COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The City of Coldwater is still waiting for an estimate on repairs to the tennis courts at Heritage Park that were damaged by fireworks the evening of July 4.
City Manager Keith Baker says while the courts have a concrete base, it was a special coating and paint on top of it that were damaged. He says there is surveillance video that shows some fountain style fireworks being set off on the metal bleachers around the courts, then several fountains and sparklers being set off on the courts themselves. It appears the heat from the fountains burned the court surface in several spots.
The city spent $75,000 resurfacing all eight public courts last year used by the Coldwater Community Schools tennis teams.
Baker says while they haven’t identified them, the video shows the culprits were younger kids, and no adults were seen in the footage.
He says while he obviously is disappointed with the damage done at the courts, he also wants to raise awareness with the hope of ending vandalism that has plagued the city recently. Damage has been done to signage at the disc golf course at Heritage Park, the fire pit area at the Four Corners Park, and restrooms at Parkhurst Park and the city’s youth baseball diamonds.
No mention of the evening thrashings of JayCee park. We don’t matter