HOUSTON – The doors to Donovan Park are locked. The Houston Heights Association posted on social media that the park is temporarily closed after inappropriate graffiti was found on playground equipment. HPD said officers responded Tuesday and discovered the graffiti had racist language.

Sheila Blake said she has been going to the park since the ’90s. She showed up at the park with her great-granddaughter, but they had to leave because the park is closed.

“It’s generational. This little one’s mom was a little girl like that when we started coming here. “This was going to be our first time,” Blake said.

Blake said it’s disheartening to know that someone put racist graffiti on the equipment.

“I think it’s terrible. It’s 2024. These are the Heights. We have a long history here of people getting along with each other. Has no sense. “It’s really despicable to go to a playground and do that,” Blake said.

The Houston Heights Association declined to release photographs of the disturbing graffiti, but drawings scrawled in chalk were seen on the wooden train and other equipment.

HPD said it is investigating the case as a criminal act, but it does not meet the elements of a hate crime. The Anti-Defamation League also participates. ADL Southwest Region Director Mark Toubin said the organization receives a number of racism-related graffiti cases each year.

Officials contacted HPD and the Anti-Defamation League to investigate.

“In particular, our focus is on self-help training and making sure people understand the process of receiving a solution to the problem. In a case like this, you would have to make sure the police department was informed,” Toubin said.

“I just hope that whoever did this knows that it doesn’t make any sense,” Blake said.

Blake hopes the graffiti will be cleaned up soon so his great-granddaughter can continue the family tradition of playing at Donovan Park.

At the moment. It is unclear when the park will reopen.

Toubin said those who witness similar incidents should contact police immediately and then contact the ADL. Complaints can be filed here.