Cedar Rapids parks weigh cameras after vandalism closes restrooms

Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation is considering security cameras after recent vandalism damaged restrooms at Riverside and Jones parks.

Two park restrooms were damaged within the past month, according to city records.

"It’s not okay and I really don’t like that. Because it’s just wrong," said park visitor Owen Brenner.

Vandalism repairs cost the city nearly $53,000 in fiscal year 2024, approximately $27,000 in fiscal year 2025, and roughly $14,000 in the current fiscal year, the department reported.

A toilet was smashed with a rock at Riverside Park and another was destroyed by a firework at Jones Park.

"It kind of sucks because now we have to either ride our bikes pretty far or we have to ride our motorcycles somewhere else to have to use the restroom if we need to," said park visitor Parker Mundt.

"It is something we are looking at and we have to be kind of selective on the areas we’re going to put cameras or look at putting cameras because some of them, it’s a privacy issue so we have to put all of that into consideration," said Parks Superintendent Chad Peterson.

The department has not announced locations, costs or a timeline for any camera installations.