Steve August contacted the Otago Daily Times after rubber matting was torn up from beneath the children's swings during a party in the gardens on Friday night.
Most weekends there would also be a ‘‘great deal'' of broken glass left littered around the children's paddling pool, where permanent barbecues were installed, he said.
Mr August said he and his wife had cleaned up broken glass many times, but it was impossible to get it all out of the grass.
On fine days, the gardens were often full with families, many with toddlers, and they risked being cut by the glass, he said.
‘‘What distresses me is the amount of alcohol and the sheer stupid, child-like, unthinking breaking of stuff.''
The gardens were just on the edge of the student area and while he could not say if it was students doing all the damage the groups of people drinking and partying looked to be aged in their late teens and early 20s, he said.
He usually called the police if a party got out of hand, and had contacted the Dunedin City Council several times about damage, but was not sure what more could be done.
DCC Parks and Reserves team leader Martin Thompson said the council received complaints about damage to Woodhaugh Gardens ‘‘from time to time'', but he was not aware of any problems recently.
People should contact the police if they noticed a party was going on and report any damage in the gardens to the DCC as soon as possible, he said.
