Optimist Hill lift shacks vandalized, project moves ahead

Members of the Optimist Club of Saskatoon got an ugly surprise when they went to do a clean-up of the Optimist Hill tubing and toboggan run in Diefenbaker Park.

“Both of our lift shacks had been vandilized for, really, no reason,” said Joe Van’t Hof, co-chair of the Optimist Hill fundraising campaign. “The doors are open. There’s nothing to steal. It’s just wanton and wilful damage.”

While the broken windows will cost only a few hundred dollars to replace, Van’t Hof said the disrespect for the hard work it has taken to get the hill funded and built was disappointing.

“We have hundreds of volunteers that have spent many, many hours — lots of time — doing fundraising to bring a first-class amenity to the city,” he said.

Van’t Hof noted the security system and cameras at the site had been upgraded in light of the damage, but he urged people to keep an eye out for any suspicious activity and to generally stay out of the fenced-off construction site.

“Our plan is to put trees in this year, also seeding and doing the final touch-ups for preparing the free toboggan hill for next year,” he said.

Van’t Hof said the fencing around the site would remain in place for the rest of the year.