Queensway Terrace North area residents are lamenting damages to the park's play structure; the result of two fires set by vandals on two separate nights late in March.

The fires are just two of nine set in the area since early March, said Ottawa Police const. Tina Read.

Play structures and dumpsters have been set alight.    Aside from Frank Ryan Park, more fires have been set to the play structure and dumpsters at 865 Pinewood Cres., 2731 Kelly Ave. and Grant Alternative School.

Both Ottawa Police arson squad officers and fire officials are investigating the rash of fires, which Const. Read said have all occurred between 6:30 and 10:30 p.m.

"We're watching it very closely," said Steve Armstrong of Ottawa Fire services.

Unfortunately, this type of vandalism is "very common," he added, particularly as the spring thaw begins.

In the meantime, Cost. Read urged residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity.

Mr. Armstrong also said homeowners would be well advised to keep garage doors closed and locked, as an open garage may be a tempting target to the vandals.

The first of the most recent Frank Ryan Park fires appears to have been set sometime in the evening of March 30, after which city officials said the damage was repairable.    Unfortunately, that was no longer the case on April 1, when a second fire and more damage forced the city to barricade the structure.

Henry Sweich, president of the Queensway Terrace North Community Association, said he subsequently called police to ask for extra patrols from 9 p.m. to midnight and association board members are out looking for suspicious activity.

"Our community is very concerned about these fires," he said.    We're asking our residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious incidents to the police.    Hopefully this will not continue.    Whoever is doing this must realize they'll be charged with arson, which is a serious crime.    The community has a wonderful play structure at Frank Ryan Park and so many kids would be disappointed if we were to lose it."

Though city staff were seen making repairs to the structure last Tuesday, local city Coun. Alex Cullen later said that the structure will have to be replaced.

Geoffrey Sharpe, an area resident, said the only motive he could imagine from having seen the results was the total, needless destruction of the structure.

"They didn't succeed in burning it down but they've certainly succeeded in doing a lot of damage to it."

Mr. Sharpe also said he wonders if the same people were responsible for destroying a plaque commemorating Frank Ryan, who donated the land to the city for a park.

The incident is particularly upsetting, given a $100,000 investment into a refurbishment for the park several years ago.

"I imagine there is very little of that $100,000 left," said Mr. Sharpe. "Welcome to spring."