OPRF Football Field Vandalized Prior to Game Against Waubonsie Valley

Oak Park police said Tuesday that they are still investigating who was involved in vandalizing the football field at Oak Park and River Forest High School prior to the Huskies' playoff game against Waubonsie Valley High School's Warriors on Nov. 3.

In the incident, obscenity-laced graffiti was found prior to the 1:30 p.m. game on the turf and along a wall in the stadium near the 50-yard line.

According to the parent of a Huskies football player, "Waubonsie," was written in black spray paint on the turf. The f-word, and, "We come to Whoop Huskie Ass," was spray-painted in black paint against one of the stadium walls. "Warrior State," and, "I F**K Your Mom," were also found written on stadium walls.

Police declined to release any specific information about the act of vandalism and said the case was still under investigation. According to the Oak Park police blotter, police believe the graffiti was painted sometime between 6 p.m. Nov. 2 and 8:15 a.m. Nov. 3. The estimated cost of the damage, according to police, was $300.

According to Karin Sullivan, director of communications for OPRF, the graffiti on the wall and field were removed prior to the game on Saturday. The school is still looking into whether it will need to replace the turf and what it would cost to do so.

To remove the paint on the turf, staff used a chemical that was "very abrasive." The chemical used to removed the paint may have damaged the finish on the fibers of the turf, Sullivan said, which could reduce their strength. Whether the turf will need to be replaced, will only be know with time as staff observes the field to see if the turf turns a lighter color in the area that was treated, which would indicate further deterioration, she added.

"I'm not aware that this has ever happened in the past," Sullivan said.

The field does have security cameras, Sullivan said, and footage was handed over to police for review in order to possibly identify those involved.

A request for comment from Waubonsie Valley High School administrators was not returned by publication time.

Editor's Note: due to conflicting reports, we initally reported that the graffiti on the turf was not removed prior to the game. We've updated this article with more information on the treatment process used to remove the turf graffiti and clarified that section of the story.