Idaho seeks info after ‘terrible case of vandalism,’ extensive damage at state park

Elizabeth Walsh, Idaho Statesman

HAGERMAN (Idaho Statesman) — The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation seeks thief gathering much accusation aft nationalist bathrooms astatine a authorities parkland successful confederate Idaho were vandalized Saturday morning.

The authorities agency connected societal media posted photos of smashed up mirrors, toilets and urinals astatine nan Malad Gorge and Niagara Springs units of Thousand Springs State Park, located successful Hagerman, adjacent Twin Falls, and said nan parkland “experienced a unspeakable lawsuit of vandalism.” Five toilets and 2 sinks were damaged astatine nan Niagara unit, and 1 urinal and each mirrors were damaged astatine nan Malad Gorge unit, Parks and Recreation spokesperson Chelsea Chambers wrote successful an email to nan Idaho Statesman.

The section is uncertain really overmuch nan repairs will cost, but building crews are moving to cleanable up and make repairs while they hold to bid caller mirrors, sinks and urinals, Chambers said.

“Attacks for illustration these connected our nationalist lands, vandalism astatine your Idaho authorities parks has an contiguous and semipermanent antagonistic effect connected nan park’s expertise to run for nan remainder of nan year,” Chambers told nan Statesman. ”Every azygous dollar counts erstwhile you’re serving astir 7 cardinal parkland visitors.”

Toilets, mirrors, sinks, and a urinal were destroyed. | Courtesy Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation

Chambers expects nan Malad Gorge restroom to unfastened without mirrors sometime Wednesday, but Niagara’s restroom has much extended damage. In nan meantime, parkland visitors tin entree portable bathrooms.

Funding for nan repairs will travel from nan park’s operations budget, Chambers said. Most of nan department’s fund is raised by nan parkland done fees, and vandalism cases tin person a nonstop effect connected parkland budgets, she added.

The parkland is moving intimately pinch nan Gooding County Sheriff’s Office to analyse nan incident, and some parkland unit and Gooding County rule enforcement scheme to summation patrols successful nan park, Chambers wrote. The parkland is besides considering locking bath doors astatine nighttime and investing successful a camera aliases much “robust” information system, Chambers wrote.

The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation asks nan nationalist to interaction nan Gooding County Sheriff’s Office astatine (208) 934-4421 if anyone has accusation astir nan incident.

A repair squad astatine nan Thousand Springs State Park is moving to hole nan harm while they hold to bid caller equipment. | Courtesy Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation