Laketown Township installing security cameras to deter theft, vandalism at parks

LAKETOWN TWP. — Laketown Township has started installing cameras to boost security at local parks.

A crew from Steve Essenburg Electric of Hudsonville installed six security cameras in three Laketown Township parks on Tuesday, July 25, according to a news release.

There are now two cameras each at Wolters Woods, Sanctuary Woods and Laketown Beach. All parks in Laketown will have cameras and Wi-Fi by the end of the year, according to the release.

Laketown Township Manager Al Meshkin said the goal of the cameras is to deter theft and vandalism. Video will be monitored and stored at an off-site location.

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The Laketown Township Parks and Recreation Commission is funding the work.

“It will give law enforcement a way to hopefully identify some of the culprits behind the graffiti at Sanctuary Woods and also help put an end to some of the nefarious activities that happen at our beach park parking lot,” said Jeremy Van Hoven, chair of the Laketown Township Parks and Recreation Commission.

The railway bridge at Sanctuary Woods is often spray-painted, according to the release. There have also been security concerns at the township beach with parking violations, vandalism to the portable restroom and noise complaints.

— Contact reporter Evan Sasiela at esasiela@sentinel-standard.com. Follow him on Twitter @SalsaEvan.

This article originally appeared on Ionia Sentinel-Standard: Laketown Township installing security cameras to deter theft, vandalism at parks