Grass damaged at Lindsley Park. Photo by Renee Umsted.

On the last weekend in June, a man drove a black F-150 truck on the grass at Lindsley Park.

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He showed up three times that Saturday — around 3:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. — doing donuts on the grass.

One visit, the man drove the truck, which apparently belonged to a family member of his, into a mature tree. It snapped the trunk near the ground level, says District 14 Park and Recreation Board member Rudy Karimi.

But with the help of park users and neighbors, the driver is being held accountable.

Video cameras from some nearby homes recorded the reckless driving, and the microphones picked up a loud noise that sounded like a thunderclap; nothing was visible, but it was obvious the sound was made by the tree falling, Karimi says. Another neighbor at the park took some photos while the act was occurring, capturing the truck’s license plates and the driver’s face.

Using that footage, officials were able to identify the truck and its driver.

“When that evidence is available, you need to expect the city to do something,” Karimi says.

Because of the damage caused to the grass and tree, a warrant was written for this felony offense. Once it’s signed, the Dallas Police Department can execute the warrant and take the driver into custody.

The park department removed the tree, and Karimi says he wants to make sure it gets replaced. The grass will just have to grow back. He also wants to get some boulders added near the corner of the park where there isn’t a curb, near Shadyside Lane and Lindsley Avenue. That’s one place where the driver entered the park.

“I want everyone to know that we take safety seriously in our parks,” Karimi says.

Grass damaged at Lindsley Park. Photo by Renee Umsted.