Lubbock, TX – An outdoor court at Aztlan Park in North Lubbock was left covered in tire tracks after someone drove onto the recently resurfaced court, potentially leaving the city with thousands of dollars in repairs.
Karen Penkert, assistant director of Lubbock Parks and Recreation, said the damage was reported to her Friday. The park is located near Interstate 27 and First Street.
“This is not something that’s an accident. This is something that is very intentional,” Penkert said.
The court was resurfaced approximately a year and a half ago, and the city is currently working to convert the area for futsal, a soccer variant. Goals for the project have already been delivered.
Penkert estimated repainting the court could cost between $15,000 and $20,000 — an expense that was not included in the parks budget. Officials are hoping power washing may provide another option, but the city has not yet determined how the damage will be addressed.
The incident comes as graffiti was also discovered at the nearby Carrillo Family Recreational Area.
Separately, a new “Lucky me, I live in Lubbock” mural at Cactus Alley was vandalized and altered to read “Un-lucky me, I live in Lubbock.” The same graffiti signature found at the park was reportedly left on the mural.
Penkert urged residents to remember that repairing unnecessary damage takes money and resources away from improvements that could otherwise be made to city parks.
