Castle Park Playground in Backworth is once again being targeted by vandals, putting popular equipment at risk and costing thousands of pounds in damage.
The site has had a long history of vandalism, including the removal of the previous play area in 2007 when repeated damage became too costly to maintain.
A new playground was installed in 2013 following consultation with residents. But shortly after opening, the safety surface began to suffer the same issues.
With the help of additional funding, North Tyneside Council installed a more durable surface designed to cover and protect the damaged areas. This hard-wearing surface cost £16,000 and has so far withstood attempts to damage it, including efforts to melt it using electric scooters.
Unfortunately, a new area of rubber surfacing, beneath the zip wire, has recently been ripped up causing a small deep hole.
The Council’s playground team are working hard to patch this up for now, but the authority doesn’t have the budget to carry out ongoing repairs of this scale.
Councillor Hannah Johnson, Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: “Play areas are incredibly important to local families so it’s really frustrating to see them damaged, especially repeatedly. A significant amount of resources has been invested in this site over recent years to address ongoing issues. Continued vandalism not only undermines these efforts but also places additional strain on maintenance and repair services. We are committed to keeping the playground a safe and enjoyable space for everyone.”
Castle Park is overlooked by homes and regularly used by dog walkers, families and people travelling to and from bus stops nearby yet the incidents are rarely reported. The Council is urging residents to help protect this space by reporting any suspicious behaviour.
If you see anything, please report it to 101 and quote crime reference number NP-20250609-0502