Play structure in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park torched by vandal

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A section of a popular playground in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park was closed after vandals set it on fire, causing more than $1 million in damage.

It happened overnight at Koret Children's Quarter Playground just across the street from Kezar Stadium in Golden Gate Park."It's really heartbreaking to see the playground burned. Yeah, because it was so good," one parent said.

Kids who showed up at the playground today were sad to see the damage. It's a very popular spot not only for locals but for out-of-towners as well.

Koret children's quarter is on the eastern end of golden gate park near the carousel.

It underwent a major $3.8 million renovation ten years ago.

The rec and park department told ABC7 that the structure isn't salvageable and will need to be replaced, likely costing upwards of $1 million.

"I feel like someone is being very selfish. I don't know what they were thinking but it's really upsetting. We were just playing on it a few days ago," parent Taraka Walker said.

The department says there will indeed be more patrolling of the area in response to the fire.

The department says usually, vandalism to the city's parks involves graffiti or broken windows, and that arson is rare.

The last torching of a playground was at the West Sunset Playground in 2005.

There is no word on how long it will take to replace the structure and reopen the damaged section of the playground.