When Joe Sutherland woke up the morning of Sunday, June 15, he got in his car, drove over to Cook Park and prepared to check the baseball fields as he does every weekend. When Sutherland arrived at Rogowicz field, what he saw was hardly the sight he views every Saturday and Sunday morning.
Some signs were down, and I thought maybe there was a storm that knocked them down. That happens sometimes, said Sutherland, who is president of the South Colonie Babe Ruth League. `Then I noticed the sprinkler heads were kicked off and I knew something wasn’t right.`
Sutherland said that the vandals entered the field by cutting through the fence in what appeared to be only the beginning of several acts of vandalism at Cook Park. Then, Sutherland speculated, the vandal or vandals dismantled several of the sprinkler heads and tore up the tarp that covers the home plate area. The tarp itself, according to Sutherland, cost between $400 and $600.
When Sutherland drove to the second field, Kuhn field, on Sunday, things were not much better.
`They dismantled about 14 to 15 sprinkler heads over there,` said Sutherland, who said the vandalism also included the de-hinging of the sprinklers and a pipe connected to the concession stand being busted open, allowing water to pour all over the ground through the night, as well as painting the building walls with profanity.
As a result of the vandalism, several baseball games Sunday had to be cancelled, including a championship game for a league made up of 13-year-old players.
`Sunday morning was supposed to be our championship games so those were obviously postponed, and we have to reschedule them for next Saturday,` said Ed Walsh, manager of one of the teams.
Walsh said the championship game would have been played sooner, but due to graduations and other events, the game had to be further postponed.
According to Sutherland, other games were postponed Sunday, but by evening, the league was able to play the night games.
`We cleaned up the field all day and then we were able to play games at night,` he said.
With the help of others in the community, Sutherland was able to restore the field to playing ability Sunday, but the amount of damage that occurred is not easily fixable, he said.
`We don’t have the insurance to cover vandalism like this,` said Sutherland, who also said that he estimates the cost to restore the fields to their original state, including signs that were torn off, sprinkler heads, new piping on the building and more, would be about $3,000.
But thanks to donations, Sutherland said, restoration is possible.
`The village has agreed to help by paying for the restoration of the fence,` said Sutherland. `They’re always so helpful when we have a situation like this.`
Sutherland also said that John Deere Landscapes has offered to donate 20 new sprinkler heads.
In the days following the destruction of the fields at Cook Park, police have been working on an investigation of the crime scene to determine the identity and number of individuals involved.
When asked if he has any inclination as to who might have committed the vandalism on the fields, Sutherland simply replied, `Misguided kids.`
According to Colonie police detective Lt. John VanAlstyne, who is conducting the investigation, there are no suspects. He added that the Colonie Police Department does not believe that the vandalism at Cook Park is related to the vandalism of 38 South Colonie Central School District buses that occurred on Friday, June 13 (see Police nab alleged bus vandals, page 5). VanAlstyne said he didn’t know what charges the Cook Park vandal or vandals would face because he did not know the monetary value of the destruction. At the very least, those responsible could be charged with criminal mischief.
VanAlstyne asked neighboring residents who have any information regarding the vandalism to contact the police department.
`We’re looking for help from the community,` he said.
Those with information regarding the vandalism at Cook Park can contact Colonie police at 783-2811.“