Two men and a boy are accused of causing nearly $17,000 in damage at Father Marinaro Park in Butler.

Butler police reported two of the suspects — Dane Smith, 23, of Butler and Kyle Young, 19, of Evans City — admitted to spray-painting graffiti at the park earlier this month.

The men also implicated a 15-year-old city boy.

Vandalized at the skate park, police said, were the buildings, fence and fence posts, wooden ramps and concrete work.

Due to the amount of damage — $16,827, according to the repair cost received by the city's parks department — police charged all three suspects Thursday with felony counts of criminal mischief and conspiracy.

Preliminary hearings for Smith and Young were not immediately scheduled. Police said the boy is charged in a juvenile petition.

Butler Police Chief Bob O'Neill said the department received a report of the vandalism Aug. 9. Lyndora resident Cindy Parker discovered the graffiti done in different colors.

The tagging was done in letters, words and symbols, she said Thursday.

She reported the vandalism to the parks department, which notified police.

Only days earlier, Parker's sons had repainted a concession stand at the park that someone had spray-painted with graffiti.

While investigating the widespread tagging that occurred between late night Aug. 8 and early morning Aug. 9, police identified Smith and Young as suspects.

Both men were interviewed at the station, and each admitted he “was responsible for some of the graffiti,” according to charging documents.

From photos, the men allegedly identified for police the areas they spray- painted. They also allegedly acknowledged the boy was with them the night of the vandalism, and they identified the areas the youth painted.

“Young explained he ran out of spray paint that he brought with him that night,” documents said. “(The boy) told Young and Smith that he can get more and returned to the skate park with three more cans of spray paint.”

The men apparently gave no motive for their actions, O'Neill said Thursday.

“We're glad we brought it to a quick resolution,” he added.

O'Neill also urged anyone to immediately report vandalism or suspicious activity.

A telephone call to the parks department was not immediately returned. Neither Smith nor Young could be reached for comment.

Parker and her sons, meanwhile, spent Aug. 10 cleaning up at the park. She said she was glad to hear that police have filed charges in the recent vandalism there.

She offered one possible punishment for the perpetrators.

“I'd like to have them come out,” she said, “and clean it up.”