A suspected arson fire has devastated a Garden City playground used by community organizations, impacting over 400 local children.
GARDEN CITY, Idaho — A fire in Garden City early Monday morning left a local playground unusable, according to a spokesperson from Future Public School.
Firefighters were called to Pamela J. Beaumont Riverfront Park at around 1 a.m. on Nov. 24 and found the playground equipment “engulfed in flames,” according to a police report. Firefighters extinguished the fire, but the playground was heavily damaged.
The fire is being investigated as an act of arson, according to Garden City police. Damage to the park is estimated at $100,000.
The park is owned by the city, but over 400 children from both Future Public School and the Boys & Girls Club of Ada County use it each day, according to Future Public School executive director Amanda Cox. This is in addition to community members who accessed the park.
Cox said via email she does not know the costs of efforts to rebuild the park will be supported by the city or if the school needed to “collectively fundraise” for a replacement. She said the school has a lot of “very devastated” children who do not have access to a nearby playground.
KTVB reached out to the Ada County Boys & Girls Club for comment about the effects of the fire on their operations, but has not heard back as of the publication of this article.
Garden City police are asking for the public’s help with information related to the arson. Tips can be emailed to Detective J. Mann at jmann@gardencitypolice.org or through CrimeStoppers of Idaho at 208-343-COPS or info@343cops.com.
Fire at Garden City playground being investigated as arson
Comments are closed.