📰BIDDEFORD | This is why we can’t have nice things…

“It is really disheartening to have someone maliciously vandalize a beloved asset we’ve invested so much into for this community. I hope we are able to catch the vandal and prevent similar occurrences in the future.” - Truc Dever, Biddeford City Manager

October 28, 2025 - Well folks, according to a statement released yesterday from the Biddeford Recreation department, less than 30 days after the new playground at the J. Richard Martin Community Center (located at 189 Alfred Street) had its grand opening, an individual vandalized it.

New playground at 189 Alfred Street, Biddeford

According to city officials, at some point during this past weekend, one or more individuals vandalized two of the solar light units located at the top of one of the slides at the new playground. The playground is under 24 hour surveillance and both the footage and a report has been submitted to the Biddeford Police.

When asked about the damage, Assistant City Manager Danica Lamontagne stated, “one of the solar lights seems to have been taken and the other was found smashed on the ground.”

City Manager Truc Dever added, “It is really disheartening to have someone maliciously vandalize a beloved asset we’ve invested so much into for this community. I hope we are able to catch the vandal and prevent similar occurrences in the future”.

We also reached out to Director Thompson of the Recreation Department who wanted to make sure folks understood, “even though the damage was minimal, it is still damage to what is really a brand new facility. My concern is that we treat it like it is no big deal. We want the public to know this is an important facility to us." Director Thompson went on to state, "In the spring we saw an abundance of vandalism at all of our facilities. It seemed like everyday staff was filing a report. It was everywhere. I think if the public knew how much vandalizing we see at the parks, they would be surprised.”

Well folks, there’s no need to “beat around the bush”; this is absolutely unacceptable behavior from community members and needs to stop…and for several reasons.

Reason 1: This playground is a brand new community asset. The recreation department worked tirelessly and collaborated with Ultiplay to redesign this space for the benefit of the entire community. After months of hard work and anticipation in the city, this space was finally completed and opened, yet someone(s) felt it was necessary to vandalize this space. WHY?

This BRAND NEW space that was vandalized after being open for less then 30 days, offers a new playground with inclusive passive and active recreational opportunities for all ages and seasons. 

The playground includes structures like monkey bars and slides with a large rope climber and a geometric cube climber. Inside select ground-level cubes, sensory panels offer calming and tactile features, providing an inclusive space for children who need a quiet moment or sensory break. There is also a second play area designed for younger children, with a smaller structure featuring double slides, swinging basket seats, and a climber to help build confidence and support progression to the larger structure…. AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, SOMEONE FELT THE NEED TO VANDALIZE THIS SPACE? Again, why?

Reason 2: In 7 days Biddeford residents will go to the polls to cast their votes for the November 4th election. On the ballot is a 6 million dollar recreation bond. For better or worse, the bond has already been a hot topic debate with individuals in our community voicing both support and opposition. With that being said, having individuals vandalize projects that will be paid for and or maintained by the funds of a current bond initiative on a ballot… well, that’s VERY MESSY.

Recreation Department Director Thompson said it best, “We are looking to approve these facilities and with the rec bond right around the corner, we want the public to feel like the spaces are protected”.

Lastly, Reason 3: This space belongs to the entire community, not one person, not a small group of people, all of us. SHOW SOME RESPECT.

The recreation department has asked residents if they notice any suspicious activity in our parks or playgrounds, to please report it to the Biddeford Police Department (207-282-5127) or notify recreation staff (207-283-0841) directly.

Together, we can protect and preserve the places that bring joy to our community.

OH… AND IF YOU ARE THE PERSON(S) WHO DID THIS, PLEASE STOP.