RUMFORD – The ice skaters’ warming building was closed for the season Wednesday, not because there’s no ice or interest, but because vandalism has plagued the small structure since it opened in mid-January.

Kent Harlow, supervisor of the parks department, said most days employees find graffiti written on the walls inside the building. Wednesday morning’s finding, however, was over the top.

Someone had urinated in the refrigerator.

“For all the money we spend to do things in town to help with recreation and to have that kind of disrespect against the town in unbelievable,” Selectman Chairman Jim Rinaldo said.

Harlow said the parks department can’t take time everyday to clean up graffiti and other vandalism at the building. The incidents have been reported to police.

He said the parks department spent between $10,000 and $12,000 to construct the building. This is its first season.

He said the building will reopen next year, but the parks department will have another plan for supervision. Right now, parks employees spend most of their time at the hockey rink at the Hosmer Field complex. The recreational rink is located at the Drug Abuse Resistance Education park across Lincoln Avenue from Hosmer Field.

Graffiti is fairly common, but urination isn’t.

“This is totally unique,” Harlow said.

Rinaldo wants town residents to know what is happening. He said at least $5,000 a year is appropriated for ice skating, and a total of $186,000 is set aside for recreational activities.