It was Friday night, June 16, the first night of the three-day district championships hosted by the Langley Fastball Association at Noel Booth Park in Langley’s Brooks wood neighbourhood, when association president Jeff Clegg heard the sound of a motorcycle revving up on one of the fields.
With the last evening games completed, the night lights had been turned off.
“We were just wrapping up,” Clegg told the Langley Advance Times.
“It was probably 10 o’clock at night.”
Alerted by the noise, Clegg and some other volunteers surprised what appeared to be a teenage rider on a dirt bike. They managed to chased the rider off before more than minimal damage could be inflicted to the field.
While they pursuing the biker, Clegg managed to get some pictures with his phone, and has posted them online, suggesting some parents who have a kid with a dirt bike should ask what they were doing that evening. He was unable to get the licence plate number.
It is, by Clegg’s estimate, at least the sixth incident of vandalism at the park, so far this year.
“There’s been a ton, actually,” Clegg commented, including an incident where a rider rode onto a field while some girls were practising and made an obscene gesture before he left; one where a motorcycle invaded a field during the association’s opening day ceremonies; and a Good Friday weekend trashing of the two westernmost baseball diamonds, by what is believed to be a pickup truck, leaving deep ruts and rendering them unusable for three weeks.
READ ALSO: VIDEO: Locks were cut to use vehicle to trash ball diamonds at Langley’s Noel Booth Park
There has also been an incident of anti-Semitic graffiti.
Clegg called it “easily the worst” season for vandalism.
“I think we’re at a point where [some] people just think it’s okay,” a frustrated Clegg declared.
“I’m just so done with the vandalism and the recklessness.”
Most of the repairs will be shouldered by Township taxpayers, because municipal crews end up fixing the damage.
However, the association has run up costs as well, including $1,000 to fix a damaged fence, money Clegg noted comes out of funds meant for players.
“It’s been a pretty tough season,” Clegg commented.
The latest incident has been reported to police.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Langley RCMP at 604-532-3200.
To leave an anonymous tip, contact CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or visit www.solvecrime.ca.
READ ALSO: VIDEO: Artist eradicates anti-Semitic graffiti from mural at Langley Baseball clubhouse
Have a story tip? Email: dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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