Gold Coast crime: Parks and playgrounds with major crime problems

They’re normally a patch of paradise among the urban sprawl, but some Gold Coast park and playgrounds have become hotbeds of crime. SEE THE LIST

TYPICALLY a patch of paradise among the urban sprawl, Gold Coast parks are a place to relax, play and enjoy the great outdoors.

But according to the latest police figures, some have developed a serious crime problem.

Queensland Police crime map statistics reveal that some troubled Gold Coast parks have seen dozens of offences, ranging from public drinking, to drugs, and assault.

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Notable park crimes include the murder of teenager Harrison Geppert who was fatally stabbed in Frascott dog park at Varsity Lakes in late 2019.

A 19-year-old was also arrested over a wilful exposure incident at the Coombabah Conservation park last month.

Here are the twenty Gold Coast parks that have been the site of a crime scene in the past year.

HOLLINDALE PARK MAIN BEACH - 12 OFFENCES

6 thefts

3 unlawful use of motor vehicle

2 assault

1 drug offence

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Hollindale Park behind Southport Surf Club.

JOHN LAWS PARK, BURLEIGH HEADS - 12 OFFENCES

4 good order offences

2 theft

2 unlawful use of motor vehicle

1 traffic offence

1 liquor offence

1 drug offence

1 assault

John Laws Park at Burleigh Heads.

BROADWATER PARKLANDS - 11 OFFENCES

6 theft

2 good order offences

2 assault

1 offence against the person

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The Rock pools at the Southport Broadwater Parklands. Picture: Jerad Williams

COOMBABAH CONSERVATION AREA - 11 OFFENCES

6 fraud

4 theft

1 wilful exposure

The Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Area. Picture: Jerad Williams

QUEEN ELIZABETH PARK PLAYGROUND - 10 OFFENCES

6 theft

2 assault

1 good order offence

1 handling stolen goods

HARLEY PARK LABRADOR - 9 OFFENCES

4 theft

2 good order offences

1 traffic

1 drug

1 assault

One of six fish sculpture pieces at Harley Park, Labrador Picture: David Clark

PARADISE POINT PARKLANDS - 8 OFFENCES

2 good order offences

2 drug offences

1 weapons act offence

1 theft

1 property damage

1 offences against another person

BROADBEACH PARK/ NEILSEN FAMILY PARK - 7 OFFENCES

2 theft

2 property damage

1 drug offence

1 unlawful entry

1 handling stolen goods

TALLEBUDGERA CREEK PARK - 7 OFFENCES

4 drug

2 theft

1 traffic offence

Tallebudgera Creek in Burleigh Heads.

BURLEIGH HEADS NATIONAL PARK - 7 OFFENCES

1 assault

2 theft

1 good order offence

1 trespassing

1 drug

1 property damage

Burleigh Headland gates to the National Park. Picture Mike Batterham

KIRRA BEACH PLAYGROUND/ ROUGHTON PARK - 7 OFFENCES

2 drug offences

2 theft

1 unlawful use of motor vehicle

1 property damage

1 unlawful entry

JUSTINS PARK BURLEIGH HEADS PLAYGROUND - 6 OFFENCES

3 property damage

2 good order offences

1 unlawful use of a motor vehicle

Justins Park at Burleigh Heads. Picture: Jerad Williams

PRATTEN PARK - 5 OFFENCES

1 drug offence

1 unlawful entry

1 traffic

1 liquor

1 theft

PACIFIC PINES CENTRAL PARK - 4 OFFENCES

1 drug offence,

1 handling stolen goods,

1 offence against the person,

1 robbery

The duckpond at Pacific Pines Central park.

MACINTOSH ISLAND PARK - 3 OFFENCES

1 good order offence

1 theft

1 unlawful use of a motor vehicle

Main Beach and Macintosh Island Park. Photo: Jerad Williams

TUGUN PARK - 3 OFFENCES

2 traffic

1 good order offence

WINDERS PARK, CURRUMBIN - 2 OFFENCES

1 traffic

1 theft

Winders Park Currumbin.

PARKLAKE PARK PLAYGROUND - 2 OFFENCES

1 good order offence

1 theft

CASCADE GARDENS PLAYGROUND - 1 OFFENCE

1 Property damage

Cascade Gardens Broadbeach

PIRATE PARK PALM BEACH/ ROCKVIEW PUBLIC PARK - 1 OFFENCE

1 drug offence

Palm Beach’s Pirate Park Photograph: Jason O'Brien

Originally published as Gold Coast crime: Parks and playgrounds with major crime problems