(3/19) Taneytown Parks and Recreation Director Lorena Vaccare reported at the March meeting of the city’s Athletic Association meeting that vandalism is already picking up at the municipal parks, and that police will be looking for suspects.
Vaccare stated, "The warmer weather and the warming months coming up of course means an increase in vandalism. We’ve got the graffiti artists out there already, active."
The director asked that incidents be reported to the town and reiterated that the Parks and Recreation Department will get the police involved, and that staff will do whatever they can to try and rectify the problems. "The police are increasing their presence in our parks now because of all of this going on."
Mark Carder, representing Taneytown Lions Baseball, stated that someone did a painting of a walrus in one of the dugouts. He said, "It was a pretty well-painted walrus," but noted that Field #3 was about to be painted in the upcoming weeks anyway.
Vaccare said, "At least it was a walrus. That’s a little more creative than what’s usually sprayed out there."
In other Parks and Recreation-related business, the director reported that staff is still working on a Memorial Day parade. "I’m still working on the route and the time," she said, adding that anyone or any group interested in participating should let her know so that she can calculate the amount of time it would be necessary for the parade to complete its route - because roadway-use permits have to be obtained from the State Highway Administration.
She said the Parks and Recreation Department is also working with the American Legion on what they’re going to do so they can tie-in with them. Additionally, she noted that Westminster is not planning to have a Memorial Day parade this year, but that if they change their minds, the Taneytown parade would be scheduled so that it would not conflict with Westminster’s parade.
Regarding sports teams’ reports, Taneytown Lions Baseball representative Mark Carder reported, "We have 188 kids registered this spring with 19 teams," also noting that Taneytown Lions Baseball has recently merged with West Carroll Baseball, "and are currently working on an agreement between ourselves and the West County Recreation Council."
Carder noted that Taneytown Lions Baseball decided not to actually join the West County Recreation Council, "but we are going to work with them and were going to be the only baseball source in the rec council." The agreement would result in the home-team having access to a total of seven fields between Taneytown and Union Bridge.
