A spate of vandalism has hit at least two of Vashon’s parks in recent months, troubling those who steward the Island resources.

The latest incident occurred last week, when someone slashed a laminated map that had been posted a month earlier on a kiosk at the western entrance to Island Center Forest. People also recently dumped several old car parts — including an entire axel — at the 362-acre park, owned and managed by King County with support from several Island recreation groups.

And last month, people apparently attempted to start a fire in a barrel they dragged to a berm next to Mukai Pond, spilling diesel into the amphibian-rich pond in the process, said Joe Van Hollebeke, a park resource specialist for the county.

“We had to do an oil cleanup with our spill response kits,” he said.

The most serious incidents, meanwhile, have taken place at Dockton Park, also owned by King County, where there have been at least two arson attempts in recent months. One of the arson attempts took place on Christmas day, when a boat where Lyman Houghton, a volunteer park caretaker, lived was set ablaze. The boat survived the attempt, but the smoke damage was extensive, and the boat is now unlivable, Houghton said.

Houghton was away from the boat at the time of the incident.

Someone last year also attempted to ignite the structure that houses the bathrooms at the park, he said. And there are blackened scars on the dock, suggesting someone may have tried to burn the moorings, too.

Houghton, who has been a park caretaker for two years, said Dockton is the site of a lot of nighttime activity, including drug transactions. King County Sheriff’s deputies made a drug arrest there a few months ago, he said.

He estimated that he’s called 911 50 times in the last year and said he’s been physically assaulted twice. He believes the arson on his boat was an attempt at retribution.

“There have been a lot of drug problems down there,” he said. “It’s not just kids, but adults, too.”

Last week, after the map was slashed at Island Center Forest, Van Hollebeke said he was frustrated and disappointed by the rash of incidents. It comes at the same time that the county and Island volunteers are working to improve access to the huge, forested area.

“We’re used to people parking at or near the parks and drinking and littering cans, and we pick them up every day,” he said. “But lately, it’s just a little bit more malicious — like they’re showing contempt for the environment.”

David Warren, who’s active in the Friends of Island Center Forest, agreed.

“We all know that high school kids and young people need a place to get away. … But this vandalism is disappointing,” he said.

Warren and Van Holl-ebeke are organizing a meeting where they’ll bring together county park officials, the sheriff’s department, Vashon Park District officials, the Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust and the Friends of Island Center Forest to see what they can do collectively to try to put an end to the vandalism.

David Kimmett, a project manager for the county parks division, said he hopes some focused attention on the issue will lead to some arrests or diminish the problem.

“This is little nickel and dime stuff, but it adds up. It takes a lot of staff time,” he said.

Those who have information about vandalism at Vashon’s county-owned parks are encouraged to call David Kimmett at (206) 510-5668.