The Patterson Park pool reopened to the public on Sunday after vandals damaged the pool and contaminated it with feces Saturday, marking the fifth such incident at a city-owned pool this season.

Erin Smith, a spokeswoman for the city’s recreation and parks department, said an assessment of the pool found it had endured “more than just cosmetic damage.”

Multiple drain grates were pulled up and thrown into the pool. The water was also contaminated with feces.

“Our team followed established health and safety protocols, including removing debris, thoroughly cleaning the pool, and completing the necessary water treatment procedures before reopening,” Smith said. “The safety of our visitors is our top priority, and we appreciate the community’s patience as our staff worked to restore the pool to safe operating conditions.”

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City pools opened for the summer season on May 23. Vandals have damaged city pools five different times since then, according to Smith.

In early June, the Patterson Park pool was vandalized twice in one week by pool hoppers.

Pool hopping, when people trespass and swim after hours, is a dangerous trend. Last summer, a man nearly drowned after going into a neighborhood pool in Wilson Park after it had closed. Flight officers operating a Baltimore Police Department helicopter responded to calls for help, landing the chopper in a nearby field and rushing to give the man CPR.

City officials have cameras installed at the pools along with signs warning against trespassing. But that has done little to deter people. The hoppers continue to hop.