Flames destroy swing
Vandals set fire in park built by kids, community

by George Wisner
of the Gazette-Times
12 May 1989

Part of Wildcat Park went up in flames early Thursday, apparently the work of arsonists.

The Corvallis Police Department is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for burning a teepee-shaped tire swing that's part of Wildcat Park at Wilson Elementary School.

Damage to the park -- designed by nationally known architect Robert Leathers of Ithaca, N.Y., and built last week by Corvallis volunteers -- was estimated at about $1,000.

Reaction to the burning was swift, with many expressing shock and outrage.

"I'm just devastated," said Barbara Pastega, a "co-chair mom" for the $57,000 maze of slides, swings, tunnels and turrets. "Everyone who has worked on it is shocked that this could happen here ... after all people worked on it and all they put into it."

Nearly 1,000 volunteers built the park over a five-day period, and more than 1,000 people were on hand for its opening Sunday at the school at 2701 N.W. Satinwood Ave.

Fire Marshal Claire Keith said the fire was reported about 2:30 a.m. by a neighbor who saw flames coming from the structure. Firefighters contained the blaze within 10 minutes, but not before it charred the swing and some parts of a wooden walkway around it. A nearby slide also was damaged by heat, she said.

Keith said the fire was "apparently deliberately set." Flammable liquid could have been used, but tires also will catch fire from just the heat of a cigarette lighter, she said.

Although police were interviewing youngsters seen in the area early Thursday, no one had been arrested in connection with the fire by late in the day.

"We are giving this a fairly high priority around here," said Police Chief Daniel McCollum. Police were following leads late Thursday, but nobody was seen in the area at the time of the fire.

The park was closed Thursday. But more than a dozen volunteers arrived shortly after noon to remove the damaged swing so the park could be reopened today.

Those who are really hurt by the fire are "the children," said Kathrine Inman, the other co-chair mom. "But this project was built by the community, and it will be rebuilt by the community."

Inman and Pastega said volunteers will be needed at the site Saturday for a project aimed at smoothing out some rough ends of the park and helping restore the fire-damaged section.

Some people talked about donating money for a reward, they said, and any money collected will be put into the same reward pot offered by the police department.

Teachers took Wilson students to the park during school Thursday to view the damage.

"I'm just real sad," said Rachel Marsh, a kindergarten student. "And they just finished this. If they're caught, I hope they take them to court and put them in jail for awhile."

Inman said people shouldn't be too discouraged. A lot of wonderful things happened with the park project, she said.

"There was an unemployed teacher from Newport who volunteered five days straight on the project," she said. "There were (Children's) Farm Home kids here, and a couple who volunteered as an anniversary gift to each other."

Wildcat Park needs Volunteers

Volunteers will be needed at Wildcat Part today for a project aimed at smoothing out some rough ends of the park and helping restore the fire-damaged section.

Part of the playground was set ablaze in an arson attack during the pre-dawn hours Thursday.

The Corvallis Police Department has established a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the fire, which caused about $1,000 damage to the structure.

Those who wist to donate to the reward fund should contact the "co-chair moms" of the Wildcat Park project, Katherine Inman at 753-xxxx or Barbara Pastega at 757-xxxx. All money collected will be put into the same reward pot offered by the police department, they said.

Letters to the editor

Disgusted

I am a fourth grader. Ever since I have been in second grade something has to be burned. In 1987 one of our doors was burned, and 1988 the tire post was burned and in 1989 our new playground! Something just had to be burned by some punk and that's a lot of money down the tube in three years. I wish someone could put a stop to it.

Melissa Kladnik
Wilson School

Everybody sad

What happened at Wilson was sad. Everybody was sad that somebody burned half of the park.

I am feeling whoever did this must hate parks or just wanted to be mean. But this park is very cool.

Amber Nally
Wilson School

This was from the May 12th and 13th, 1989 editions of the Gazette Times.