All torn up: Damage spree leaves soccer fields in disarray at Cuyahoga Falls park

April Helms, Akron Beacon Journal
·2 min read
Snow and ice collect in tire tracks on Feb. 5, a little over a week after extensive playing field damage was discovered at Water Works Park in Cuyahoga Falls.
Snow and ice collect in tire tracks on Feb. 5, a little over a week after extensive playing field damage was discovered at Water Works Park in Cuyahoga Falls.

Spring sports teams are scrambling to find a place to practice and play after several of the sports fields at Water Works Park were heavily damaged late last month.

Police believe sometime between 8 p.m. Jan. 23 and 7 a.m. the next day, one or more vehicles were driven around the grounds, grinding deep tire tracks into the turf and leaving muddy craters behind.

Police are still investigating and have no suspects so far.

Carrie Snyder, the city's director of neighborhood excellence, communications and community outreach, said the wet conditions of the area have prevented a full assessment of the damage and repairs needed. The city plans to repair the fields once the weather permits.

But with potentially thousands of dollars in repair work ahead and several more weeks of often-messy Northeast Ohio winter weather still to come, the city is preparing the field's regular users for the likelihood that they'll need to temporarily relocate.

"We remain in contact with the Cuyahoga Falls Soccer Club and have identified alternative locations if the fields are not playable by the start of the spring season," Snyder said.

According to the Cuyahoga Falls Soccer Club website, the club uses six fields at Water Works. The season starts in March.

“This is a source of entertainment, this is a source of community gathering for our community and our club,” Jason Hershey, vice president of the Cuyahoga Falls Soccer Club, told Beacon Journal news partner News Channel 5 Cleveland.

How to save a life: Frightening NFL moment drives up interest in learning CPR

The park hosts around 300 players ages 3 to 15 for the spring and fall seasons, Hershey said to News 5 Cleveland. But this year, the grass likely won’t be ready to welcome the spring players.

“The fact that it was destroyed in this way really hurt, and it was disappointing,” Hershey told News Channel 5 reporters.

The Cuyahoga Falls Soccer Club is a non-profit, volunteer organization for children ages 2 through 8 who are interested in playing youth soccer, according to information from the website. The club accepts players from Cuyahoga Falls, Stow, Kent, Tallmadge, Akron and surrounding areas. Children 8 and older compete in the travel program with the Ohio Travel Soccer League.

Anyone with information about the damaging incident can call the Cuyahoga Falls Crime Fighters Anonymous Tip Line at 330-971-TIPS.

Support local journalism:6 reasons why you should subscribe to the Akron Beacon Journal

Reporter April Helms can be reached at ahelms@thebeaconjournal.com

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Police investigate soccer field damage spree at Water Works Park