Homophobic and offensive graffiti was sprayed across play equipment at a popular park in Stockport this morning.
Residents discovered offensive language had been sprayed over a slide and climbing frame at East Avenue Park in Heald Green on Tuesday morning (July 13).
One parent, who was taking their children to school when they spotted it, said they had been left ‘shocked and upset’ by it.
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April McCulley, chairman for the Friends of East Ave Park group, told the M.E.N the graffiti was ‘disgusting and disrespectful’.
“It’s a nice park in a nice area,” April said.
“It’s just such a shame - it’s very disappointing.
“There have been some undesirables in the area recently so we have noticed there has been extra police patrols in the area in the last few weeks."
April says the playground equipment was put up six years ago and while there was some graffiti when it was first installed, there had been nothing since.
“I don’t know why they’ve done it,” she said.
“Maybe everyone has gone a bit crazy due to the lockdown or it's just new people who have recently come here, but I really have no idea why someone would do it.
“There’s a primary school right nearby to the park and the parents go via the park in the morning so it’s really not nice.”
The graffiti follows recent incidents in Manchester's Gay Village and Withington where murals were defaced with homophobic and racist language.
The mural of footballer Marcus Rashford was later covered with messages of support before it was repaired by the original artist.
The graffiti in East Avenue Park included the phrases ‘dope b*****’ daubed across a slide and ‘f***’ written across a climbing wall.
“I didn’t really understand what the words were saying to be honest,” April said.
“I’m quite down with the kids but I didn’t know whether to report it to the council and the police as homophobic or just offensive.”
Thankfully, the graffiti has now been cleaned up after local residents reported the incident.
“A community officer came round and has cleaned the graffiti up - it’s all gone now,” April added.
“He was absolutely brilliant.
“Community power!”
Greater Manchester Police and Stockport Council have both been contacted for comment.
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