SHELTON, Conn. -- The park in Shelton is supposed to be a place to relax and spend time outside, police said Thursday, but someone is ruining it with graffiti.

They said it's all over the playground, even in the tunnel slide.

"It's pretty senseless," Monroe resident Chris DeStefano said. "I mean, there's no point to it."

Police said somebody or some people are making their mark at East Village Park. They said they want residents to call them with tips so they can find the person or people responsible.

"Aesthetically, it's a lot more pleasing if you don't have graffiti and paint all over the place," DeStefano said. "It takes away from the experience."

"It's terrible, because sometimes my wife goes to the playground with my son," resident Fernando Silveira said.

The other issue is tight budgets, city officials said. They said it's more difficult for cities like Shelton to constantly clean up after graffiti artists.

Some people said the best weapon to stop it is to cover it up as soon as possible.

"Do it within 24 to 48 hours," resident Danny Magri said. "Cover it up. That way, no one is bragging about it. You know how kids are."

Magri said he and his dog, Brandy, aren't going to put up with it.

"She doesn't like it either," he said.