a strong community conversation about how we can be there for our community members because there's a lot of people hurting right now," she said.

Abington School Board President Melissa Mowry in a post on Facebook described the vandalism "BS of the most craven, cowardly, and despicable kind."   

Police say they have received several tips, and they are following up on leads. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Abington Township Police Department at 267-536-1100.