VANDALS STRIKE AGAIN: Washrooms closed for third time at Mississauga park

A public washroom facility at a park in Mississauga’s north end has been vandalized for the third time in 10 months, forcing yet another closure to park users.

The public washrooms at Lisgar Fields Community Park, located in the Derry Road West/Ninth Line area, are again closed until further notice “just a few short weeks after being reopened following vandalism earlier this year,” City of Mississauga Ward 10 Coun. Sue McFadden said in her September newsletter to residents.

She added the recent installation of a security camera in the washrooms failed to deter the culprits.

“I’m truly disappointed that people find pleasure in damaging and destroying public infrastructure,” continued McFadden. “This forces a closure of the amenity for park users and results in unnecessary cost to taxpayers for repairs and replacement.”

The councillor added security staff are reviewing video footage from the surveillance camera “and hope to identify the perpetrator(s) of this crime and hold them responsible through whatever legal means available.”

The same washroom facility was targeted by vandals this past May and last November, noted McFadden, when “significant damage occurred inside the washroom, forcing an extended closure.”

The public washrooms at the park were reopened this past spring, but it didn’t take long for the vandals to strike again for the second time.

McFadden said city security has increased patrols of the park in the wake of the ongoing vandalism.

She’s urging anyone who has information that could help identify the culprits to call the Parks Watch Hotline at 905-615-4060 or Peel Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.

She didn’t say when the washrooms will reopen.

Lisgar Fields Community Park was also targeted in summer 2023 by vandals who set the contents of trash cans on fire, dumped hazardous liquids and committed other acts that damaged and destroyed public property.

The illegal acts, which also included tipping over a portable washroom and damaging outdoor fitness equipment, were committed on three separate nights around the Civic Holiday in early August that year.

Map shows location of Lisgar Fields Community Park.