Recreation Ball Park in Visalia targeted by vandals

VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) -- The shattered windows on the side of Recreation Ball Park in Visalia are hard to miss.

Vince Elizondo, Visalia Parks and Recreation Director said, "It's not a nice thing to look at, broken windows, and you know we are trying to lease it out. It's difficult to lease a space if the potential tenant always sees windows that are broken."

The city has dealt with numerous vandalism hits to the windows over the last five years. Just recently, the home to the minor league baseball team "Visalia Rawhide" was hit twice within the last five days.

Sgt. Amy Watkins with the Visalia Police Department said, "Since the ballpark renovation in 2009 where these specific windows have been introduced, we have had sporadic bouts of vandalism."

Investigators think someone with a BB gun is targeting the tempered glass windows, and doing it out of view of security cameras.

"We're concerned about the continual replacement costs for replacing those windows," said Elizondo. "It's thousands of dollars once you get into replacing it 2-3-4 times so we're concerned about the cost and we want it to stop."

In fact the city's spent more than $10,000.00 on replacements since the windows were initially installed.

Officials hope someone in the neighborhood comes forward with information about any vandalism they may have seen.

Sgt. Watkins added, "This is one of those situations where we do need some assistance from the community, especially from that general location."

"We want it to stop so hopefully whoever the perpetrators are they get caught and it stops," said Elizondo.

The windows are part of rooms that are sometimes used as classrooms, but they've never been shot out while people have been inside.