A popular hangout for kids will soon close. Escalating crime, vandalism and destruction forced council members in Vinton to close the town's skate park. After July 31st, skaters will have to find another place to air it out.

School's out and Vinton's skate park is busy.

Michael Epperly, Uses Skate Park - "This is my favorite skate park around."

Michael Epperly and his brother Brian have come from Bedford since the park opened in 2003. They, like many, love the park and are not happy over the town's decision.

Michael - "I knew it wasn't going to last much longer."

Brian Epperly, Uses Skate Park - "It's all got to end somewhere, finally I guess they got tired of it and ended it."

In a way, the town has had enough. Police point to repeated signs of vandalism. Fences broken, graffiti sprayed on ramps and signs, a water fountain even had to be replaced twice because of vandals.

Lt. Mark Vaught, Vinton Police - "Public Works put in what they call a vandal proof water fountain and it couldn't be destroyed, well it's been destroyed again, so they're just not going to put that back to have another one destroyed."

In the five years the park has been open, police say the damage has gotten worse, so much so, that there used to be a gate right here and you can see, only the hinges are left.

Chris Perdue, Helped Raise Money to Build Park - "I don't know why people had to do that, they had a place to skate, skateboard, skate and bike. They didn't have to vandalize it."

The damage is especially troubling to Chris Perdue. He was part of a group called Youth on Wheels that raised $10,000 to open the park.

Perdue - "I worked my butt off for it, and this is how they treat it."

Soon the park will close. And those who only used it for skateboarding say that's a shame. Vinton Town Council could set a public hearing to begin the process of trying to find a new location for a skate park. Police say any new location will have to be more visible to minimize the risk for vandalism.