New Turf Field At High School Spray Painted By Vandals

Syracuse.com (The Post-Standard), Charley Hannagan

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2012/10/vandals_spray_paint_new_turf_f.html

Onondaga, NY –Authorities are looking for the suspect, or suspects, who spray painted graffiti on the new artificial turf at Westhill High School’s main field sometime on Sunday, the district’s athletic director said this morning.

The new field was part of a $29.8 million renovation project at the school district.

The district believes the vandalism occurred sometime late Sunday night at the school at 4501 Onondaga Blvd., Onondaga, and was found by a field maintenance worker early Tuesday morning, said Athletic Director Matthew Whipple.

The athletic director would not say what words were spray painted on the field.

“It was obviously something you wouldn’t want done on any facility or venue,” he said. “It’s truly unfortunate. It’s truly disappointing.”

The Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department is investigating, Whipple said.

Workers removed the graffiti with a solvent that broke down the paint and then they sprayed water on it, he said.

“It was very labor intensive,” Whipple said, adding that he didn’t know how much the damage cost.

Westhill was able to hold practice on the field that afternoon, as well as playing soccer against Marcellus teams. Westhill won it’s varsity game, but lost the junior varsity game, Whipple said.