Nearly two months after “extreme” vandalism indefinitely closed the bathrooms at Lauridsen Skatepark — the largest skatepark in the country — the bathrooms are once again usable.
Vandalism on the evening of May 18 rendered the bathrooms unusable, with damage including broken stalls, toilets, and a changing table. The bathrooms were indefinitely closed, with portable toilets set up for temporary use while repairs were underway.
Jeffrey Krugler, 21, was arrested on May 30 after security cameras filmed him using landscaping bricks to vandalize the bathrooms. Charged with first-degree criminal mischief, a class C felony, Polk County has requested that Krugler pay $23,640 in restitution to cover the damage to the bathrooms. The cost is the estimated amount of damage, according to Jessica Lown, Polk County Conservation community outreach supervisor.
Plumb Supply Company donated industrial-grade, stainless steel fixtures, including toilets and sinks, to the park. After park employees installed the toilets, the bathrooms are ready for use beginning Tuesday, July 14.
“We are so incredibly grateful to the generous folks at Plumb Supply Company,” Lown said. “It’s an investment in our community and the safety and the health of our community, and we’re very grateful.”
In 2023, the 88,000-square-foot skatepark closed its restrooms for a week for vandalism repairs of the sinks and toilets. The skatepark also reduced the bathroom’s hours after the incident left thousands of dollars worth of damage.
At the bathroom’s reopening on Tuesday, Skate DSM had skaters pledge to “collectively work together to take care of the entire park,” according to a news release from Polk County Conservation.
“[Skate DSM] thinks it is important as an organization to show a visual sign of support that, like, ‘Hey, this is our park and we really care about this.’ And they are very invested in it in many ways,” Lown said.
The park’s bathrooms, which are open from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday through Sunday, are automatically locked after the park closes each night and monitored by surveillance cameras. Des Moines police also regularly monitor the park.
Kyle Werner is the breaking news and public safety reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@registermedia.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Lauridsen Skatepark bathrooms reopen after ‘extreme’ vandalism in May
Reporting by Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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By Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
