Vandals damage GBSA baseball field
BY SCOTT PAGE Gulf Breeze News Scott@gulfbreezenews.com

Vandals damaged a baseball field at Shoreline Park on Nov. 30. Anyone with information about the event should call GBPD at 850-934-5121. A $500 reward is offered for information leading to an arrest.

When Ron Pulley, director of Gulf Breeze Parks and Recreation, arrived at work on the morning of Nov. 30, he found a very unpleasant surprise. During the previous night, vandals destroyed one of the baseball fields by doing doughnuts with a vehicle.

The damage occurred on the Gulf Breeze Sports Association (GBSA) Majors field, on which the 11 and 12-year-olds play. The perpetrators were able to drive onto the field because the outfield fence was removed to accommodate soccer play.

"Now that soccer season is over the fences will be back up within a week," Pulley said.

That should prevent something like this from happening in the future, however, the damage is done, Pulley added.

"I would say that they caused at least several thousand dollars in damage," Pulley said.

Baseball season begins in mid February. Play will begin as scheduled despite the damage to the fields and costs to repair them.

"The grass won't repair itself because it is now dormant until next spring and the other ground repair will take about four weeks," Pulley said. "We will do everything necessary to make the field safe for the players, but the grass will remain discolored in the damaged areas."

Charges were filed with the Gulf Breeze Police Department (GBPD) and anyone providing information that leads to an arrest and conviction will receive a $500 reward. Anyone with information about the vandalism of Shoreline Park is encouraged to contact GBPD at 850-934-5121.