Vandalism forces temporary closure of field at popular Davis County sports complex

KAYSVILLE — One of the fields at Barnes Park, a well-used sports complex in Davis County, will be temporarily closed after vandals tore up the grass Wednesday night with what officials believe was an ATV or similar vehicle.

The damage, while not extensive in size, is significant in impact. The field, located adjacent to the park's popular pickleball courts, is a key venue for local sports teams and community events.

"This park is just under 50 acres, and the fields are in high demand," said Cole Stephens, director of Parks and Recreation for Kaysville. "They picked the greenest part of the field to do it in — right in the center."

The vandalism left deep ruts and a large gash in the middle of the field, disrupting scheduled games and practices. Despite the damage, a girls' lacrosse team opted to continue with a friendly scrimmage on the field.

"It's just super annoying and kind of disappointing," said Devin Williams, director of the Davis-Farmington Girls Lacrosse program. "I just think it's super thoughtless. People don't realize the impact they have on others when they do stuff like that."

While the cost of replacing the sod is relatively low — estimated at around $50 — the labor and time required to restore the field are more burdensome.

"It's not the money, it's the manpower and time," Stephens explained. "We'll have a few people working on it for several days. My main message is just be respectful."

The city plans to close the field in the coming days to begin repairs, which are expected to take at least two weeks. Officials are hopeful the community will help protect public spaces and report any suspicious activity.

"We want people to enjoy this park," Stephens added. "But we also need everyone to help take care of it so it stays nice for everyone."

Anyone with information about the vandalism is encouraged to contact Kaysville City Parks and Recreation.

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