Binghamton's Rec Park playground burns hours after peaceful protesters leave

Just hours after protesters peacefully marched at Recreation Park on the West Side of Binghamton, the park's accessible playground was set ablaze and several area businesses were vandalized overnight into Monday.

A call for the fire came in at 12:42 a.m. Monday, and the blaze damaged much of the playground equipment, play area and nearby trees in the southwest area of the OurSpace Playground. Binghamton Fire Marshal Alan Gardiner said the fire was controlled by 1:17 a.m.

An investigation by the Binghamton Fire Marshall's Office and New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control determined the fire was intentionally set. 

"Some amenities were spared, but it is a near total loss," Binghamton Mayor Richard David said in a press conference Monday.

No arrests were made by Monday afternoon, and David encourages community members who may have knowledge about the fire to come forward. Binghamton Police Chief Joseph Zikuski said police are following leads and interviewing neighbors for more information.

A canine from the New York State Department of Homeland security was at the scene Monday morning to detect if there were any accelerants that caused the fire.

Earlier in the day, Sunday's protests — one drawing more than 1,000 in a march from Binghamton High School to Rec Park — were part of a nationwide movement to speak out against racial injustice and the recent death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. 

Upstate cities Albany, Syracuse, Buffalo and Rochester have been impacted by protests that turned violent and including looting and arrests. 

Following the afternoon's marches, a much smaller group of protesters remained on the streets of downtown, some spray-painting anti-police messages on the streets and vandalizing buildings. However, the gathering peaceful and people disbursed after a man ended the night with a plea for peace.

In addition to the fire, there were also several other incidents of mischief, criminal activity and commercial property damage that took place around 11 p.m. Sunday: 

• Bricks thrown through the window of the Boost Mobile store at 106 Main St., Binghamton.
• A window was smashed out of Aaron's at 201 Main St., Binghamton. Witnesses saw someone enter the store, but Binghamton Police do not believe anything was taken.
• A burglary took place at the T Mobile store at 10 Glenwood Avenue, Binghamton. A window was smashed, the suspects entered and stole items.
• The front door of Metro PCS at 68 Chenango Street, Binghamton, was smashed in. Police don't believe anyone made entry into the store. 
• Shots were fired at Booth Field at the South Side of Binghamton, with an individual attempting to shoot out the field's lights.

Three juveniles and one 19-year-old were arrested in the Glenwood Avenue burglary. 

David said police are on "full alert" for future criminal indents, and he is in contact with other mayors in Upstate New York to discuss the recent criminal activity. Zikuski said there will be additional surveillance in Rec Park. 

While the Town of Vestal declared a State of Emergency as a precautionary measure Sunday, David said he is not considering a State of Emergency or a curfew.

"Cities need to be very careful in how they prepare for their response and what their public show is before events begin, because you don't want your actions to be perceived as issuing a challenge to protesters, as well," David said. 

 Around 7:30 Monday morning, about a dozen or so people walked by the playground to see the damage. Some took photos and videos, others just stood by to look at the damage. This includes Dawn Slopka, who got out of her shift with the Broome Developmental Center at 7 a.m. and immediately headed to the park to see the damage. 

"What exactly did this prove?" she said. "What justice did this do for George"?

Slopka's clients as well as her granddaughter love to visit the park, and they'd been looking forward to returning once local officials deemed the conditions safe to reopen area playgrounds during the coronavirus pandemic.

"It serves everyone," she said. "Not just one person, it serves the whole community, everyone. Disability, not disability. All can come here, the old, the young, anybody."

Zikuski said Rec Park does not have surveillance cameras, due to challenges posed by foliage, but David said the city is going to reconsider this moving forward.

Broome County District Attorney Michael Korchak said the case is under investigation.

"We will work closely with the Binghamton Police Department and other law enforcement agencies to bring the individuals responsible to justice," Korchak said Monday. "This was not part of a peaceful protest — but a cowardly act by criminals —who will be prosecuted."

A day of peaceful protests 

On Sunday, about 1,000 had gathered at the park for peaceful protests against racial injustice. Two marches took place during the day both ended without incident. 

One began at the Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade in downtown, traveling east and ending at the Broome County Courthouse. About 175 people were in attendance.

A second protest/march began at Binghamton High School, traveling west to Rec Park and about 1,000 attendees. David said, to his knowledge, it was the "largest singular protest or march" ever had in the City of Binghamton. 

George Floyd protest:Binghamton protesters demand racial justice during afternoon marches

Zikuski said no arrests were made at either protest.

"Prior to this arson, that was a wonderful day yesterday," David said. 

According to David, about 80-85% of the Recreation Park protest attendees left, and about 150-200 protesters remained downtown and continued demonstrations into the evening. 

What is OurSpace Playground?

The OurSpace Playground opened in 2016. David describes the park as the "largest fully accessible playground in New York State."

"This has been a significant destination for children, seniors and families, not only in the City of Binghamton but from across the region," David said. 

The project launched in December 2014, when it received $500,000 from the state in Regional Economic Development Council funds. Monetary and in-kind donations totaled about $324,000, by the city's estimate.

When you add volunteer in-kind labor of 5,200 hours valued at $107,000 and in-kind services from the city's parks department, the total cost of the project was near $1 million, according to the city.

"OurSpace Park was a symbol of community spirit," David said.

Plans to rebuild

David said the city plans to rebuild and restore the playground, "without question." As the park is insured, the city plans to contact their broker.

The Community Foundation reopened a fund for rebuilding of the park. 

“When the Our Space Park at Binghamton’s Recreation Park was built in 2014, The Community Foundation held a fund for contributions to make this beautiful and extraordinary park accessible to anyone," Executive Director Diane Brown said in a statement. 

David has been in contact with businesses, engineers, architectural firms and others with offers to donate time and resources to rebuilding the park.

"I've really never said this about anything, but we're going to rebuild one way or the other," David said. "I pledge that, I commit that."

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