Vulgar Graffiti Tagged On Middletown Playground

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — These photos show the disturbing graffiti written Friday night at the Countryside Park playground. The photos were re-used with permission from Middletown resident Greg Farmer.

Many were speculating online that the graffiti has been up there for three weeks, or even longer. But that is not true, said Middletown Twp. Administrator Anthony Mercantante.

"A few weeks back there had been some graffiti done here and it was cleaned up right away," explained Mercantante in an email to Patch on Saturday. "This particular one happened overnight (Friday night, April 6) and as soon as we were made aware of it, it is getting addressed. There seem to be a lot of people on social media making assumptions about this matter, when they really don't know the facts at all."

Mercantante said crews were sent in Saturday to clean up the graffiti.

Middletown Twp. is aware of the problem of graffiti and vandalism happening at its parks. As Patch reported, the Township is setting money aside in its budget to add cameras to the parks for that very reason.

Middletown is trying to secure Green Acres grant funding from the state to pay for the cameras, which probably will not be installed until fall 2018, said Mercantante.

"By the time we get the Green Acres final go-ahead, then write up the specs and go out to bid, we are probably looking at early fall realistically," he told Patch last month.

In the first phase, cameras will be installed at Tindall, Croydon Hall, Normandy and Lincroft Acres and Nutswamp School (the synthetic turf field). In the second phase, the Township hopes to install cameras, along with other park improvements, in McMahon Park, Poricy Park and Bodman Park.

Cameras To Be Added To Middletown Parks

Photos used with permission from Greg Farmer.