Parent reports threats and playground damage at Harding Park

Photos in a Nextdoor post show damaged playground foam. The author says a group of children threatened their wife and toddler Friday evening and that police were contacted.

By Staff Writer

Photos shared with a Nextdoor post show foam material torn from playground equipment at Harding Park in Richmond Hill. The author says the incident happened between about 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Friday, September 25.

In the post, the parent said a group of approximately 10 or 11 children, estimated to be 10 to 12 years old, were pulling apart foam from the playground and throwing it, including at other people. The parent alleges that after their wife asked the group to stop, the children swore at and threatened her.

The parent says the group then followed and surrounded their wife and toddler on e-bikes and e-scooters as they tried to leave. The post also alleges that one child threatened the toddler and that rocks were thrown at the family’s car. The parent wrote that their wife and toddler got into the car and locked the doors.

The post says other people at the park witnessed the incident and that some sent the family photos or videos. Photos included with the post show damaged foam material scattered around the play area. The post does not identify any children.

In an update posted Saturday, the parent said police had been contacted and a report made. They said they did not see police during a 20-minute visit to the park, but acknowledged that officers may have patrolled at another time. The update also said bylaw officers were at the park Friday and thanked someone named “Karen,” without further identifying the person or explaining the officers’ role.

StrongRH did not find a public YRP statement or release about Harding Park as of Saturday afternoon. The police report and the account of the confrontation have not been independently confirmed with YRP.